Abstract
After botulinum toxin was initially used to treat strabismus in the 1970s, others started using it to treat movement disorders including blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, cervical dystonia, spasmodic dysphonia, and oromandibular dystonia. It was discovered that botulinum toxin can be an effective treatment for focal movement disorders with limited side effects. Over the past three decades, various formulations of botulinum toxin have been developed and the therapeutic use of these toxins has expanded in movement disorders and beyond. We review the history and mechanism of action of botulinum toxin, as well as describe different formulations available and their potential therapeutic uses in movement disorders.
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Acknowledgment
We would like to thank Dr. Paul E. Greene for his helpful comments in revision of the manuscript.
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Conflicts of interest: M.A. Thenganatt: is employed by Columbia University; and has received grant support from Parkinson’s Disease Foundation; S. Fahn: has been a consultant for Merz Pharmaceuticals and Impax Pharmaceuticals; is employed by Columbia University; has received grant support from Parkinson’s Disease Foundation; has received payment for lectures including service on speakers bureaus from Columbia University and Sun Pharma; receives royalties from a textbook (Principles and Practice of Movement Disorders).
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Thenganatt, M.A., Fahn, S. Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Movement Disorders. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 12, 399–409 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0286-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0286-3