The Muscle-Relaxing Properties of BOTOX

The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin, often referred to its product name botox, is a popular non-surgical injection that in the short term lessens or abolishes frown lines, forehead creases, crow’s feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck. The toxin obstructs the nerve impulses, temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles at the same time giving the skin a smoother, more refreshed appearance. Studies have also supposed that botox is effective in alleviating migraine headaches, excessive sweating and muscle spasms in the neck and eyes.

Bacterium Clostridium botulinum is a derivation for termin “botox”. This bacterium produces a protein that makes a hindrance for acetylcholine releasing and relaxes muscles. Type A is just one of seven different types of botulinum toxin (A, B, C1, D, E, F, and G), each of them has different belongings and actions. Any of these 7 botulinum toxins are similar.

More than 100 years of research have expanded knowledge of botulinum toxin type A from the identification of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum to the commercialization of botulinum toxin type A as BOTOX.

  During 1960s, the muscle-relaxing properties of botulinum toxin type A were tapped for investigational use in reconstructing crossed eyes. These early studies gave the possibilities for treating other conditions caused by overactive muscles with botulinum toxin type A.

Nowadays, botox is produced in controlled laboratory conditions and proscribed in exceedingly small healing doses. It has helped over 1 million patients over the world with state of health caused by overactive muscles.

Botox blocks the nerve from releasing acetylcholine. In consequence the muscle spasms stop or are significantly reduced, providing relief from symptoms.                

It's important to keep in mind that botulinum toxin treatment is not a cure. For lots of people, however, its effects have been dramatic. By means of botox, the nerve will take about 3 months to recover and begin to release acetylcholine and the muscles may become overactive again. Accordingly, another injection will be needed to provide relief, as long as no allergic reactions or other significant side effects occurred and clinical response was achieved.

The most frequently reported undesirable reactions in patients with cervical dystonia are dysphagia (19%), upper respiratory infection (12%), neck pain (11%) and headache (11%). The most frequently reported adverse reactions in patients with blepharospasm are drooping of the eyelid (21%), superficial punctate keratitis (6%), and eye dryness (6%). Patients with neuromuscular disorders may be at enlarged risk of clinically considerable systemic effects together with severe dysphagia and respiratory compromise from typical doses of botox. Botox is contra-indicated with attendance of infection at the proposed injection site(s). The effects of botox therapy may be increased with the use of aminoglycoside antibiotics or with other drugs that hinder with neuromuscular spread.