News Roundup – BOTOX®

Researchers have determined that BOTOX® may be the latest treatment in the battle of the bulge. When injected into the stomach muscle via endoscope, BOTOX® relaxes the muscle function and food remains in the stomach longer, creating a feeling of satiation. People who have the sensation of a full stomach end up eating less, which results in weight loss. Gastric BOTOX®, as it’s been dubbed, doesn’t have FDA approval yet. But if the weight loss treatment gets the greenlight and gains traction, gastroenterologists may be administering BOTOX® to people’s stomachs.

The neuromodulator BOTOX® is famed for its cosmetic benefits, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles and helping to prevent the formation of new ones. However, long before it was a med spa procedure, BOTOX® was used medically to treat muscle spasms in the eye. Now, BOTOX® is being administered to treat dystonia, a painful and often debilitating neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. Dystonia can affect muscles in the neck, limbs or almost anywhere in the body, and can also cause abnormal posture. By injecting BOTOX® into the affected muscles, doctors are able to reduce muscle spasms and relax the abnormal postures of people who suffer from dystonia.

After having a stroke, some people experience prolonged muscle stiffness, or what’s clinically referred to as “progressively severe spasticity.” This can hamper a stroke victim’s basic mobility and negatively impact their overall quality of life. Doctors in Kansas City are using BOTOX® in stroke victims to treat the resulting overactive, stiff muscles. Patients receive a BOTOX® injection every 12 weeks, in conjunction with physical therapy, to alleviate muscle stiffness and encourage mobility. Although the BOTOX® injections can’t bring sensation back to areas that were numbed as a result of the stroke, the treatment can relax the muscles for increased comfort.

Spinal cord injury can result in debilitating symptoms, including muscle spasticity. Muscles can become so rigid and locked into place that performing even basic tasks can prove impossible. BOTOX® may help people with spinal injuries who experience muscle spasticity. When injected into the affected muscle, BOTOX® can help to release the debilitating tension, which can result in loosened joints and a much greater range of motion. BOTOX® is just one part of a suite of necessary medical therapies for people with spinal injuries, and when combined with physiotherapy and physical therapy exercises, people can experience significant relief.