OnabotulinumtoxinA (By injection)
on-a-bot-ue-LYE-num-tox-in-ay
Treats muscle stiffness, muscle spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, or loss of bladder control. Prevents chronic migraine headaches. Improves the appearance of wrinkles on the face.
Drug classes
Musculoskeletal Agent (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
OnabotulinumtoxinA is used to treat certain eye conditions, such as blepharospasm (a condition where the eyelid will not stay open because of a muscle spasm) or strabismus (a condition where the eyes do not line up properly). This medicine is also used to treat the abnormal head position and neck pain that result from cervical dystonia (severe muscle spasms of the neck) and some types of axillary hyperhidrosis (severe sweating of the armpits). It is used for increased muscle stiffness in the elbow, wrist, and finger muscles in adults with upper limb spasticity. It is also used for increased muscle stiffness in the ankle and toe muscles in adults with lower limb spasticity. It is also used to prevent headaches in patients with chronic migraine (severe headaches for 15 or more days a month lasting 4 or more hours a day). OnabotulinumtoxinA is used cosmetically to improve the appearance of deep facial lines or wrinkles between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) and crow’s feet lines around the eyes (lateral canthal lines). It is also used to treat urinary incontinence (loss of bladder control) in patients with an overactive bladder caused by nervous system disorders (eg, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury). It is also used to treat overactive bladder with symptoms such as loss of bladder control, increased urge to urinate, and frequent need to urinate in patients who have failed treatment with other medicines.
OnabotulinumtoxinA is a botulinum toxin A product. It works on the nervous system to relax the muscles.
OnabotulinumtoxinA is injected into the muscles that are affected. Depending on your condition, more than one treatment may be required.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription and will be administered by your doctor.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although these uses are not included in product labeling, onabotulinumtoxinA is used in certain patients with the following medical conditions:
Frey’s syndrome or gustatory sweating (red areas and sweating on the cheeks and ears after eating).
Palmar and plantar hyperhidrosis (severe sweating of the palms and feet).
Spasms of the arms in stroke patients.
Spasms of the face.
Spasms of the feet and hands, including writer’s cramp.
Spasms of the arms and legs in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Injectable
Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given by a healthcare provider as a shot under your skin or into a muscle.
You may be given medicine to numb the area where the shot will be injected. If you receive the medicine around your eyes, you may be given eye drops or ointment to numb the area. After your injection, you may need to wear a protective contact lens or eye patch.
If you are being treated for excessive sweating, shave your underarms but do not use deodorant for 24 hours before your injection. Avoid exercise, hot foods or liquids, or anything else that could make you sweat for 30 minutes before your injection.
The recommended treatment schedule for chronic migraine is every 12 weeks.
This medicine works slowly. Once your condition has improved, the medicine will last about 3 months, then the effects will slowly go away. You might need more injections to treat your condition.
Muscle spasms in the eyelids should improve within 3 to 10 days. Eye muscle problems should improve 1 or 2 days after the injection, and the improvement should last for 2 to 6 weeks. Neck pain should improve within 2 to 6 weeks. Arm stiffness should improve within 4 to 6 weeks. Facial lines or wrinkles should improve 1 or 2 days.This medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your pharmacist for a copy if you do not have one.
Missed dose:Call your doctor or pharmacist for instructions.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some foods and medicine can affect how onabotulinumtoxinA works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
Aspirin or a blood thinner (such as ticlopidine, warfarin) Muscle relaxer Medicine for an infection (such as amikacin, gentamicin, streptomycin, tobramycin)Tell your doctor if you have received an injection of any botulinum toxin product within the past 4 months.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive this medicine if you had an allergic reaction to onabotulinumtoxinA or any other botulinum toxin product.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have breathing or lung problems, bleeding problems, heart or blood vessel disease, or nerve or muscle problems (such as myasthenia gravis). Tell your doctor if you have ever had face surgery or if you have a urinary tract infection or trouble urinating, diabetes, or multiple sclerosis.
This medicine may cause the following problems:
Muscle weakness, loss of bladder control, trouble swallowing, speaking, or breathing (caused by the toxin spreading to other parts of your body)This medicine may make your muscles weak or cause vision problems. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
There are some warnings that only apply if you are receiving this medicine to treat the following:
Injections near the eye: This medicine may reduce blinking, which can raise the risk of eye problems such as corneal exposure and ulcers. Tell your doctor right away if you notice that you are blinking less than usual or your eyes feel dry. Urinary incontinence: This medicine may cause autonomic dysreflexia, which can be a life-threatening condition. Overactive bladder: Check with your doctor right away if you have trouble urinating or a burning sensation while urinating.This medicine contains products from donated human blood, so it may contain viruses, although the risk is low. Human donors and blood are always tested for viruses to keep the risk low. Talk with your doctor about this risk if you are concerned.
Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Blurred or double vision, droopy eyelids
Change in how much or how often you urinate, trouble urinating, or painful urination
Chest pain, slow or uneven heartbeat
Headache, increased sweating, warmth or redness in your face, neck, or arm
Muscle weakness
Trouble swallowing, talking, or breathing
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Fever, chills, cough, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, and body aches
Pain in your neck, back, arms, or legs
Redness, pain, tenderness, bruising, swelling, or weakness where the shot was given
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Botox, Botox Cosmetic
There may be other brand names for this medicine.