What is BOTOX for Cervical Dystonia?
BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) is an injectable prescription medication most people associate with cosmetic procedures, however, with cervical dystonia, BOTOX is injected into the neck muscles to address neck pain, as well as the abnormal head positioning and spasms associated with cervical dystonia. BOTOX is safe for medical use if administered in extremely small doses.
Why is BOTOX for Cervical Dystonia performed?
BOTOX works by preventing the nerve signals that are causing the muscle spasms from reaching the dystonic muscles, thus preventing the involuntary spasms. Using BOTOX, cervical dystonia symptoms can be reduced for up to four months. There have been clinical studies showing that people with cervical dystonia who received BOTOX treatment (versus a placebo group) had improved head posture and reduced neck pain intensity after they received treatment.
BOTOX is considered the primary treatment for cervical dystonia and is usually the only needed approach to treatment. There are some patients in which cervical dystonia advances to a stage where BOTOX may only provide limited relief and other, more invasive therapies must be explored.
Certain medical conditions and or medications may make you a poor candidate for injections. You should especially be certain to inform your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months, take muscle relaxers, cold or allergy medications, sleep aids or blood-thinning medications, including aspirin.
How are the BOTOX for Cervical Dystonia injections performed?
The botulinum toxin in BOTOX is always administered by injection which are given in a medical office setting. Your healthcare provider will inject the medicine directly into the affected muscles using a very thin needle. There is no recovery time after the procedure.
What to Expect after BOTOX for Cervical Dystonia Treatment?
There may be some temporary pain at the injection site, initially, but it will fade quickly. One dose usually lasts about three months. You are encouraged to receive more injections after the three months to help prevent the recurrence of your neck pain symptoms.
Even though BOTOX is considered a safe alternative to cervical dystonia surgery, there can be side effects associated with treatment, such as:
- Dry mouth
- Discomfort or pain at the injection site
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Eye problems such as blurred vision, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes
