Guest guest Posted November 22, 2002 Report Share Posted November 22, 2002 Thanks for sending this , quite interesting! More FDA talk today LOL. When can I get some botox for these eye wrinkles?! Debbie Abby's mom DOCGrad MI > Thought some of you would find this article interesting as botox was > discussed here a few times. Still seems very risky even though it seems more > commonly used! > > > (Nov. 22) - There was a time -- say, last decade - when botulinum toxin was > best known as a poison so deadly that a single gram could reportedly kill > millions of people. Now a household name, Botox is the most widely used > treatment for so-called " frown lines. " But one expert raises the issue of > whether we really know the potential long-term effects of this > wrinkle-smoothing drug. > > " In this atmosphere of 'Botox parties,' it is easy to forget that botulinum > toxin is a potent [nerve toxin] and that its very long-term effects are still > unknown, " neurophysiologist V. Misra, MD, writes in the Nov. 23 issue > of the British Medical Journal. > > Misra says his editorial is not suggesting that Botox is unsafe or has > " unknown " side effects. > > " To the best of my knowledge, the safety record of Botox has been well > established, " he tells WebMD. " [The purpose of the editorial] was to point > out that the indications for Botox use are expanding, and relevant clinical > studies need to be performed to establish efficacy and best standard > treatment for these conditions. " > > When injected in small doses into specific muscles, the toxin smoothes > wrinkles by paralyzing those muscles. Though the FDA has approved Botox only > for wrinkles between the eyebrows, the toxin is commonly used cosmetically in > other areas, such as the forehead and around the eyes. > > Botox is still a key ingredient in biochemical warfare, and there are reports > that Iraq " favors " this toxin over anthrax and other poisons. But research > suggests the same effect that makes it so effective in weapons of mass > destruction provides for some darn versatile medicine. Recent studies > indicate that Botox's muscle-freezing action appears effective in treating a > host of conditions - including bladder dysfunction, excessive sweating, > cerebral palsy, post-stroke spasticity, back pain, and even anal fissures. > > Some of the most promising research, however, has been in using this " wrinkle > remedy " as a treatment for migraines and headaches. In June, findings of 13 > studies presented at the American Headache Society annual meeting suggested > that Botox was effective in reducing migraines and other severe headaches. > The reason isn't clear, but some researchers believe Botox blocks nerves that > relay pain messages to the brain and relaxes muscles, making them less > sensitive to pain. > > " The biggest advantage to Botox is its lack of side effects, especially > compared to other medications, " neurologist Ondo, MD, of Baylor > College of Medicine, said in June in an AHS news release. > > " The FDA's first consideration is always safety, and I feel this product is > very safe, or, obviously, I wouldn't have recommended its approval, " says > dermatologist Ella L. Toombs, MD, a former FDA official who served on the > committee that approved Botox as a wrinkle treatment. > > What isn't widely known, Toombs says, is that drugs such as Botox -- > considered a lifestyle enhancer more than a lifesaver -- actually fall under > more FDA scrutiny than proposed treatments for serious conditions. > > " Every product the FDA evaluates looks at its benefit-to-risk ratio, " she > tells WebMD. " If you look at it from the standpoint of a cancer patient, one > might be more willing to accept the adverse events of a certain drug more > readily than when using a product that you don't necessarily need to improve > health. Therefore, we really look at their safety. " > > Prior to its approval as a wrinkle treatment, the FDA initially approved > Botox in 1989 to treat two eye disorders -- uncontrollable eyelid spasms and > misaligned eyes -- and in 2000 to treat a condition that causes severe neck > and shoulder contractions. It was a Canadian eye surgeon who first noted its > wrinkle-reducing properties. > > In other countries, such as the U.K., Botox has already been approved for > other conditions, including excessive sweating and spasticity. > > " Interestingly, except for cosmetic use, the U.S. is usually far behind other > countries in the drug approval process, " says Allergan spokeswoman > Cassiano, who acknowledges that Botox is currently being studied by private > researchers and in corporate-funded clinical trials to test some of its other > potential uses. > > > SOURCES: British Medical Journal, Nov. 23, 2002 • V. Misra, MD, > consultant clinical neurophysiologist, National Hospital for Neurology and > Neurosurgery, London • Ella L. Toombs, MD, former director, FDA Office of > Cosmetics and Colors, and dermatologist, Washington, D.C. • > Cassiano, Allergan spokeswoman • American Society for Aesthetic Plastic > Surgery • American Headache Society annual meeting, June 18, 2002. > > © 2002 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 23, 2002 Report Share Posted November 23, 2002 Debbie, I love how the Doctors say, " to the best of their knowledge its safe " - everytime I hear that, I think, here's another Doctor's opinion instead of real hard research. If terrorists are considering this as a weapon against us, there is no way I would put that in my body or my child's. I wanted to share that because it explained also how it paralyzes the muscle, I don't think that is your best defense in fighting tort, especially when for many stretches are an " easy " non-invasive answer. You don't have wrinkles anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 23, 2005 Report Share Posted January 23, 2005 , No research out currently specific on CMT. But Botulinum Toxin A has some positive effect on treating movement disorders, for spacisity after stroke, to help urinary problems, headache and back pain in adults with Cerebral Palsy. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 In a message dated 4/15/2005 5:11:18 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, GfijiG6@... writes: He explained that Botox will cause paralysis and why give CMT persons more grief? I hope you will make sure to check this out fully and ask other CMT doctor/experts. I want botox so bad. I wish they would do a trial on it. Like that would happen, LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2005 Report Share Posted April 16, 2005 Hi, I'm just getting the Botox injections in my back where I'm getting muscle spasms they will paralyse the muscles to stop the spasms as far as I know that is the only medical use for botox that I've herd of and insurance companys don't pay for it and it's very expensive about 500.00 a vile and I need two but I'm on Workers Comp and they pay for it if they think you need it so after the first treatment I will be fighting with them to get more treatments. I'm not getting them any place where I have problems with my CMT like my legs or arms and hands so I don't think it should be any problem and I'm going to ask the neourologest that I'm going to Monday to get an EMG since the last one I had was in 97. Thank you for your concern and input I realy apretiate it. Tommmy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 Hello Gretchen and Kathy, Look up Botox in Wikipedia. It says it is one of the most potent neurotoxins known. As injections go they must be extremely weak so as to be able to tolerate them. My guess is that the injections would cause some muscle weakness and numbness as a byproduct. EdM from NH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 28, 2006 Report Share Posted November 28, 2006 Ed, When I received word from Dr. that Botox was not good for CMT, that was good enough for me. He explained that even tho it is used in some neuromuscular situations, those of us with CMT already have problems with our muscles and why add more? I have complete respect for Dr. and the answers he provides to my questions. I'm happy with working out and taking Vit. E ~ Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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