Botulinum toxin in cosmetic form has become well known by the product name Botox. Botox injections can temporarily reduce or eliminate frown lines, forehead creases, crows feet near the eyes and thick bands in the neck. The toxin works by blocking nerve impulses, temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles.

Almost Symptom-Free After 20 Days

Trigeminal neuralgia, also called tic douloureux, is characterized by sudden, severe, stabbing, or shock-like pain usually felt on one side of the jaw or cheek. The pain lasts several seconds and sometimes occurs in a series of attacks.

Normal activities, such as talking, brushing teeth or swallowing, can trigger an attack. The disorder is more common in women than in men and typically affects those older than 50. Anticonvulsant medication has been a main course of treatment. In some cases, surgery is an option.

A team of researchers in Brazil and the United States studied the effects of botulinum toxin type A in 13 patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Pain significantly decreased in all patients 10 days following an injection of the drug. After 20 days, they were almost symptom-free.

By 60 days, four patients had become medication-free, and the others reduced their medication use by more than 50 percent.

No Major Side Effects

"Drugs are not always effective in treating trigeminal neuralgia. Some patients avoid them because of side effects, and then their pain is more intense and longer-lasting," says Elcio Juliato Piovesan, MD, a neurologist at the Hospital of Clinics at Federal University of Parana in Curitiba, Brazil.

There were no major side effects from botulinum toxin observed in the 13 patients..

"A placebo-controlled clinical trial is needed to confirm our findings, including a follow-up period longer than 60 days," notes Dr. Piovesan.