Finding More Uses For Botox

It's one of Mother Nature's greatest ironies: the deadliest toxin on the planet is also the most versatile medical treatment. Botox or botulinum toxin has made headlines recently for smoothing wrinkles.

But for many people who suffer from debilitating disorders or chronic pain, it has proven to be a wonder drug.

"Any condition in which there is a spasm of muscles can be relaxed by injection of botulinum toxin into that muscle," says Dr. Joseph Jankovic, neurologist and director of the Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

The FDA first approved botulinum toxin in 1989 for treatment of blepharospasm, the involuntary closure of eyes, Dr. Jankovic said. "When we first did a study, we found that the injection relaxes the eyelids and patients were able to keep their eyes open for 3 or 4 months, and then they approved it for the treatment for hemifacial spasm, which affects half of the face," he said. "And then in 1990, the FDA approved it for the treatment of torticollis, which is a spasm of the neck muscles which causes involuntary movement for the neck or the head."

Today, botulinum toxin is being used for a variety of problems, such as migraines, vocal or speech problems, neck pain, excessive sweating, body odor, morbid obesity, carpal tunnel syndrome, stroke paralysis, incontinence and clubfoot in infants to name just a few.

But Dr. Jancovich said it is important to remain cautious. People who are not experienced in the use of it could use it for inappropriate reasons with catastrophic results.

"The main concern about using botulinum toxin for nontherapeutic uses is that the frequent injections can potentially induce immunal resistance, so patients stop responding, not just to cosmetic implications, but for patients with serious medical conditions at well," said Dr. Jankovic.

Fortunately for cosmetic users, the doses are relatively low, but some physicians don't realize that, even in small doses, they can bring about the problems with frequent use, Dr. Jankovic said.

As for those Botox parties, he said it trivializes its use. People may lose perspective that it is a potent toxin that can cause potential side effects, he said.

Nevertheless, "for patients with certain debilitating neurological problems, this is the only treatment we've found to be effective," he added.