Botox (or botulinum toxin) is a purified toxin made from the botulinum bacteria. It is widely used to treat urological conditions which have not responded to standard therapies.
Botox acts by binding to the nerve endings of muscles, blocking the release of the chemical that causes the muscle to contract. When injected into specific muscles, the muscle becomes paralysed or weakened but leaves surrounding muscles unaffected allowing for normal muscle function.
This is typically used as a treatment option for overactive bladder, where people experience problems such as:
Going to the toilet frequently day and night
A sudden, urgent desire to go to the toilet which if ignored may lead to urine leaking
Leakage which occurs for no apparent reason
Leakage of urine associated with a variety of conditions including multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and stroke
Usually oral medications will have been trialled first and either not worked sufficiently or side effects have not been tolerable. Your urologist will recommend if Botox is right for you.
This procedure is done in the rooms and takes approximately 10 minutes. No anaesthetic or sedation is required and you can drive home directly after your appointment.
Click here to download our Instillation of Botox booklet for more information