Many doctors have been using Botox for unapproved uses as headache and pain. Now the FDA has approved the drug to treat chronic migraines.
The current pain medications for chronic migraines are rarely effective and do not prevent future migraines. Over 12% of Americans suffer from throbbing pulsating pain of migraines.
The Botox drug company, Allergan, paid $600 million to settle criminal and civil allegations last month. Botox is a pure live form of the toxin of botulinum,, and is a nerve poison produced by the bacteria that causes botulism.
Injections paralyze nerves signals the certain muscles and glands. A typical migraine Botox treatment involves 31 interjections and seven areas including the forehead, temples, back of the head, neck and shoulders. These are given every three months. The cost has been prohibitive to many people.
Botox has already been approved for uncontrolled blinking, some neck muscle problems, underarm sweating, increased muscle stiffness in the hands and elbows, and of course for cosmetic purposes, to smooth the lines between the eyebrows.
People still see Botox as a cosmetic product, but the drug company has promoted therapeutic indications that now far surpass Botox use in cosmetics. Botox sales are over $1.3 billion, half of them from medical not cosmetic uses. This approval for severe migraines, should get them more than $1 billion annually by the next four years.
The FDA conceded that Botox is of no value in treating or preventing migraines that occur less than 14 days a month. However we all know, that it will be used for everyone with migraines. Botox has a black box warning that it can migrate to other parts of the body, and can cause death.
A safer route might be to have medical acupuncture treatments which are cost-effective and much more effective than this toxic poison.
Visit me, drneedles, @ americanacupuncture.com for more discussion of controversial medical issues that confront you daily.
As a medical physician for over 51 years, I strive to give you the best medical information on controversial medical subjects, and help your read betwwen the lines. You must come to your own conclusions. I have no ties to any organization, pharmaceutical, or lobby group. As an practicing medical acupuncturist since 1982, I find western medicine and medical acupuncture are very complimentary. This results in astounding healing in pain management, addictions to cigarettes and food, and a host of other maladies. Visit drneedles is blogging" at the end of each blog for a complete alphabetical list of all my blogs Visit http://www.americanacupuncture.com/ for more detailed information on mind, body, and spirit healing.
1 comment:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved acupuncture needles for use by licensed practitioners in 1996. The FDA requires that sterile, nontoxic needles be used and that they be labeled for single use by qualified practitioners only.
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