At the time, botulinum toxin was licensed to treat blepharospasm and was used widely by ophthalmologists to treat this involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids. Patients of Dr Carruthers commented that they had also noticed a marked reduction in the wrinkles surrounding their eyes and this was to launch Botox into becoming the most popular aesthetic treatment worldwide.
Yet, half the revenue generated by Botox actually relates to its therapeutic applications. Some of these are licensed here in the UK and some of them are deemed ‘off label’ which means that its use to treat a particular medical condition has not yet received a license, but a medical practitioner can prescribe it. Here are five of the most surprising medical uses of Botox:
- Hyperhidrosis: Known as excessive sweating, Botox is used to treat the underarm area by blocking the signals from the nerves to the sweat glands. This is a highly effective treatment with results lasting three to four months.
- Overactive bladder: Patients with an overactive bladder are afflicted with a strong, sudden need to pass urine and sometimes incontinence. Injections of Botox are made into the bladder wall, preventing the bladder muscle from contracting too much. One study found that about 70% of women reported three leaks a day compared with the average of five leaks a day at the start of the study.
- Strabismus: The treatment of strabismus or crossed eyes was one of the first licensed uses of Botox. Whether resulting from trauma or a congenital issue, crossed eyes can be corrected with surgery, but Botox is now used to relax the muscles to see how the uncrossed eye will look prior to surgery. It can also be used as a regular treatment for those that do not wish to or are unable to undergo eye surgery.
- Spasmodic dysphonia: This is a neurological condition where the sound made by the vocal chords seems hoarse, shaky or strained. Abnormal signals are sent by the brain which results in spasms affecting the vocal chords and Botox works by weakening the muscles slightly, helping to smooth and steady the voice.
- Chronic migraines: In the 1990s, it was noticed that migraine sufferers who were using Botox for wrinkle reduction purposes were reporting fewer headaches. This use of Botox has been approved by NICE and Botox can now be prescribed by the NHS for patients that fit certain criteria. Waiting lists for Botox treatment for migraine are long and patients are increasingly searching for this treatment privately.
If you’re interested in learning more about Botox for migraine and how you can offer it to your patients, call Youth Doctors, the only Botox for migraine course in the UK and Europe, on0790 0583 898.
