The EU approves the first drug against excessive sweating

US regulators on Friday approved the first drug created specifically to reduce excessive sweating, a common disease that can cause distress and affect a person's social life.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the drug Qbrexza for excessive underarm sweating, which will go on sale in October. The drug is found in a tissue that is rubbed daily on the skin to block the activation of the sweat glands.

The manufacturer, Dermira Inc., declined to disclose the price, as these companies normally do.

It is estimated that 15.3 million Americans suffer from excessive sweating, but only one in four requires treatment. Current treatments include Botox injections, elimination of sweat glands by surgical means, laser and other devices and drugs approved for other disorders that block the chemical messengers of the body to reduce sweat production in the whole body.

Side effects of Qbrexza include blurred vision, constipation, burning or pruritus of the skin, headache or throat, and dryness of the mouth, eyes, and skin.

Dermira reported that in one study, 53% of patients reported that Qbrexza halved perspiration, while in the comparator group, with no medication, it was reduced in 28% of cases.