Botulinum Toxin Helps Trigeminal Neuralgia Patients

Aside from the well-known facial treatments, botulinum toxin is also used as a cure for migraines and eye spasms.

Recently, American and Brazilian researchers have discovered that another disorder can be treated with the botulinum toxin: Trigeminal neuralgia.

Trigeminal neuralgia characterized by sudden, severe, stabbing or shock-like pain usually felt on one side of the jaw or cheek. The pain lasts several seconds and could be repeated in a series of attacks. Activities like talking, brushing teeth, or swallowing can trigger this pain.

Also called "tic douloureux", the disorder is more common in women than in men and typically affects those older than 50. Anticonvulsant medication has been a main course of treatment until now. In some cases, surgery is an option.

Researchers in Brazil and the United States studied the effects of botulinum toxin type A in 13 patients with trigeminal neuralgia. Pain significantly decreased in all patients 10 days following the injection. After 20 days, they were almost symptom-free. By 60 days, four patients had become medication-free, and the others reduced their medication use by more than 50 percent.

So far, no side-effects have been discovered.