Unexpected Conditions That Can Be Treated With Botox

Botox was the first drug to use botulinum toxin to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, according to the Mayo Clinic. Derived from onobotulinumtoxinA, when injected, Botox causes short-term relaxation or paralysis of the muscles in the targeted area (via MedlinePlus). But while this treatment is most commonly associated with cosmetic use to combat signs of aging, medical advancements have allowed Botox to progress far beyond its initial purpose. In fact, the medical community has developed many other FDA-approved and off-label uses for Botox (via Dermatology Centers). Botox is now used to treat a variety of conditions, some of which may surprise you.

The Mayo Clinic emphasizes the importance of selecting a trained medical provider in the area where you need Botox treatment. This is especially important because Botox can have serious side effects if injected incorrectly. These side effects will differ depending on the site of treatment. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Botox injections can last up to six months and require repeated injections to maintain the benefits of therapy as the toxin wears off.

The FDA approved Botox injections for the treatment of chronic migraines in 2010. According to the American Migraine Foundation, there are several factors to consider before deciding whether Botox treatments are appropriate for your condition. First and foremost, Botox is only FDA-approved for treating chronic migraines. This means that your migraines must occur at least 15 days per month. Dr. Andrew Blumenfeld, Director of The Headache Center of Southern California, reports to the American Migraine Foundation that Botox is not recommended if your migraines are less frequent.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, it may take up to a month for the Botox injections to have full effect and reduce migraine occurrence and pain. Botox is injected into several areas around the head and neck as determined by your healthcare provider. It is thought that the botulinum toxin interferes with the pain pathway from the head to the spine, and thus provides relief from migraine pain.

Sweating is the body's way of controlling internal temperature, but there is a condition that can cause you to sweat too much. Excessive underarm sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, occurs when there is no underlying medical condition and the body is not experiencing a temperature rise (via the Mayo Clinic). Some people may find this condition embarrassing. Many people are unaware that excessive sweating can be controlled.

The International Hyperhidrosis Society reports that the FDA approved the use of Botox in 2004 to treat excessive underarm sweating with no secondary cause. Botox injections under the arm have been shown to reduce underarm sweating by up to 87%. The injections can last up to 12 months, and the results are visible within the first week.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, the body will still sweat after Botox injections — just at a more appropriate level. You will still need to use deodorant, but you will be relieved to know that body odors should be reduced. Also, it's important to note that Botox is occasionally used for other areas of the body that may experience increased sweat production, such as the feet, groin, head, and underneath the breasts. Treatment for these areas can be more painful and may produce side effects. Therefore, Botox is not FDA-approved for use in these areas.

Male sexual dysfunction can include both premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction. As Weill Cornell Medicine notes, though these problems are common, they can be hard to discuss. However, it's important to bring these issues up with your doctor, as they might be signs of other underlying health issues, and can also be treatable. As it turns out, Botox may be a potential treatment option.

According to the Mayo Clinic, men may experience premature ejaculation if they ejaculate one to three minutes after penetration consistently or if they are unable to delay ejaculation while having sex. However, one small clinical study reported longer ejaculation times for the group that received Botox injections than those in the control group. While the results show promise for this treatment option, the authors note that more study is needed.

In addition, Botox is sometimes used off-label to treat erectile dysfunction, an issue which causes someone to struggle to get or sustain an erection (per the Mayo Clinic). When injected into the penis, Botox relaxes the blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow to the penis, according to Pollock Clinics. Botox also prevents nerve impulses from causing muscles to contract, resulting in longer-lasting erections. Botox may be an option for erectile dysfunction if other treatments fail. In this case, Botox will be effective for up to four months, and repeat treatment will be required to maintain the positive effects.

TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) can be highly unpleasant. The TMJ Association describes symptoms as pain on one or both sides of the jaw, decreased movement, or difficulty opening your mouth wide. Furthermore, you may hear a clicking sound or feel a popping or cracking when moving your jaw. You may also clench or grind your teeth, which may cause inflammation in this area. The severity of these symptoms varies, and some may disappear with time. Others may experience impairing and long-term symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication, pain relievers, or muscle relaxants for your symptoms. Furthermore, certain mouthguards or physical therapy visits may be beneficial (per the Mayo Clinic).

However, Rejuvenation Dentistry states that Botox may be a viable next step if traditional methods fail. Botox can be injected into the muscles along your jaw, forehead, and temples, depending on your symptoms. The FDA has not approved Botox for the treatment of TMJ, but it is proving to be beneficial in off-label uses for TMJ symptoms. As with other Botox-treated conditions, the effects of the Botox will wear off after a few months and additional treatments may be necessary.

Botox is an effective treatment for various ailments with many surprising applications. However, the use of Botox in cardiovascular patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgeries is one of the most intriguing and potentially lifesaving. According to tctMD, post-operative arrhythmias occur in 11-40% of open-heart surgery patients. An abnormal heart rhythm following surgery can reduce a patient's long-term survival rate.

However, the American College of Cardiology reports that when Botox is injected into the fat pads around the heart during open heart surgery, the arrhythmia, more commonly known as atrial fibrillation or A-fib, is significantly reduced immediately following surgery and throughout the first year. A small study revealed that patients who received Botox injections had no episodes of A-fib after one month through the first year after surgery, compared to 27% in the group that did not receive Botox during surgery.

According to Science Daily, more research is being conducted into the use of Botox during open heart surgery, and this treatment is not FDA-approved. If the study's results can be replicated in larger populations, the hope is to expand the use of Botox in other heart surgeries, such as valve replacements, where postoperative heart arrhythmias are common.

Females who have painful intercourse may be embarrassed to discuss it. However, according to the Women's Wellness Institute of Dallas, vaginismus is a medical condition that frequently causes this dreaded experience.

Vaginismus occurs when the vaginal muscles spasm when something is inserted, such as during a medical exam, tampon insertion, with a penis, or even a finger, per the Cleveland Clinic. This tightening or spasm is not voluntary, and it is uncontrollable. When this happens, the spasms can cause mild to severe pain.

A clinical trial using Botox injections into the vaginal wall on people with vaginismus produced positive results (per the U.S. National Library of Medicine). Although the treatment required assistive modalities and anesthesia, it was effective for most of the women in the trial. Under anesthesia, multiple-size dilators were used to visualize where muscle contractions occur. Botox was injected into the targeted areas. Local numbing medications were also applied to the dilators, and long-acting local anesthesia was injected into the vaginal wall. The patients awoke with a large dilator in place that they would practice moving in and out. Counseling was provided, and most patients were able to engage in pain-free intercourse by the time of the one-year follow-up.