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Can Botox Injection Be Taken For Blepharospasm?
Question: Hello. I am asking this question on my Dad's behalf. My dad is 60 years of age and he is suffering from Blepharospasm. He is taking treatment but till now it is not successful. He gets better sometime and then other time not so great.
In our family history there has never been any case of Blepharospasm. So we can rule that out.
Now after long thought Dad is thinking of getting Botox injection. I have done some reading on the internet they say some people just get it once and have never required it again and they feel better also, but some cases they say they need to apply after 6 months or so. Am i correct or no?
So my secodn question is : is it safe to get Botox for Blepharospasm and what are the side effects.
In our family history there has never been any case of Blepharospasm. So we can rule that out.
Now after long thought Dad is thinking of getting Botox injection. I have done some reading on the internet they say some people just get it once and have never required it again and they feel better also, but some cases they say they need to apply after 6 months or so. Am i correct or no?
So my secodn question is : is it safe to get Botox for Blepharospasm and what are the side effects.
Brief Answer:
Yes, outcome with Botulinum toxin injection varies much !!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting and your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician.
I have completely reviewed your health query, and well realize all those concerns. Being your physician, I will take care all of them today and will extend my expertise to solve the problems.
Blepharospasm is a frustrating illness for many as instead of having excellent care management for the symptoms, we don't have a cure for the disease unfortunately.
I usually recommend avoiding direct sunlight and I have seen very promising results with gray and FL-41 Tinted sunglass lenses. It helps improve frequency of blinking in many patients.
Systane eye drops and pressing the nasal end of eyes gives soothing comfort in blepharospasm patients. Avoiding caffeinated drinks, energy drinks, chocolates helps get better in terms of the symptoms.
Yes, Botulinum A toxin is good treatment option. It has two forms, and you are more concerned about BOTOX form (onabotulinum toxin A). Yes it is a temporary treatment for paralysing the muscle that is blinking involuntarily for at least some time and varies in its period of effectiveness. But is very useful and successfully keeps the patient in peace.
Yes it is safe to take Botox injection and recommended procedure by the BEBRF Foundation and FDA.
Side effects of BOTOX:-
Frequent injections may cause Drooping of the upper eyelid. Some patient get lower face weakness after getting Botox Injection. Double vision and dry eye are other major side effects of the injection.
Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you. Please don't forget to give 'Five star rating' (if agreed) to help me assist patients in a better way; and, please don't forget to click on 'Close This Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA
Yes, outcome with Botulinum toxin injection varies much !!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting and your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician.
I have completely reviewed your health query, and well realize all those concerns. Being your physician, I will take care all of them today and will extend my expertise to solve the problems.
Blepharospasm is a frustrating illness for many as instead of having excellent care management for the symptoms, we don't have a cure for the disease unfortunately.
I usually recommend avoiding direct sunlight and I have seen very promising results with gray and FL-41 Tinted sunglass lenses. It helps improve frequency of blinking in many patients.
Systane eye drops and pressing the nasal end of eyes gives soothing comfort in blepharospasm patients. Avoiding caffeinated drinks, energy drinks, chocolates helps get better in terms of the symptoms.
Yes, Botulinum A toxin is good treatment option. It has two forms, and you are more concerned about BOTOX form (onabotulinum toxin A). Yes it is a temporary treatment for paralysing the muscle that is blinking involuntarily for at least some time and varies in its period of effectiveness. But is very useful and successfully keeps the patient in peace.
Yes it is safe to take Botox injection and recommended procedure by the BEBRF Foundation and FDA.
Side effects of BOTOX:-
Frequent injections may cause Drooping of the upper eyelid. Some patient get lower face weakness after getting Botox Injection. Double vision and dry eye are other major side effects of the injection.
Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you. Please don't forget to give 'Five star rating' (if agreed) to help me assist patients in a better way; and, please don't forget to click on 'Close This Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
USA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Dear Dr Hanif,
Thank you for the email and detailed answer. Actually as you said botox has side effects, any chance or way we can control them.
Second what is the timeline after which the botox needs to be applied, and do you have any idea about the dosage.
Thank you for the email and detailed answer. Actually as you said botox has side effects, any chance or way we can control them.
Second what is the timeline after which the botox needs to be applied, and do you have any idea about the dosage.
Brief Answer:
It can be applied when conservative measures have failed !!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting and your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician.
I appreciate the genuine concerns you have and happy to extend my expertise to solve the issues of your Dad's Blepharospasm.
I need to go into some details to help you understand how can we exactly make this procedure more safe and free of adverse effects. Yes Botox has side effects, and it is same as every drug has. These effects can be controlled much and expert hands can help in many ways:-
**INJECTION of drug subcutaneously exactly over the area of Orbicularis Oculi muscle; plus in the muscle (intramuscular injection) named Procerus and Corrugator.
**Dilution of the drug with saline water (0.9%) very slowly to avoid frothing of the drug in vacuum-sealed vial of BOTULINUM.
**Not more than 25 units per eye reduces side effects of BOTULINUM TOXIN.
**Dividing the dose in 4-6 injection sites for less side effects and recommended is that we inject concentrated and little volume of toxin at one site so that there is little absorption of the drug to adjacent areas and little side effects.
There is a recommendation that if patient has not much improvement with conservative therapy, we can opt in for BOTOX therapy. It is usually needed to be repeated almost after 2-6 months and subsequent dosages depends mainly on the response to the previous sessions.
Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you. Please don't forget to give 'Five star rating' (if agreed) to help me assist patients in a better way; and, please don't forget to click on 'Close This Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
It can be applied when conservative measures have failed !!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting and your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician.
I appreciate the genuine concerns you have and happy to extend my expertise to solve the issues of your Dad's Blepharospasm.
I need to go into some details to help you understand how can we exactly make this procedure more safe and free of adverse effects. Yes Botox has side effects, and it is same as every drug has. These effects can be controlled much and expert hands can help in many ways:-
**INJECTION of drug subcutaneously exactly over the area of Orbicularis Oculi muscle; plus in the muscle (intramuscular injection) named Procerus and Corrugator.
**Dilution of the drug with saline water (0.9%) very slowly to avoid frothing of the drug in vacuum-sealed vial of BOTULINUM.
**Not more than 25 units per eye reduces side effects of BOTULINUM TOXIN.
**Dividing the dose in 4-6 injection sites for less side effects and recommended is that we inject concentrated and little volume of toxin at one site so that there is little absorption of the drug to adjacent areas and little side effects.
There is a recommendation that if patient has not much improvement with conservative therapy, we can opt in for BOTOX therapy. It is usually needed to be repeated almost after 2-6 months and subsequent dosages depends mainly on the response to the previous sessions.
Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you. Please don't forget to give 'Five star rating' (if agreed) to help me assist patients in a better way; and, please don't forget to click on 'Close This Discussion'.
For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dear Dr Hanif,
Thank you for the detailed answer, means a lot. Actually i just had a word with my dad , he explained to me that his main problem is:
1. Bunny area of the nose.
2. Eyebrow muscle pain.
These are two things that are troubling him. The blinking is not much of an issue.
So what do you think about this.
Thank you for the detailed answer, means a lot. Actually i just had a word with my dad , he explained to me that his main problem is:
1. Bunny area of the nose.
2. Eyebrow muscle pain.
These are two things that are troubling him. The blinking is not much of an issue.
So what do you think about this.
Brief Answer:
Actually spasm of the eyelid is all that is bothering him much!!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting and your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician. I am here to answer the queries you have.
It is the eyelid muscular spasm that is bothersome in diagnosed cases of Blepharospasm (AS YOU MENTIONED HE IS A PATIENT OF BLEPHAROSPASM AND IS TAKING TREATMENT FOR IT TOO--NOW THINKING OF BOTOX)...
I can understand your father's concerns. He has a spasm of the upper eyelid muscles that continues to be feeling as the eyebrow involvement too. The conservative management had not been so useful uptil now, so I will recommend to go for BOTOX as this will resolve the spasm and uncomfortable feeling of your dad in his eyelid and eyebrow.
About bunny area of the nose, you may consult his Physician to thoroughly do the Physical examination and evaluation. Then he may decide what to do about it. He may also refer then to a Plastic Surgeon for second opinion and management. Don't worry as everything can be managed accordingly.
Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you. For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
Actually spasm of the eyelid is all that is bothering him much!!!
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for consulting and your trust in HCM means a lot to me as a Physician. I am here to answer the queries you have.
It is the eyelid muscular spasm that is bothersome in diagnosed cases of Blepharospasm (AS YOU MENTIONED HE IS A PATIENT OF BLEPHAROSPASM AND IS TAKING TREATMENT FOR IT TOO--NOW THINKING OF BOTOX)...
I can understand your father's concerns. He has a spasm of the upper eyelid muscles that continues to be feeling as the eyebrow involvement too. The conservative management had not been so useful uptil now, so I will recommend to go for BOTOX as this will resolve the spasm and uncomfortable feeling of your dad in his eyelid and eyebrow.
About bunny area of the nose, you may consult his Physician to thoroughly do the Physical examination and evaluation. Then he may decide what to do about it. He may also refer then to a Plastic Surgeon for second opinion and management. Don't worry as everything can be managed accordingly.
Hope I answered all of your queries. Let me know if you have further clinical concerns or doubts. I will be more than happy to get back to you. For any disease you have, a timely follow-up is necessary regarding the treatment efficacy and to see if there is a need to change the treatment options. So keep a follow up to see how you doing (Always write down my name in start of your questions at this forum & I will be with you in no time).
Regards!
DR. HANIF
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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