Pantoprazole - Induced Hyperhydrosis: A Case Report

Pantoprazole is a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) widely used both in inpatient and outpatient settings which acts by blocking the gastric parietal cells' H+/K+ ATPase pump. A 56-year-old female with a medical history of chronic liver disease was admitted. When intravenous pantoprazole 40mg was initiated on her admission, she experienced hyperhidrosis, which was ruled out after pertinent investigations. Therefore, despite appearing to be a rare side effect, PPI-induced hyperhidrosis is more likely to occur in clinical practice due to the medication's extensive use. If there are no obvious reasons why a patient on PPI therapy has hyperhidrosis, a trial of quitting PPI can be conducted to determine if symptoms can resolve. Hence, healthcare professionals should be mindful of the possibility of an uncommon adverse reaction of pantoprazole-induced hyperhidrosis, which could be confused with other causes of the condition. Prospective studies are necessary to assess the incidence of PPI-induced hyperhidrosis and its mechanism.