Why is this medication prescribed?OnabotulinumtoxinA injection (Botox) is used to relieve the symptoms of cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis; uncontrollable tightening of the neck muscles that may cause neck pain and abnormal head positions) in adults, strabismus (an eye muscle problem that causes the eyes to turn inward or outward) and blepharospasm (uncontrollable tightening of the eyelid muscles that may cause blinking, squinting, and abnormal eyelid movements) in people 12 years of age and older, and upper limb spasticity (increased muscle stiffness) in the elbow, wrist, and fingers in adults.OnabotulinumtoxinA injection (Botox) is also used to control severe underarm sweating in adults that cannot be treated with products that are applied to the skin.This medication is also used to prevent headaches in patients with chronic migraine (severe, throbbing headaches that sometimes are accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound and light) that happen on 15 or more days each month and last for 4 hours or longer each time in people 18 years of age and older.OnabotulinumtoxinA injection (Botox Cosmetic) is used to temporarily smooth frown lines (wrinkles between the eyebrows) in adults up to 65 years of age.OnabotulinumtoxinA injection is in a cla*s of medications called neurotoxins.When onabotulinumtoxinA injection is injected into a muscle, it blocks the nerve signals that cause uncontrollable tightening and movements of the muscle.When onabotulinumtoxinA injection is injected into a sweat gland, it decreases the activity of the gland to reduce sweating.
How should this medication be used?
OnabotulinumtoxinA injection comes as a powder to be mixed with a liquid and injected into a muscle or into the skin by a doctor.Your doctor will choose the best place to inject the medication in order to treat your condition.If you are using onabotulinumtoxinA to treat frown lines, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, strabismus, upper limb spasticity, or chronic migraine, you may receive additional injections every 3 to 4 months, depending on your condition and on how long the effects of the treatment last.If you are using onabotulinumtoxinA injection to treat severe underarm sweating, you may need to receive additional injections once every 6 to 7 months or when your symptoms return.
If you are receiving onabotulinumtoxinA injection to treat severe underarm sweating, your doctor will probably perform a test to find the areas that need to be treated.Your doctor will tell you how to prepare for this test.You will probably be told to shave your underarms and not to use nonprescription deodorants or antiperspirants for 24 hours before the test.
Your doctor will probably start you on a low dose of onabotulinumtoxinA injection and gradually change your dose according to your response to the medication.
Your doctor may use an anesthetic cream, a cold pack, or eye drops to numb your skin or eyes before injecting onabotulinumtoxinA.
One brand or type of botulinum toxin cannot be substituted for another.
OnabotulinumtoxinA injection may help control your condition but will not cure it.It may take a few days or up to several weeks before you feel the full benefit of onabotulinumtoxinA injection.Ask your doctor when you can expect to see improvement, and call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve during the expected time.
Are there other uses for this medicine?
OnabotulinumtoxinA injection is also sometimes used to treat other conditions in which abnormal muscle tightening causes pain, abnormal movements, or other symptoms.OnabotulinumtoxinA injection is also sometimes used to treat excessive sweating of the hands, excessive sweating that occurs during or after eating, many types of wrinkles of the face, tremor (uncontrollable shaking of a part of the body), and anal fissures (a split or tear in the tissue near the rectal area).The medication is also sometimes used to improve the ability to move in children with cerebral palsy (condition that causes difficulty with movement and balance) or adults who have had a stroke.Talk to your doctor about the risks of using this medication for your condition.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Other names
BotoxВ
