FDA OKs Botox Treatment for Muscle Spasms

Long ridiculed for its cosmetic uses, Botox gained some medical cred this week thanks to its approval by the FDA as a treatment for some serious symptoms.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Botox to treat muscle spasms in the elbow, wrist and fingers often seen in people who have suffered a stroke, traumatic brain injury or who are in the later stages of multiple sclerosis.

"Muscles affected by spasticity have increased stiffness and tightness, which may lead to pain, difficulties with hygiene and other activities of daily living, and may affect how a patient looks," said Russell Katz, M.D., director of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in a press release.

Botox is best-known for its cosmetic uses, including the smoothing of frown lines, forehead wrinkles and crow's feet as well as a treatment for excessive underarm and palm sweating. It has previously been approved to treat neck spasms, according to BusinessWeek.

The drug is actually a purified form of the deadly poison botulinum that works by temporarily blocking the connections between nerves and muscles, resulting in a temporary paralysis of the muscle. However, just last year, the company added a warning label indicating that the toxin can spread from the treatment area to other areas of the body, causing symptoms similar to those of botulism, such as life-threatening difficulties breathing and swallowing.

Even though Botox was only just approved by the FDA for treatment of upper limb spasms, it's likely many doctors have been prescribing it for this purpose for some time. By law, Botox manufacturer Allergan can't promote Botox for unapproved uses, but doctors are free to prescribe it for all kinds of off-label purposes.

Allergan is currently studying Botox as a treatment for migraine headaches.

Photo by stevendepolo via Flickr.