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Pharmacotherapy with Botulinum Toxin: Harnessing Nature's Most Potent Neurotoxin
Author(s) -
Bell Mark S.,
Vermeulen Lee C.,
Sperling Keith B.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
pharmacotherapy: the journal of human pharmacology and drug therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.227
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1875-9114
pISSN - 0277-0008
DOI - 10.1592/phco.20.13.1079.35040
Subject(s) - blepharospasm , botulinum toxin , medicine , hyperhidrosis , spasticity , spasmodic torticollis , botulism , pharmacotherapy , botulinum neurotoxin , movement disorders , torticollis , pharmacology , dermatology , anesthesia , toxin , surgery , biology , disease , genetics , biochemistry
Botulinum toxin (BTX), a potent biologic neurotoxin, commonly is associated with lethal outbreaks of food poisoning; however, it also plays a role as a therapeutic agent. Since the 1970s physicians have investigated BTX therapy in patients with neurologic disorders. The number of applications greatly expanded over the years to include certain focal dystonias (blepharospasm, torticollis, laryngeal dystonias, writer's cramp), strabismus, and a wide variety of other indications (gastrointestinal disorders, cosmetic wrinkle correction, spasticity, hyperhidrosis). BTX's safety and efficacy are reviewed.