QBREXZA™ Cloths with Glycopyrronium 2.4% for Sweating

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Armpit Sweating

The Best Clinical Strength Antiperspirants

In 2018, the US FDA approved a groundbreaking new product called QBREXZA™ to treat excessive underarm sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis). Qbrexza is now available as a prescription medication and contains glycopyrronium as the key ingredient. It comes in a pre-moistened cloth delivery system, with one cloth (wipe) applied to both armpits every 24 hours. Most other topical antiperspirant products come in aluminum chloride based lotion or cream formats. Qbrexza is made by Dermira Inc., a company based in Menlo Park, California. Note that Qbrexza is not meant to be used on the hands, feet or face.

Qbrexza Glycopyrronium Cloth Wipes

Glycopyrronium tosylate (Qbrexza) towelettes are effective at reducing hyperhidrosis. Note that there already exist other anticholinergic medicines such as oral Robinul and the stronger Robinul Forte to treat whole body hyperhidrosis. These are made from the related key ingredient glycopyrronium bromide, but come in tablet or pill form.

Glycopyrronium tosylate is a topical anticholinergic agent. It reduces sweat production by blocking the activation of acetylcholine receptors in sweat glands. The glands that produce sweat in your underarms are activated by neurotransmitters. When Qbrexza is wiped under the arms, the glycopyrronium solution inhibits neurotransmitter activity. This mechanism of action reduces the amount of perspiration and moisture levels in the axillary region.

What is the Cost of Qbrexza and Does Insurance Cover It?

Qbrexza is very expensive and also requires a dermatologist of doctor's prescription. A typical box of 30 pads costs between $500 and $600 and lasts for one month. In 2019, the lowest price for the most common version of Qbrexza was approximately $540, around 20 percent below the average retail price of $660. The price is originally set by the manufacturer Dermira.

You can find various online coupons to reduce your cost too. Your dermatologist can also provide samples upon request. Note that there is currently no generic therapeutically equivalent version of Qbrexza available on the market.

Insurance does not always cover Qbrexza since excessive armpit sweating treatment is not considered a medical necessity. Even when cosmetic conditions are covered, make sure to get pre-approval or prior authorization. You will also have to consider copay and deductible payments. You can find out if insurance will cover Qbrexza on the company's website. A medical necessity appeal letter sample can be accessed on Sweathelp's website.

Application Procedure

Apply one Qbrexza cloth towelette to both armpits once every 24 hours. It is imperative to make sure that the underarm skin is clean and dry and has no cracks, breaks or wounds at the time of application. Do not apply Qbrexza right after shaving the underarms. Qbrexza can be applied in the morning or at night right before bedtime. Nighttime might be easier because most people sweat less at night during sleep than during the day.

Qbrexza will start to take effect within one week of first application. When disposing of the towelette after each use, make sure that children and pets can not gain access to the waste bin. Children age 9 or under should not use this medication. Wash your hands thoroughly immediately after using Qbrexza, since touching the eyes can result in blurry vision.

Reviews

You can find Qbrexza reviews on a number of sites online. On WebMD, the current rating average for Qbrexza is around 3.6 out of 5 stars. On drugs.com it is around 6.0/10. You can also find many reviews of Qbrexza on Reddit.

Qbrexza Side Effects

Orally administered anticholinergics affect the whole body. Topical formulations such as Qbrexza are intended to only get absorbed locally in the armpit region. However, some systemic absorption is inevitable, even via the skin. Potential side effects of glycopyrronium absorption are significant, hence the need for a prescription. In general, Qbrexza topical glycopyrronium tosylate is well tolerated. Among the reported somewhat common potential side effects and adverse reactions to Qbrexza include:

Advantages over Antiperspirants

Qbrexza has a number of advantages over existing antiperspirants such as Certain Dri. These include:

  1. A completely unique key ingredient in 2.4% glycopyrronium solution.
  2. No aluminum.
  3. Easier product application via the cloth.
  4. No residue or stains as is common with many antiperspirants.