More Uses for Botox

TildeMan writes "According to this article on CNN, people using Botox for the usual cosmetic reasons are also experiencing fewer headaches and using fewer painkillers. For the relatively small number of side effects, it seems that Botox is pretty good medication! (Except for the paralysis thing that makes it work.)"

Comments

What's the old joke?

[gnovos]

Scientists have recently found a cure for cancer... it's a bullet to the head!

Now we found the cure for headaches... the plauge!

Info on Botox

[meridoc]

I did a little book-ish research on Botox last month. Here's what I found.

Botox is basically botulism toxin. Botulism works by imparing nerves from sending neurotransmitters, so your muscles don't work; when your muscles don't work, you can't breathe and you die from asphyxiation. Nice, huh?

Botox is a dilute protein extract of botulism. When injected under the skin, it works by paralyzing your muscles, thereby unabling the muscles from forming new wrinkles (I couldn't find how it actually erases existant wrinkles). I'm not terribly surprised people have fewer headaches, as it blocks nerve signals, although not sensory nerves.

The "problem" with Botox is that its effects disappear after a few months, so a fresh set of injections is needed.

Botox isn't new; as the article says, it's been used for a few years for treatment of other muscle problems, including palsies.

Check out some articles:

Botox

this one on botulism and medicinal uses

the product's site

Europe's Botox equivalent, Dysport

a nice technical pdf on botulism

a sort of faq-like series on botulism and Botox

Re:Info on Botox

[crzymke]

The way Botulism works is that it blocks the neurotrasmitter Acetylcholine (ACh) from acting on their receptors. The reason it works so well on wrinkles and their muscles is because ACh is used exclusively on neuromuscular junctions..so if a nerve is hitting a muslces, its using ACh

but as far as pain receptors go..they don't use ACh, in fact don't use any neurotransmitter to sense pain as far as i know. (thats why your face doesn't go numb when using Botox). but if Botox is localized right it shouldn't be doing much of anything besides paralyzing muscles (which is why they use it to help prevent eye twitching and the like)

maybe the claims are just placebo

Re:Snake oil anyone?

[zenyu]

I am fairly certain similar results would be obtained were a local anaesthetic administered via "about 10 to 25 shots".

Probably, but Botox lasts for months, local anestisia lasts for a few hours. I've heard people praise for migranes. I wouldn't want it if it had to be injected in my face. But Imitrex works for me, if it didn't I might try it.