Q. What is BOTOX®?
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A. BOTOX® is a formulation of botulinum toxin type A. It is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium produces a protein that blocks the release of acetylcholine and relaxes muscles. Type A is just one of seven different types of botulinum toxin (A, B, C1, D, E, F, and G), and each has different properties and actions. No two of these botulinum toxins are alike.
More than 100 years of research have expanded our knowledge of botulinum toxin type A from the identification of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum to the commercialization of botulinum toxin type A as BOTOX®.
In the 1960s, the muscle-relaxing properties of botulinum toxin type A were tapped for investigational use in realigning crossed eyes. These early studies paved the way for treating other conditions caused by overactive muscles with botulinum toxin type A.
Today, BOTOX® is produced in controlled laboratory conditions and given in extremely small therapeutic doses. It has helped over 1 million patients worldwide with conditions caused by overactive muscles.
BOTOX® is indicated for the treatment of cervical dystonia in adults to decrease the severity of abnormal head position and associated neck pain. BOTOX® is also indicated for the treatment of blepharospasm associated with dystonia, including benign essential blepharospasm or VII nerve disorders in people 12 years of age and above.
The most requently reported adverse reactions in patients with cervical dystonia are dysphagia (19%), upper respiratory infection (12%), neck pain (11%), and headache (11%). The most frequently reported adverse reactions in patients with blepharospasm are drooping of the eyelid (21%), superficial punctate keratitis (6%), and eye dryness (6%). Patients with neuromuscular disorders may be at increased risk of clinically significant systemic effects including severe dysphagia and respiratory compromise from typical doses of BOTOX®. BOTOX® is contraindicated in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s). The effects of BOTOX® therapy may be increased with the use of aminoglycoside antibiotics or with other drugs that interfere with neuromuscular transmission.
Q. Is BOTOX® Cosmetic a new treatment? back to top
A. No. BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used for more than 11 years to treat over 1 million patients worldwide, and it is approved by the health ministries of at least 70 countries. BOTOX® Cosmetic has also been endorsed by the American Academy of Neurology and the National Institutes of Health since 1990.
Q. How is BOTOX® different from other botulinum toxin treatments?
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BOTOX® is Allergan's brand of botulinum toxin type A. A brand of botulinum toxin type B is also now available. The two toxins are different in several ways:
- They are different serotypes
- They have different manufacturing processes
- They work differently
- They require different doses
Q. How is BOTOX® different from oral treatments?
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A. When drugs are taken by mouth, they are distributed throughout the body by the blood system. In contrast, BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are administered directly into the desired site of action. BOTOX® Cosmetic is not expected to be present in the bloodstream at measurable levels following treatment at the recommended dosage, and typically remains in the injected muscle, although some may spread to the adjacent muscle.
Q. How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work? back to top
A. Normally, your brain sends electrochemical messages to your muscles to make them contract and move. These messages are transmitted from a nerve to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine. When too much acetylcholine is released, muscles become overly active and spasm or tense up.
BOTOX® Cosmetic blocks the nerve from releasing acetylcholine. As a result, the muscle spasms stop or are greatly reduced, providing relief from symptoms. Dr. Mitts will let you know how much BOTOX® Cosmetic is needed to treat you effectively.
It's important to remember that botulinum toxin treatment is not a cure. For many people, however, its effects have been dramatic. With BOTOX® Cosmetic, the nerve will take about 3 months to recover and begin to release acetylcholine, and the muscles may become overactive again. At that point, another injection will be needed to provide relief, as long as no allergic reactions or other significant side effects occurred.
Q. How long can I be treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic?
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A. Each treatment typically lasts up to 3 months and can be repeated as long as your condition responds to BOTOX® Cosmetic and you do not have any serious allergic reactions or other significant side effects. BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used for more than 11 years to treat more than 1 million patients worldwide, and although formal, long-term clinical evaluations have not been conducted, its safety in long-term use has been well established.
Although most people continue to respond to BOTOX® Cosmetic injections, some people have experienced a diminished response over time. There may be several explanations for this:
- Changes in your condition - If the pattern of your muscle activity changes, Dr. Mitts may need to inject the toxin into new muscles and/or change your dose. Identifying and injecting the affected muscle can be difficult, complicated by the changing pattern of muscle involvement and progression of the disorder.
- Setting appropriate expectations - You may believe your first BOTOX® Cosmetic injection was more helpful than subsequent injections. That's because your condition was perhaps quite severe when you had your first injection. Subsequent injections are usually given before your condition becomes that severe again. Therefore, the relief you experienced with subsequent injections may not have been as dramatic as the first time.
- Antibody formation - When foreign proteins, like botulinum toxins, enter your body, antibodies may form. If antibodies to botulinum toxin develop, you may no longer respond to the BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment. You may want to consider Restylane
Because botulinum toxins are usually used to treat chronic conditions, it's important to preserve responsiveness to therapy.
Q. How can I help maintain my response to BOTOX® Cosmetic? back to top
A. While the critical factors for neutralizing antibody formation have not been well characterized, you may be able to help maintain your response to BOTOX® Cosmetic by minimizing your total exposure. The potential for antibody formation may be minimized by injecting with the lowest effective dose given at the longest feasible intervals between injections.
Q. Do BOTOX® Cosmetic injections hurt? back to top
A. Some people report minor, temporary discomfort from the injection. BOTOX® Cosmetic is reconstituted with sterile, preservative-free, normal saline for injection. The neutral pH of the injected solution, in combination with the fine-gauge needle Dr. Mitts will use, can help to minimize any injection-related pain.
Q. When will BOTOX® Cosmetic start to work?
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A. If you're receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic for cervical dystonia (to decrease the severity of abnormal head position and associated neck pain), you'll usually see the effects within 2 weeks of the injection. If you're receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic for blepharospasm, you'll usually see effects within 3 days.
Q. How long will the effect last? back to top
A. BOTOX® Cosmetic offers sustained relief, dose after dose. The relief you'll feel from one treatment of BOTOX® Cosmetic will normally last for up to 3 months. Treatments can be continued as long as your condition responds to BOTOX® Cosmetic, and you do not have any serious allergic reactions or other significant side effects. When the relief begins to fade, you'll need to return to Dr. Mitts for your next treatment.
Usually, BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is required approximately four times per year. Because symptoms can change over time, the amount and duration of relief you'll experience can vary. Consult Dr. Mitts, and he will help you determine how to achieve the best possible results with BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Q. What side effects have been seen with BOTOX®?
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A. The most frequently reported adverse reactions in patients receiving BOTOX® for the treatment of cervical dystonia are dysphagia (difficulty swallowing, 19%), upper respiratory infection (such as a cold or flu, 12%), neck pain (11%), and headache (11%). Dysphagia is a commonly reported adverse event following treatment of cervical dystonia patients. In these patients, there are reports of rare cases of dysphagia serious enough to require the insertion of a gastric feeding tube (a tube for introducing nutritious, high-calorie fluids into the stomach.)
The most frequently reported treatment-related adverse reactions in patients receiving BOTOX® for the treatment of blepharospasm are ptosis (droopy eyelids, 21%), superficial punctuate keratitis (inflammation of the cornea characterized by small erosions of the tissue covering the cornea, 6%), and eye dryness (6%). Reduced blinking from BOTOX® injection of the orbicularis muscle can lead to corneal exposure, persistent epithelial defect (a defect in the corneal covering) and corneal ulceration (a hollowed-out cavity in the cornea), especially in patients with VII nerve disorders.
In general, adverse reactions occur within the first week following injection of BOTOX® and, while generally transient, may last several months. Localized pain, tenderness and/or bruising may be associated with the injection. Local weakness of the injected muscle(s) represents the expected pharmacological action of botulinum toxin. However, weakness of adjacent muscles may also occur due to spread of toxin.
Please seek immediate medical attention if swallowing, speech, or respiratory (breathing) disorders arise.
Q. Is BOTOX® Cosmetic right for me? back to top
A. Dr. Mitts will help you decide if BOTOX® Cosmetic is right for you. In order to make the right treatment decision, you should discuss the effectiveness and side effects with him before choosing the treatment.
Make sure Dr. Mitts knows if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking any medications before receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic injections. Additionally, you should not receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if you have an infection at the injection site.
BOTOX® Cosmetic should be used with caution if you have other neurological diseases or disorders, or if you are taking aminoglycoside antibiotics or other drugs that interfere with neuromuscular transmission. Be sure to tell Dr. Mitts about any prescription or over-the-counter medications you are taking before receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Q. How can I find out if my insurance covers BOTOX®?
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A. The BOTOX® Advantage Program Reimbursement Hotline has been helping patients get answers to their BOTOX® reimbursement questions for years. In addition, BOTOX® has more than a decade of reimbursement experience with insurance carriers and health care providers. It is this experience that has resulted in BOTOX® coverage by most payers, including Medicare and Medicaid; particularly for cervical dystonia.
Some insurance plans cover BOTOX® under the medical benefit and others cover BOTOX® under the pharmacy benefit. To find out how BOTOX® is covered under your insurance plan, call the BOTOX® Advantage Program Reimbursement Hotline, toll-free, at 1-800-530-6680 (Please Note, this service is provided by Allergan, Inc., not Plastikare, Inc.). Their knowledgeable Hotline staff is available to assist you with your insurance coverage questions Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm ET.
Additionally, Hotline representatives will help patients research alternative coverage for those who do not have insurance or cannot qualify for government assistance. If the Hotline representatives cannot find alternative coverage, they will help determine if patients meet the criteria for the BOTOX® Patient Assistance Program. The BOTOX® Patient Assistance Program is available to all patients who lack insurance coverage and demonstrate financial need.
Q. Where can I learn more about blepharospasm and cervical dystonia? back to top
A. Visiting our office is the best way to get information about your condition and its treatment. However, there are several organizations that you may also find helpful:
Benign Essential Blepharospasm
Research Foundation (BEBRF)
(409) 832-0788
www.blepharospasm.org
Dystonia Medical Research
Foundation (DMRF)
(312) 755-0198 · (800) 377-DYST
www.dystonia-foundation.org
Spasmodic Torticollis Dystonia, Inc.
(262) 560-9534 · (888) 445-4588
www.spasmodictorticollis.org
The National Spasmodic Torticollis Association (NSTA)
(714) 378-7837 · (800) 487-8385
www.torticollis.org
WE MOVE--Worldwide Education and Awareness for Movement Disorders
(800) 437-MOV2
www.wemove.org
For more information on BOTOX®, please contact us.
| BOTOX® is a registered trademark of Allergan, Inc. Plastikare is not affiliated with Allergan, Inc. |
| Restylane® is a registered trademark of Q-Med. Plastikare is not affiliated with Q-Med. |
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