What Is Botox Used For?

Botox is a neurotoxin used as a drug to treat muscle spasms and other neurological disorders characterized by abnormal muscle contractions. It is also used to temporarily smooth wrinkles. The drug is derived from botulinum toxin, known as botulism, the same bacterial toxin that can cause paralysis and kill if consumed in contaminated food. It is this paralyzing effect that is used for therapeutic purposes.

History

Purified botulinum toxin was the first bacterial toxin to be used as medicine. The FDA licensed the toxin in 1989 under the name Oculinum to treat eye conditions. In 1994, the FDA denounced promoting the drug for cosmetic purposes. In 2002, Botox received FDA approval for the temporary treatment of glabellar (frown) lines and is marketed under the name Botox Cosmetic. In 2004, Botox was approved to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the underarms when antiperspirants fail.

Neurological Disorders

By paralyzing the affected muscles, Botox corrects the disorders strabismus (misaligned eyes) and blepharospasm (eye spasms that cause the eyelid to shut involuntarily), allowing patients to live symptom-free.

Pain Management

While Botox was originally intended to treat problems with the eye muscles, other therapeutic uses include treatment of severe neck and back pain. Migraine sufferers have also reported relief after receiving Botox injections.

Cosmetic Enhancement

Botox Cosmetic helps prevent expression-related wrinkles and can reduce existing wrinkles by paralyzing the muscles that cause the wrinkles. While approved for frown lines, a physician can also inject Botox into other areas of the face to treat crow's feet and other expression-related lines.

Excessive Sweating

Hyperhidrosis is severe sweating, to the point where it can cause emotional distress and social withdrawal. A Botox injection into the skin where the excess sweating occurs is one of several treatments available.

How it Works

A small dose of Botox is injected into the affected muscle. The medication binds to the nerve endings and blocks the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that causes muscles to contract or move. When the acetylcholine is blocked, the muscle does not receive the signal to contract, and is temporarily paralyzed. The effects can take from three to seve days to appear after an injection and usually last from three to four months.

Warnings

Some adverse reactions to Botox, including respiratory failure and death, were found in both FDA-approved and non-approved uses. In the reported cases, the reactions, found mainly in children being treated for muscle spasms related to cerebral palsy, appear to be related to the Botox spreading from the site of injection to other areas. Symptoms were similar to those of botulism poisoning, including difficulty swallowing, weakness and breathing problems.