Scientists from the University of Clermont-Auvergne found that botulinum toxin can relieve tremor (shaking) of the head. The study was published on: New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).
117 patients from various hospitals in France participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to receive botulinum toxin type A or placebo (62 and 55 patients, respectively). The drug or placebo was injected into the splenius capitis muscle twice, 12 weeks apart. Botulinum toxin blocks the transmission of nerve signals from the brain to the muscles, preventing them from contracting.
Improvement of at least two CGI points occurred in 31% and 9% of patients in the botulinum toxin and placebo groups, respectively, at week six after the second injection. About half of the patients in the botulinum toxin group reported side effects such as headache and neck pain, neck weakness, and difficulty swallowing.
The authors noted that the study provides evidence that botulinum toxin may be useful for isolated (without known cause) head tremors. However, possible side effects need to be investigated in more detail.
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