If
a salesman told you a single drug could cure headaches,
obesity, sore muscles and even body odor, all for the
low, low price
of $300, you’d probably think he was selling snake
oil. But many scientists now say there’s a drug
that does all that and more — Botox. The poison
that erases wrinkles may be an effective therapy for
many of life’s
other bodily indignities. Doctors are administering it
for a wide range of ailments it isn’t approved
for (yet). “People
said using Botox off-label would be a waste of time,” says
New York ear, nose and throat doctor Andrew Blitzer. “But
a lot more patients are going to benefit.”
The most promising new use for Botox is as a headache
treatment. It’s unclear
how Botulinum toxin soothes an aching brain — it may inhibit the nerves
that transmit pain — but large studies confirm that people get fewer
headaches after being Botoxed. Blitzer cites a patient whose migraines kept
her from work
four days a month, despite conventional drug treatments. He injected Botox
into her forehead, and she hasn’t had a migraine since. The drug also
works for other chronic nonsinus headaches — doctors simply inject
it under the skin, near the pain.
Because Botox weakens muscles, it may also be useful for
treating disorders stemming from involuntary muscle clenching,
like stroke-induced paralysis, incontinence
caused by a spastic bladder and soreness and cramps. A few doctors have injected
it into gastric muscle to make obese patients’ stomachs empty more
slowly. The effect mirrors that of bypass surgery: patients feel full longer
and eat
less. Botox may even paralyze sweat glands, which offers hope for people
with hyperhydrosis, or excessive, pathological sweating. As trials get underway
for
these unorthodox treatments, doctors are trying to convince insurers of their
efficacy — and safety. Though the long-term effects of off-label Botox
use are unknown, the toxin affects only the injected area, and it wears off
after
a few months. If it’s safe, it may really be a wonder drug.
© NEWSWEEK,
April 2, 2003
