Treating Medical Conditions with BOTOX®

 

In 2002, the FDA approved the use of BOTOX® for the treatment of moderate to severe facial wrinkles in adults. However, prior to this, BOTOX® has been used to treat a number of medical conditions, and its use is being investigated for an amazing array of new medical uses. In general, BOTOX® helps to induce paralysis in one or more muscles by blocking the transmission of the signal from the nerves. When the muscle is paralyzed, the patient experiences relief from pain or spasms.

 

Following is a brief description of the conditions with potential for BOTOX® treatment or that are already being treated with BOTOX®.

 

Many people who are otherwise healthy have an anal fissure problem. This means that the skin around the anus cracks and leaves the site open to infection. The usual treatment is an intervention that reduces the action of the anal sphincter, as spasms have been associated with anal fissure. Local injections of BOTOX® are being considered as an alternative to surgery.

The FDA has given approval for the use of BOTOX® in treating blepharospasm. In fact, blepharospasm, or eye twitching, is the condition that was being treated when Canadian ophthalmologist Jean Carruthers noted the beneficial side effect of wrinkle reduction. The procedure involves injecting small amounts of the botulism toxin A into the offending muscle, and provides relief from twitching.

BOTOX® helps in the treatment of cerebral palsy when it is injected into spastic or dystonic muscles. This reduces muscle stiffness, allowing physical therapists to stretch muscles and stimulate normal growth. The benefits that accrue include an improved range of motion and an acceleration of locomotion activities such as crawling or walking in children affected by cerebral palsy. Note that the FDA has not yet approved BOTOX® in the treatment of cerebral palsy.

Cervical dystonia is a painful condition in which muscles in the neck and shoulders cramp severely, causing an abnormal positioning of the head. The botulinum toxin relieves spasms when it is injected into the offending muscles. BOTOX® was approved by the FDA for the treatment of cervical dystonia in December 2000.

The use of some form of the botulism toxin is being investigated for a wide range of muscular or spastic disorders. Cramps in the neck, shoulders, back, limbs, hands or feet are among them. Writer's cramp is an example of a condition that causes interference with normal living and work that may benefit from this type of regimen.

The medical term for excessive sweating is hyperhydrosis. Botulinum A injections into the armpits can block the chemical transmitter that causes sweating. The treatment has been successful in experiments conducted at the University of California, San Francisco.

While the treatment of migraine headaches with the botulinum toxin is not 100 percent perfected, large studies are under way to determine its effectiveness and to determine what dosages might work best. More than half of patients who suffer from migraine headaches appeared to experience relief from their pain when receiving BOTOX® injections for other conditions.

 

In clinical tests, only about 15 percent to 20 percent of patients reported no effect. Some patients, though, experienced relief for up to six months when BOTOX® was injected into muscles of the forehead, side of the head, back of the head near the neck, eye area or brow area.

The FDA approved the use of the botulinum toxin for the treatment of strabismus in 1989. Strabismus is the common name for crossed eyes, or "lazy eye." When an overactive muscle is paralyzed with minute doses of botulism toxin, the remaining muscles are able to function properly, correcting the patient's vision.

Many patients who have strokes experience muscles spasms that cause clenching of hands and rigid muscles. BOTOX® is being used to relax those muscles so that stroke victims can gradually being to reuse their hands and arms.

BOTOX® has been used to treat TMJ (temperomandibular joint disorder) since 1998. Although the FDA has not yet approved its use for the treatment of TMJ, the procedure shows great promise and is far more desirable than surgery.

 

 

Advance for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants. (2002). Study finds Botox can ease movement after stroke. Retrieved September 26, 2002, from the Advance for Physical Therapists and PT Assistants Web site: www.advanceforpt.com/ntu/aug19_02ny1.html.

Allergan (n.d.). About BOTOX® Cosmetic. Retrieved September 25, 2002, from the Allergan Web site: www.botoxcosmetic.net/consumer/about_home.htm.

Aphrodite Women's Health. (2002). Botox treats excessive sweating. Retrieved December 30, 2002, from Aphrodite Women’s Health Web site: www.aphroditewomenshealth.com/
news/20020311222548_health_news.shtml.

BotulinumToxinFYI.com (n.d.). Is Botox right for you? Retrieved September 26, 2002, from the BotulinumToxinFYI.com Web site: www.botulinumtoxinfyi.com.

The Canadian Society for Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery (n.d.). Non-surgical procedures: Botox. Retrieved September 25, 2002, from the The Canadian Society for Aesthetic (Cosmetic) Plastic Surgery Web site: www.csaps.ca/botox.htm.

Micromedex Thomson Healthcare (2001). Botulinum toxin type A (parenteral-local). Retrieved September 28, 2002, from the Micromedex Thomson Healthcare Web site: www.drugs.com/xq/cfm/pageid_0/htm_202608/tgid_36/
type_cons/bn_Botox/micr_medex/qx/index.htm.