Botox injections are
the best known of a group of medications that use various forms of botulinum
toxin to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. This toxin is produced by the
microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.
Botox injections are
noted primarily for the ability to reduce the appearance of some facial
wrinkles. They are also used to treat such problems as repetitive neck spasms
(cervical dystonia), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), overactive bladder and
lazy eye. Botox injections may also help prevent chronic migraines in some
people.
Botox was the first
drug to use botulinum toxin. Other products now include Dysport, Myobloc and
Xeomin. Each is a little different, particularly when it comes to dosage units,
so they aren't interchangeable

Why it's done
Botulinum toxin injections block certain chemical signals from
nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of
these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that underlie and
cause wrinkles, such as:
·
Frown lines between the eyebrows
·
Crow's-feet, the lines that fan out
from the corners of the eyes
·
Forehead furrows
Botulinum toxin injections are also used to treat conditions
that affect how the body functions. Examples include:
·
Cervical dystonia. In this
painful condition, your neck muscles contract involuntarily causing your head
to twist or turn into an uncomfortable position.
·
Lazy eye. The most
common cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles responsible for
positioning the eye.
·
Muscle contractures. Some
neurological conditions, such as cerebral palsy, can cause your limbs to pull
in toward your center. In some cases, these contracted muscles can be relaxed
with botulinum toxin injections.
·
Hyperhidrosis. In this condition,
excessive sweating occurs even when the temperature isn't hot and you're not
exerting yourself.
·
Chronic migraine. If you
experience migraines more than 15 days a month, botulinum toxin injections may
help reduce headache frequency.
·
Bladder dysfunction. Botulinum
toxin injections can also help reduce urinary incontinence caused by an
overactive bladder.
·
Eye twitching. Botulinum
toxin injections may help relieve contracture or twitching of muscles around
the eye.
Botox must be used only under a doctor's care.
It's important that injections be placed precisely in order to avoid side
effects. Botox therapy can be dangerous if it's administered incorrectly.
Botulinum toxin injections usually begin working a few days after
treatment