Prescribing uses of botulinum toxin

Last month the research roundup provided you with an overview of articles that reported on some issues, barriers, and challenges in prescribing practice (Robertson, 2022). This month, we will be reviewing articles looking at the many and varied uses of botulinum toxin. The three articles reviewed examine the more commonly known area of prescribing for glabellar lines in aesthetic practice. The roundup will also consider the use of botulinum toxin for overactive bladder conditions and the management of hyperhidrosis. New areas for uses of botox continue to emerge and this review is not exhaustive in the conditions presented.

This article published in January 2022 in the journal Toxins sought to review the current evidence on Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT/A) concerning its effect on bladder sensation and the potential mechanism by which it may have these effects (Ibrahmin et al, 2022). BoNT/A is one of a family of Botulinum toxins with this subtype, having known benefits in the treatment and management of many medical conditions, including cervical dystonia, strabismus and migraine. It exerts its primary effect on cholinergic neurones and prevents the exocytotic release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions. However, this is not a complete answer as to how this may have effects on an overactive urinary bladder.