History of BOTOX

The BOTOX toxin was extracted from the bacteria that are responsible for food
poisoning (Bocholina) during the late 60's to the early 70's.
Initially, the toxin was used for eye muscle problems, e.g. in cases where one eye
muscle is weaker and the other stronger ('squint'), the toxin is injected into the stronger
eye muscle - relaxing it - and thus resulting in permanent correction of the problem.
The toxin only commenced being used for the treatment of cerebral palsy in the latter
part of the 70's; and even then, it wasn't until '1995 that it was officially approved for use
for persons under '12 in Canada. In this respect, Canada is ahead of the U.S.A. in that
the latter has not yet officially approved the use of BOTOX in under 12's.
There are seven (7) neurotoxins of which the most commonly used is BOTOX A. It was
the first to be discovered and is used clinically.
Cerebral Palsy affects mainly the muscles, in particular where the nerves - or neuros -
come into the muscle of the limb and where they (nerves and muscles) attach. This
place where they attach is known as the neuro-muscular junction. As the nerves
transmit impulses across the neoro-muscular junction, the muscles contract and this
causes involuntary spastic movements. Administration of BOTOX by injection stops this
and stabilizes movement.



Who benefits from BOTOX?

Not everyone needs to have his or her spasticity removed. Some patients need to
have some degree of spasticity in order to walk, stand, etc. In other words, some
patients rely on their spasticity for their strength and removing it would weaken them.
Children born with Cerebral Palsy should have BOTOX injections as early as possible
before their muscles contract and stay permanently shortened. As they grow older and
their muscles are constantly in spasms, the children's muscles get shorter as the bones
grow longer and deformities occur. At this stage, it is too late to relax the muscles by
BOTOX injections but there is the option of surgery. All in all, younger patients are more
amenable to BOTOX than older ones hence the need to administer the toxin at an early
age.

Tweet