Neurologists approve Botox for cerebral palsy

By Correy Stephenson The Daily Record Newswire Despite prior warnings from the Food and Drug Administration - as well as several pending lawsuits - a group of neurologists is recommending the use of Botox to treat some symptoms of cerebral palsy. Botox is made of botulinum toxin, and has been approved by the FDA for "therapeutic" conditions, such as involuntary eye blinking, involuntary contracting of the neck muscles, excessive sweating and crossed eyes. Botox Cosmetic is approved for the temporary smoothing of wrinkles between the eyebrows. But some patients, including children, have received the drugs for off-label uses, such as combating limb spasticity in cerebral palsy patients, migraines or excessive salivation. Other countries - such as Canada - have approved the use of Botox for cerebral palsy. But in a recent article published in the medical journal Neurology, a panel of neurologists reviewed medications that could be used to treat symptoms of cerebral palsy, and recommends the use of Botox to treat spastic cerebral palsy. The recommendation comes despite an FDA announcement in August 2009 that Botox would be required to carry a black box warning after it received reports of numerous adverse reactions from both approved and unapproved uses of the drug. The warning highlighted "the possibility of experiencing [a] potentially life-threatening distant spread of toxin ... from the injection site after local injection," according to the FDA. The article refers to the adverse reactions referenced by the FDA as "isolated cases of generalized weakness resulting in poor outcomes." In addition to the FDA warnings, several lawsuits have been filed against Allergan, the maker of Botox. Trial began recently in California in the case of Kristen Spears, a 7-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who died after her pediatrician treated her with seven sets of Botox injections over a 15-month period. Published: Mon, Feb 22, 2010

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