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Botulinum toxin, or botulinum neurotoxin (commonly called botox), is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. [24] It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction , thus causing flaccid paralysis . [ 25 ]
Phenol injections can be used, or botulinum toxin [24] [18] [19] [25] injections into the muscle belly, to attempt to dampen the signals between nerve and muscle. The effectiveness of medications vary between individuals, and vary based on location of the upper motor neuron lesion (in the brain or the spinal cord).
Botulinum toxin treatment of other muscle disorders [ edit ] By 1982, eye muscles had been injected for strabismus and nystagmus (jerky, involuntary eye movements), eyelid muscles for retraction and blepharospasm (sustained, involuntary contractions of muscles around the eye), facial muscles for hemifacial spasm, and limb muscles for dystonia ...
Drugs such as baclofen, benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam), tizanidine, and sometimes dantrolene have shown promise in the effort to diminish spasticity. [10] Botulinum toxin ("Botox") type A may reduce spasticity a few months at a time and has frequently been considered a beneficial treatment for children with SHCP and other forms of CP. [5]
Botulinum toxin is focal treatment, meaning that a limited number of muscles can be injected at the same time. The effect of the toxin is reversible and a reinjection may be needed every 4–6 months. [61] In children it decreases spasticity and improve range of motion and thus has become commonly used.
Along with some strains of Clostridium butyricum and Clostridium baratii, these bacteria all produce the toxin. [2] Botulinum toxin can cause botulism, a severe flaccid paralytic disease in humans and other animals, [3] and is the most potent toxin known to science, natural or synthetic, with a lethal dose of 1.3–2.1 ng/kg in humans. [4] [5]
BAT is the only FDA-approved product available for treating botulism in adults, and for botulism in infants caused by botulinum toxins other than types A and B. BAT has been used to treat a case of type F infant botulism and, on a case-by-case basis, may be used for future cases of non-type A and non-type B infant botulism.
Neurotoxicity can result from organ transplants, radiation treatment, certain drug therapies, recreational drug use, exposure to heavy metals, bites from certain species of venomous snakes, pesticides, [2] [3] certain industrial cleaning solvents, [4] fuels [5] and certain naturally occurring substances. Symptoms may appear immediately after ...