Essential tremor treatment with Botox injections

Unfortunately, up to 30% of all patients with essential tremor symptoms develop medical refractory (when the drugs cannot cope with the disease) during medical treatment or at the beginning of the disease. In that case, injections of Botulotoxin type A become a method of choice for further disease management. Botox proved helpful for patients with face, head, limb, and voice essential tremors. Botulotoxin type A is a neurotoxic protein produced by certain bacteria and can prevent muscles from moving. Neurologists inject Botox into the muscles responsible for essential tremors so the symptoms stop. Typically, 50-100 U dosages are enough to reach significant results. However, the effect remains up to 16 weeks after the injection. After that, it might be necessary to repeat the procedure. Many patients with essential tremors keep taking conventional medical therapy believed to enhance the effect of botox injections. Among possible side effects of botox therapy are temporary weakness of the muscles and swallowing difficulties. Still, the treatment remains the most frequently used and effective for single muscles affected by essential tremors. In addition, it's FDA-approved and brings significant improvement to essential tremor patients.