BOTOX®
BOTOX® is a therapeutic muscle-relaxing agent that works
at motor nerve endings (nerves that lead to muscles). It is in a class
of drugs called neurotoxins.
When considering neurotoxin therapy, it is important to understand
how the product works, the history of its use in patients, its protein
content, and possible side effects.
BOTOX® is a novel therapeutic agent derived from the bacterium,
Clostridium Botulinum. Also known as Botulinum Toxin Type A, the brand
BOTOX® is produced in controlled laboratory conditions and given
in extremely small therapeutic doses.
BOTOX® is indicated for the treatment of blepharospasm associated
with dystonia in patients 12 years of age and above. BOTOX® is
being investigated for several conditions associated with overactive
muscle activity.
Botulinum Toxin Type A is the most studied of the seven different
serotypes of botulinum toxin (A, B, C1, D, E, F, G). Each serotype
has different properties and actions. No two are exactly alike.
Normally your brain sends electrical messages to your muscles so that
they can contract and move. The electrical message is transmitted
to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine. BOTOX® works
to block the release of acetylcholine and, as a result, the muscle
doesn’t receive the message to contract. This means that the
muscle spasms stop or are greatly reduced after using BOTOX®,
providing predictable and reliable relief from symptoms.
BOTOX® is not a cure. For many patients, however, its effects
have been dramatic– symptoms usually begin to dissipate within
a few days and the effects can last for approximately three months. |
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