HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Cheng, C. M. Articles by Patel, R. P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cheng, C. M. Articles by Patel, R. P.

CHRISTINE M. CHENG, PHARM.D., is Assistant Clinical Professor, Drug Information and Analysis Service, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco. JENNIFER S. CHEN, PHARM.D., is Pharmacy Practice Resident, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco. ROSALIE P. PATEL, PHARM.D., was Drug Information Pharmacist, Blue Shield of California, San Francisco, at the time of writing.

Address correspondence to Dr. Cheng at the Drug Information and Analysis Service, University of California at San Francisco, 521 Parnassus Avenue, C-152, Box 0622, San Francisco, CA 94143-0622 (chengc{at}pharmacy.ucsf.edu).

Purpose. Efficacy and safety data regarding the unlabeled uses of botulinum toxins are reviewed, and the pharmacology, adverse effects, and characteristics of commercially available botulinum toxins are discussed. Summary. More than 300 articles have been published on the use of botulinum toxins, particularly botulinum toxin type A, to treat conditions characterized by excessive smooth or skeletal muscle spasticity. Botulinum toxins are synthesized by Clostridium botulinum and cause temporary local paralysis of the injected muscle by inhibiting acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. While botulinum toxins have Food and Drug Administration-approved labeling to treat a limited number of spasticity disorders, including cervical dystonia and blepharospasm, the toxins have more than 50 reported therapeutic uses. Among these uses, the most rigorously studied indications include achalasia, essential tremors, palmar hyperhidrosis, chronic anal fissures, headache prophylaxis, and limb spasticity. The main adverse effects of the toxins are pain and erythema at the injection site, although unintended paralysis of muscles adjacent to the site of toxin injection may also occur. Conclusion. Clinical studies support the use of botulinum toxins for certain conditions, although more studies are needed to establish the role of the drug relative to conventional therapies and to determine patient predictors of response. Although botulinum toxins are generally well tolerated, a patient-specific risk–benefit assessment should precede any decision to use them for unlabeled indications. Index terms: Botulinum toxin A; Botulinum toxins; Drugs; Mechanism of action; Skeletal muscle relaxants; Toxicity