Botulinum toxin for muscle spasticity


This leaflet is about the use of botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of muscle spasticity, mostly in children with cerebral palsy. It is injected into the affected muscle (this is called an intramuscular injection), which is done by a health professional (for example, a doctor or physiotherapist).

Information Standard quality markThis leaflet has been written specifically about the use of this medicine in children. The information may differ from that provided by the manufacturer. Please read this leaflet carefully. Keep it somewhere safe so that you can read it again.

Name of drug

Botulinum toxin
Brand names: Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®

Why is it important for my child to take this medicine?

Muscle spasticity occurs when muscles contract too much and do not relax. This can make walking and daily activities such as dressing difficult and possibly painful.
When botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle, it blocks the effects of a chemical messenger called acetylcholine that is released from the nerves to make the muscle contract. The botulinum toxin helps the muscle to relax, which should make daily activities easier and less painful. The effects of an injection last for a few months.

What is botulinum toxin available as?

  • Intramuscular injection (given by a health professional)

How is it given?

Botulinum toxin is given by intramuscular injection into the affected muscle. Often more than one injection is given.
Injections are usually done at a hospital clinic.
The health professional will talk to you about which muscles are tight or in spasm and identify them, and discuss how many injections are needed. They may use an ultrasound machine or a device called a nerve stimulator to decide where best to do the injections.
The injection is done quickly but may cause some pain as it goes into the muscle. Your child can have a sedative or anaesthetic to help them relax during the injection. You should discuss this with the health professional who is doing the injection.

When should the medicine start working?

You will notice that the muscle is less tight about 2 weeks after the injection. For most children, the effects of the injections last for 4–6 months.

Are there any possible side-effects?

We use medicines to make our children better, but sometimes they have other effects that we don’t want (side-effects).

Side-effects you must do something about

If your child has new swallowing difficulties, breathing problems or a chest infection soon after a botulinum toxin injection, contact your doctor straight away or take your child to hospital.

Other side-effects you need to know about

  • Your child may have flu-like symptoms a few days after the injections (headache, aches and pains, fever [temperature above 38°C]), diarrhoea, may be sick (vomit) or feel drowsy. If you are concerned, contact your healthcare professional or doctor.
  • They may get itching, a rash, or pain or bruising at the site of the injection.
  • If the injection is into muscles near the hip joint, your child may have trouble controlling their bladder and may wet themselves (this is called incontinence). This is likely be at its worst about 2 weeks after the injection and should then improve over the next 2 weeks or so.
    If it continues, contact your doctor.

Can other medicines be given at the same time as botulinum toxin?

  • You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to.
  • Botulinum toxin should not be given at the same time as some medicines that you get on prescription. Tell the health professional doing the injection about any other medicines your child is taking before the injection.
  • Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your child. This includes herbal or complementary medicines.

Is there anything else I need to know about this medicine?

  • You may have heard that botulinum toxin type A comes from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which has associations with a rare but serious form of food poisoning called botulism. However, the amounts used in medical treatments are very small, and it is safe and effective as a medicine when used in this way.
  • Botulinum toxin has been used to treat various conditions in adults for more than 20 years. Formulations for children have only become available more recently.
  • Botulinum toxin injections are most commonly used in the treatment of muscle spasm in children with cerebral palsy but may also be used for other conditions (e.g. dystonia, salivary control).

Who to contact for more information

Your doctor, pharmacist or physiotherapist will be able to give you more information about botulinum toxin and about other medicines used to treat muscle spasticity.


You can also get useful information from:


Publication Date

17/11/2011

Copyright Disclaimer

Version 1.2, June 2011 (November 2011). © NPPG, RCPCH and WellChild 2011, all rights reserved.Reveiwed by: June 2013.
The primary source for the information in this leaflet is the British National Formulary for Children. For details on any other sources used for this leaflet, please contact us through our website, www.medicinesforchildren.org.uk.
We take great care to make sure that the information in this leaflet is correct and up-to-date. However, medicines can be used in different ways for different patients. It is important that you ask the advice of your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about something. This leaflet is about the use of these medicines in the UK, and may not apply to other countries. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group (NPPG), WellChild and the contributors and editors cannot be held responsible for the accuracy of information, omissions of information, or any actions that may be taken as a consequence of reading this leaflet.