Botulinum Toxin (Botox)
Even though doctors use Botulinum Toxin (Botox) as a wrinkle remover, neurologists also use it to loosen muscles and cure migraines. Botulinum toxin (Botox) is one of the most potent neurotoxins existing medically. In most medical scenarios, most individuals link this toxin to the most fatal neural complication botulism, although its purified forms find wide application in the medical field, as a remedy to many neural problems. Regardless of the recommended dosage, the use of more than 1ng per kilogram of the toxin via injections or more than 3ng per kilogram through the nose is very lethal and can result in serious health complications (Kedlaya & Linda, 2008, p.1).
Botulinum toxin injection is one of the most recommended remedies to severe muscle problems due to its fast action in alleviating muscle pains and spasms. Such muscle problems result in most cases because of abnormal physical exertion on muscles, which may result in doing activities that require a lot of energy. In addition, in most working or extensive exercise conditions, the likelihoods of such spasms occurring are high, because most of such activities involve long-standing or sitting hours and the use of excessive physical energy in manipulating objects. On the other hand, biologically this health condition can result because of mineral deficiencies, primarily potassium, calcium, and magnesium in the body, which are necessary for normal working of the muscles. Other biological causes of muscle problems include abuse of some medications, for example, diuretics and estrogens, artery anomalies, and infectious diseases, for example, poliomyelitis and tetanus. In addition to these causes, the occurrence of such severe spasms can be an indication of many underlying complex neuromuscular health complications. Common types of neurological disorders that can cause such severe pains include cerebral palsy and sclerosis (University of Rochester Medical Center, 2009, Para. 2-5). Therefore, because of the failure of simple methods that treat muscle problems, massage, majority of neurological muscle complications may require advanced medical intervention, for example, use of radiofrequency, surgical treatment, and use of toxin injections, primarily Botulinum toxin (Vanek & Menkes, 2010, p.1).
Use of Botulinum Toxin (Botox) in Neurology
Botox is one of the best remedies to most neurological muscle problems, which in most cases are primary causative agents of extreme and uncontainable muscle pains and spasms. This drug is even legal as per provisions of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), due to its effectiveness in alleviating muscle pains (resulting because of neurological anomalies) and its minimal side effects on users. For this drug to be fit for medical use, it has to undergo a thorough purification process aimed at purifying the toxicity effect associated with the toxin. The toxin is a product of the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum, which is the primary causative agent of the paralysis causing medical complication Botulism. In addition, it is important to note that, apart from its use as a pain remedy, the toxin has other neurological uses namely; in the treatment of muscle twitching problems, blepharospasm, and treatment of sweat gland anomalies; associated with abnormal sweating (Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, 2010, p.1).
The Working Mechanism of Botulinum Toxin
Before we go any further, I will explain how muscles function. Muscles in the human body function with help of the ACh neurotransmitter that gets in the muscle cells and makes them contract, it is a neurotransmitter that makes the muscles work correctly. Muscle spasms mostly occur when the body releases too much Ach. Injection of Botox into the muscle stops the body from releasing ACh hence, allowing the muscle to relax making pains and spasms subside. Medically, there exist seven strands of this particular toxin given alphabets A to G, although the most used is Type A, B, C. The toxin’s working depends on its ability to attach to the nerve endings, hence inhibiting the production of acetylcholine, which causes a deteriorating and atrophic effect on connective muscles. In addition to its inhibition ability on acetylcholine production, this toxin also inhibits the production of common body proteins responsible for muscle movements. Such proteins include VAMP, SNAP-25, and syntaxin. Common examples of the working mechanism of this toxin are the working of species A, which is an inhibitor to the production of protein SNAP-25, and species B, D, and F, which are inhibitors to the production of protein VAMP. Generally, the main mechanism behind the working of this toxin is to act as an impediment on the normal passage of impulses from the nerve ending to the brain and vice versa hence, limiting muscle movements. On the other hand, as concerns alleviating naturopathic pains, the toxin achieves this by developing an inhibitory mechanism on the production of two main substances from pain terminals namely: P and CGRP (Panikar & Muthane, 2003, pp. 455-460)
Users need to note that, the healing power of this toxin does not last forever; it lasts for a period of three to four months. Such effects from the drug are short-lived because normally the body has a natural mechanism of creating new nerve endings, which are crucial for the transmission of impulses hence, making the effect to be short-lived. Apart from such inhibitory physiological mechanisms of the body, in most cases physical or occupational therapies measures taken by individuals, may act as suppressing factors on the toxin’s working. On the other hand, biologically, some individuals may develop an antibody reaction against effects resulting from the toxin, hence making it’s working ineffective. It is also necessary to note that, the main reason behind medics injecting this toxin directly into the muscle is because, muscles being one section of the human body with numerous blood veins, the likelihoods of the drug spreading to the affected body parts after injections are high (Bhatia, 2000, Para. 5-6)
The purified forms of this toxin find wide application in all muscle spasm problems in children and adults. Common problems that this drug can help to alleviate include muscle spasms, and Dystonia, cerebral palsy; a muscle problem common in young adults and growing children, larynx muscle problems, and brain injuries. Although this toxin is associated with botulism, all individuals need to note that, chances of contracting the complication are low, due to the toxin’s purified status. Most side effects of the toxin result because of usage of wrong doses and applying the injections on wrong body parts. Common side effects associated with the toxin include short-lived muscle flaws, dizziness, dysphagia; a medical complication that affects the appropriate working of the oropharynx, and in rare cases bladder control problems. As concerns its dosage, there is a variation in the recommended amounts that medics should use on patients because the tailoring of injection quantities must be proportional to the muscle mass and the muscle complication (Kedlaya & Linda, 2008, p.1).
In its use, users need to take precautions to avoid chances of toxin abuse. To avoid chances of abuse, as specified by the Food and Drug Association, there is a need for close supervision of patients under this treatment, and at all times medics must be ready to offer appropriate advice in case the need arises on the use of the toxin’s injections.
Reference List
Bhatia, K. P. (2000). Uses of botulinum toxin injection in medicine today. BMJ: Clinical Review, 320, 161-165. Web.
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. (2010). Botulinum toxin injections. DMRF-Canada. Web.
Kedlaya, D., & Linda, L. (2008). Botulinum Toxin: overview. E-medicine. Web.
Panikar, J.N., & Muthane, U. B. (2003). Botulinum toxins: pharmacology and its current Therapeutic evidence for use. Neural India, 51(4), pp. 455-460.
University of Rochester Medical Center (2009). URMC neurology patient care: clinical services Botulinum toxin (Botox) clinic. URMC. Web.
Vanek, Z. F., & Menkes, J. H. (2010). Spasticity: introduction to Pathophysiology. E-Medicine. Web.