Botox
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Botox
Botox is 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.
Noted primarily for the ability to reduce the appearance of some facial wrinkles, Botox injections are also used by neurologists to treat such problems as repetitive neck spasms (cervical dystonia), facial spasms, repetitive eye closure (blepharospasm), spasms secondary to stroke and cerebral palsy, and chronic migraines.
While Botox was the first drug to utilize botulism toxin, there are newer products such as; Dysport, Myobloc and Xeomin, that can be used now. Each product is a little different, particularly when it comes to dosage units, so they aren’t interchangeable.
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:
In addition to these cosmetic procedures, which simply improve your appearance, botulinum toxin injections have also been used to treat conditions that affect how your body functions.
PATIENT PREPARATION
Before your Botox injections please let the doctor know if you’ve received any type of botulinum toxin injections within the past four months. If you take blood thinners, you may need to forgo these medications for several days before your injection, to reduce your risk of bleeding or bruising.
Your doctor also needs to know if you take muscle relaxants, or allergy medications. Do not schedule important social activities, meetings, etc., immediately after the procedure. The majority of patients do not have any adverse effects from Botox injections. However, bruising and eyelid droop can occur rarely and you could be that patient. Do your daily workout before your appointment for Botox. Before your treatment avoid Vitamin E, St. John’s Wort and other dietary supplements containing ginkgo, evening primrose oil, feverfew and ginseng for 2 weeks. Avoid ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) and alcohol for 2 days prior to your injection.