The exact cause of this overactive bladder problem is not known, but it is seen that some medications that block the effect of acetylcholine on the bladder wall muscles, thus reducing the abnormal bladder contractions that characterise an over active bladder. The unfortunate problem is that most of the medications that can work to reduce the overactivity of the bladder also have side effects such as mouth dryness, constipation, blurry vision, urinary retention and heartburn.

The botox procedure is relatively simple. A scope is inserted into the urethra with the patient under sedation so that the inside of the bladder wall can be seen. Small injections of botox are made into the bladder’s muscle wall.  Usually a total of 20 to 30 injections are given, with a total dose of about 100 units of botox. The whole procedure takes about 30 minutes to complete.

The beneficial effect comes on about 2 to 7 days after the injections. Most patients notice a more controllable and calmer bladder with obviously less urgency. Effects last anywhere between 6 to 9 months, after which the patient can have repeat injections for his over active bladder.

The above illustrates one of the medical uses of botox injection.  For non-medical uses or cosmetic uses of botox injection, please click on the link.

Bladder Cystoscopy

It is estimated that between 300 million and 400 million people in the world suffer from migraine headaches.  Because of these numbers and the fact that a lot of medications for migraine may have side effects, botox treatment for migraine headaches is getting more popular with physicians.

As usual, the discovery of the efficacy of botox for treatment of migraine headaches was accidental.  It was noted that quite a few persons coming in for botox for their wrinkles noted that their headaches had lessened considerably.

Botox treatment for migraine headaches has not yet received FDA approval, but that has not stopped a lot of doctors from going ahead with treating their patients with headaches with botox injections into the muscles of the forehead, back of scalp, neck and shoulders, wherever there is muscle spasm which is commonly associated with migraine headaches.  Pain relief obtained tends to last for 4 to 6 months, the duration of action of the botox.  It is said that pain is relieved by reduction of the tension of the muscles due to the effect of botox.  Some practitioners theorize that the pain relief is contributed to by a blockage of the transmission of pain signals.

The cost of botox treatment for migraine headaches may be quite high initially, and may reach even up to $300 to $500 in any one area due the volume that has to be injected into the larger muscles.  This compares unfavorably with the relatively cheap cost of painkiller tablets.  However the pain relief obtained by botox can be 4 to 6 months, and the duration of pain relief itself is reason enough for persons to prefer to use botox.

These are:

cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis) (a neuromuscular disorder involving the head and neck causing painful spasms of muscles of the neck with abnormal positioning of the head).  Botox injections will reduce the spasms of these muscles.
blepharospasm – a situation where there is involuntary spasm of the eyelids or muscles around the eyes. Mild degrees of this affect almost everybody, causing tics or twitching of the muscles near the lower eyelids.  Botox treatments will do pretty well.

hyperhidrosis  An excessive sweating of palms, armpits, and soles of feet. A very embarrassing situation which results in cold wet palms and armpit sweat stains, especially obvious on white shirts.
achalasia of the cardia – a situation where there is failure of the sphincter of the lower esophagus to relax to allow food to pass through to the stomach, causing food to overflow potentially causing flooding of the lungs.
migraine and other headaches, which are thought to be aggravated my spasms or contractions of muscles in the scalp.
 
Other uses of botox commonly seen in other countries but which have not yet been FDA approved are:

pediatric and adult incontinence (possibly due to overactive bladder)
incontinence due to neurogenic bladder (related to spontaneous bladder muscle contractions when the bladder is full)
anal fissure (relaxation of the anal sphincter from the botox injection allows the fissure to heal)
spasms of muscles due to brain problems such as stroke, parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy and also localised muscle spasms affecting the face, jaw or vocal cords and limbs
Pain of the Temporomandibular joints due to spasm of related muscles
wound healing
excessive production of saliva
diabetic neuropathy.
treatment of chronic headaches and muscle pains
weight loss and recently,

depression  (indirectly, by eliminating frown lines causing the patient to look more cheerful, and thus feel more cheerful)