EFFECT OF BOTOX

You might have thought that Botox, the popular drug made from botulinum toxin, was simple spot treatment for everything from frown lines to muscle spasms. But studies have shown that the effects of the drugs can actually spread throughout the body, causing difficulty swallowing and breathing and even death. Acting on this mounting data, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced strict new labeling requirements for Botox and similar products yesterday, reports The New York Times.

The drugs are manufactured from the botulinum toxin, which is a toxic protein associated with botulism, the disease that can result in paralysis and death. In a controlled dose and purified form, the toxin was approved by the FDA in 1989 to treat crossed eyes and eyelid twitching, in 2000 to treat abnormal pain or twitching in the neck (cervical dystonia) and in 2002 to treat frown lines. It's also approved for use to mitigate excessive armpit sweating.

In a 2005 paper the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology alerted the FDA to 28 deaths from noncosmetic uses of Botox, and a January 2008 petition to the FDA from Public Citizen, a nonprofit public-interest group, called for stricter regulation of the drug, pointing to adverse reactions, deaths and the European Union's firmer warnings. Nineteen days later, the FDA acknowledged the data (noting, however, that the worst cases were from unapproved uses of the drug, particularly those in children to treat limb spasms associated with cerebral palsy) and promised to review the products' safety.

Yesterday's decision comes as a result of this review, in which the FDA found evidence of even more adverse reactions and deaths. The new warning—dubbed a "black-box warning" due to its severity—will note "the risk of adverse events when the effects of the toxin spread beyond the site where it is injected," according to the FDA's Web site. The FDA will also require manufacturers to provide information to doctors and patients about the risks.

THE HISTORY OF BOTOX

Its ability to inject a wonderfully paralyzing and youthful appearance into scores of celebrity and non–celebrity faces was discovered 15 years ago, Mapes writes. But it wasn’t until five years ago that Botox received FDA approval. Take a trip back in time to see how Botox evolved to be the poison of all poisons and the prettiest one. 

It all began with the sausage in the 1820’s when Dr. Justinus Kerner conducted case studies and experiments to learn what was behind the deaths of some Germans who had consumed sausage. Turns out it was food–borne botulism. Thanks to Dr. Kerner, we found out more about this poison, including its neurological symptoms—from droopy eyelids to respiratory failure—and using it therapeutically. Then in the 1890’s Dr. Emile Pierre van Ermengem from Belgium identified strains A through G of botulinum toxin, four of which—A, B, E and F—can make us humans sick.

Then in the 1940’s it was time to get creative and use the poison for bad. According to a 2004 article published in the journal Clinical Medicine, during WWII, there was a plan for Chinese prostitutes to plant capsules with botulinum toxin inside the food and drinks of high–ranking Japanese officials. But the poisonous plan never went through.

The 1950’s and 60’s welcomed the good side of botulinum. During these years, Dr. Edward J. Schantz and others purified botulinum toxin type A into crystalline form. Dr. Vernon Brooks discovered that small doses of botulinum relax the muscle temporarily. And ophthalmologist Dr. Alan B. Scott began injecting monkeys with the toxin believing it could help with crossed eyes.

Animal subjects were then replaced with humans in the next decade when Dr. Scott received government approval to use human participants in his scientific work. Results revealed that botulinum toxin type A was a safe and effective treatment for crossed eyes. Other research showed botulinum toxin was helpful in relieving all kinds of spasms from facial to vocal cord spasms. In 1989—a year after Allergen bought the distribution rights to the toxin—the FDA approved botulinum toxin type A for treating crossed eyes and spasms in the eye muscle. Soon Allergen went further and bought Dr. Scott’s company and “Botox” was born!

As more research was conducted, it was uncovered that Botox temporarily cured excessive sweating and cerebral palsy in the 1990’s. Then a serendipitous event occurred when ophthalmologist Dr. Jean Carruthers noticed her patients were looking fabulously wrinkle–free. After Dr. Carruthers and her husband’s (a dermatologist) study on Botox’s ability to decrease frown lines was published, Botox took off—so much so that we actually ran out of it in the late 90’s, but luckily only for a very short time.

With Botox Cosmetic officially approved in 2002 for fixing frown lines and then two years later for excessive underarm sweating, Allergen’s lucrative business has been booming with sales exceeding $1 billion in 2006.

Mapes also writes about a recent backlash with negative portrayals of Botox showing up in several television shows along with concerns about its misuse and the experience and professionalism of those doing the shooting, growing.

INTRODUCTION OF BOTOX

Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It's the same toxin that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called botulism. Botox injections work by weakening or paralyzing certain muscles or by blocking certain nerves. The effects last about three to four months. Side effects can include pain at the injection site, flu-like symptoms, headache and upset stomach. Injections in the face may also cause temporary drooping eyelids.

            In large amounts, this toxin can cause botulism which you probably associate with food poisoning. Despite the fact that one of the most serious complications of botulism is paralysis, scientists have discovered a way to use it to human advantage. Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved such usage in the late 1980s upon the discovery that Botox could stop ailments like blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking) and strabismus (lazy eye). Cosmetic physicians have been using Botox for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial creases. In April 2002, Botox gained FDA approval for treatment of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows called glabellar lines. However, Botox is often used for other areas of the face as well.

Why some people use botox?

Use for Medical Treatment

Botox was first approved in 1989 to treat two eye muscle disorders–uncontrollable blinking (blepharospasm) and misaligned eyes (strabismus). In 2000, the toxin was approved to treat a neurological movement disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions, known as cervical dystonia.

Excessive Sweating or profuse sweating can be cured with Botox injection and dry sol but these medicinal treatments for Excessive Sweating cannot undo the physiological damage that it does to an individual.

Botox has been available for over a decade and has been used to treat more than 1 million patients with various conditions, including spasticity and movement disorders. With FDA approval, the United States joins more than 20 other countries that have already approved the use of Botox for excessive sweating. Botox can prevent sweating for months by blocking the release of acetylcholine from the nerve endings – that cause the glands to produce sweat. Botox has been used to reduce sweating in the underarms, palms of the hands and soles of the feet.

Use for Cosmetic Treatment

Botulinum toxin works by relaxing muscle and thus preventing wrinkles and smoothing out lines. Wrinkle creams have been on the market for years and there is always controversy over which ones actually work and which ones are downright scams. Cream treatments lift and firm your skin while getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to BOTOX Cosmetic. Wrinkles that are present in the skin before active contraction of muscles will not be removed with BOTOX Cosmetic.
Effects are usually noticed within a few days. Effects of the treatment generally last four to six months, and at that time, a patient can opt for a repeat treatment to maintain the positive results.

Fillers and Botox is a mainstay of cosmetic dermatology, the science of looking younger without surgery. Traditionally, fillers erase the deep folds that bracket your mouth. Fillers fill the fold, elevating it, but that does not stop the muscle activity. Sometimes BOTOX and fillers will be used together in a single location, to produce more rapid initial improvement. Filler materials, such as Restyling, plump up the skin. Although fillers reduce the appearance of lines when there is no facial expression, the moment the person does smile or frown, the lines reappear.

Who are using a Botox?

Most Botox users are middle-aged working mothers in their 40s and 50s, according to a new ASAPS survey. The most frequently cited reason in the survey was "to look more relaxed, less stressed."

The Aesthetic Surgery Education & Research Foundation (ASERF), a research branch of the ASAPS, did the survey. The two-page questionnaire was mailed to more than 1,600 doctors who are members of the ASAPS; 1,048 surveys were processed.

Botox is the brand name of botulinum toxin type A. It's made from a very small dose of the toxin. Botox is injected with a fine needle into specific muscles, blocking nerve signals to those muscles and preventing them from contracting. That makes wrinkles relax and soften.

Botox is approved for the "temporary improvement in moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age," says the web site of Allergan, the company that makes Botox.

In the ASAPS' survey, just over half of respondents (51%) said their injections lasted four to six months. An additional 38% said the shots wore off after one to three months.

Virtually all survey participants were women (97%). Most were in their 40s and early 50s. The age breakdown was:

• 41-45 years: 19%
• 45-50 years: 19%
• 51-55 years: 18%
• 36-40 years: 13%
• 55-60 years: 13%

Most had two children (33%). Twenty-six percent did not have children. Seventeen percent had three children. Seventeen percent had one child, and 7% had four or more kids.

Most were married or had a life partner (67%), 12% were divorced, 12% were single, 7% were in a committed relationship, and 2% were widowed.

HOW DOES BOTOX WORK?

Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften. It is most often used on forehead lines, crow's feet (lines around the eye) and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to botox.

WHAT IS BOTOX?

Botox is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. In large amounts, this toxin can cause botulism, which you probably associate with food poisoning. Despite the fact that one of the most serious complications of botulism is paralysis, scientists have discovered a way to use it to human advantage. Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles.

The FDA approved such usage in the late 1980s upon the discovery that botox could stop ailments like blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking) and strabismus (lazy eye). Cosmetic physicians have been using Botox for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial creases. In April 2002, botox gained FDA approval for treatment of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows - called glabellar lines. However, botox is often used for other areas of the face as well.