FDA Approved Botox Injections

Non-cosmetic uses for Botox, you may not be aware of: When most people think of Botox Treatment, then immediately think of wrinkle treatment. Though botulinum toxin (aka Botox) has made a huge splash in the cosmetic enhancement industry. Botox is a versatile product that can be used to treat a variety of medical conditions. 1) Overactive Bladder (FDA-Approved) Just recently, Allergan received the go-ahead from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat patients with overactive bladder using Botox. Overactive bladder, a condition characterized by urinary urgency, urge incontinence (urine leakage), and frequent urination, has been traditionally difficult to treat. Botox acts to temporarily paralyze the bladder muscles once injected – diminishing the muscle contractions responsible for symptoms of overactive bladder. Results typically last 6-8 months, and then Botox must be re-injected. 2) Excessive Sweating (FDA-Approved) For nearly a decade, Botox has been approved to treat excessive underarm sweating, otherwise known as hyperhidrosis. It’s also been proven to alleviate symptoms of sweating in other regions of the body such as the feet and palms. Hyperhidrosis occurs as a result of overactive sweat glands. Botox works for hyperhidrosis by blocking chemical signals from the nerves that activate these sweat glands. Most patients experience decreased sweat production in less than three days, and the results can last for up to nine months. 3) Migraines (FDA-Approved)

Since 2010, Botox has been approved to alleviate migraine headaches in patients who experience 15 or more per month. Treatment involves 25-30 small injections in the head every three months, which isn’t ideal for patients weary of needles. Additionally, recent research has shown Botox to be only modestly effective. For chronic sufferers, Botox for migraine, on average, prevented about two headaches per month. However, results can vary greatly among patients. Because migraines are still largely misunderstood, it’s difficult to know which patients will respond best to regular treatment with Botox. 4) Crossed Eyes (FDA-Approved) Botox has been approved to treat a variety of eye conditions such as eyelid spasms, blurred vision, and crossed eyes. In fact, Botox was approved to treat these eye conditions long before it was approved to treat wrinkles. Crossed eyes occur when the muscles on one side of the eye are weaker than muscles on the opposite side. This causes the eyeball to be pulled towards the stronger side. Botox injections work by calming the overactive muscles – bringing the eye back into proper alignment. 5) Teeth Grinding (Not FDA-Approved) Though more research is needed, the results of a recent study have suggested that Botox may be an effective treatment for nighttime teeth grinding, otherwise known as nocturnal bruxism. Nighttime teeth grinding is a common condition, affecting around 15 percent of people, and has been associated with chronic headaches and pain in the jaw area. In the study, patients who received Botox injections experienced significant improvements in comparison to patients who received a placebo (an inactive substance). More research is needed before Botox can be FDA-approved for teeth grinding, but it can be used as an “off label” treatment because it has been approved for other uses.