The use of the drug "Botox" for the treatment of urological diseases

One of the most popular drugs widely used by aesthetic medicine specialists in their practice is Botox. As you know, it is the use of botulinum toxin that helps to effectively and safely rejuvenate the patient's face. But not so long ago it became known that the drug «Botox» can be used not only for the correction of wrinkles, but also for the treatment of serious diseases of the body. Candidate of Medical Sciences, urologist of the highest category Mikhailov Dmitry Mikhailovich in an exclusive interview for readers of estet-portal.com spoke about the features of the use of the drug «Botox» for the treatment of urological diseases.

Dmitry Mikhailovich, what are the clinical indications for the use of botulinum toxin in urological practice?

The main indications for the use of botulinum toxin in urological practice is a disease such as an overactive bladder. Two of its forms are being treated: idiopathic bladder, which is more common, and neurogenic overactive bladder. Patients who previously, within one to two months, used drug therapy and failed to achieve the expected positive effect, or had unacceptable side effects – these are candidates for the use of botulinum toxin in this situation.

What results can be expected from the use of botulinum toxin in the treatment of urological diseases?

The use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of urological diseases is much more effective than any conservative and other medical methods.

Compared to other surgical techniques, the use of "Botox" is a minimally invasive procedure.

The results of the procedure are, first of all, a decrease in the frequency of urination, the urgency of the urge to urinate, the number of urination at night, and an improvement in the process of urinary retention. All this leads to a significant improvement in the patient's quality of life.

Tell me, what are the prospects for this technique?

The prospects of the technique are to expand the indications for its use. Everyone has already seen that the drug «Botox» highly effective and safe, and can be used not only to treat bladder pathologies, but also diseases of the prostate gland, neighboring organs, perineal muscles, urogynecological diseases, and so on. The drug can also be used in pediatrics.

What are the possible advantages of using botulinum toxin in comparison with other methods of treating urological diseases?

One of the benefits of – this is a very high efficiency of the drug and a fairly long-lasting effect, which lasts almost up to a year. In addition, an important role is played by the relatively low cost of the procedure, in comparison with the same drug treatment or other forms of surgical treatment, as well as the minimum side effects that patients can easily put up with, having such a positive result against the background of the use of the Botox drug. .

How long does the therapeutic effect last after the application of botulinum toxin?

If a full dose of – the effect lasts 10-11 months, i.e. 42-48 weeks. Further, the effect may very gradually decrease, which requires a second procedure.

Repeated administration does not reduce the effectiveness of the drug.

In general, the effect is quite long-lasting, and this is also one of the advantages of using Botox. for the treatment of urological diseases.

Is it possible to use botulinum toxin therapy and other methods of treatment in combination? In what cases?

There are no such recommendations as of today, since it is, after all, a sequential therapy. If at the beginning some medications do not help, another line of therapy is given. But, in my opinion, if, after a year or a year and a half, the effect of the drug will decrease, you can connect drug therapy, but in smaller doses, or combine it with methods of behavioral therapy, physiotherapy exercises, and so on.

Can you share your experience of using botulinum toxin for the treatment of urological diseases?

In urology, we use the drug "Botox" since 2008 – about 8 years, and we have quite a lot of experience in its use in both men and women, and in patients with spinal injury, that is, with a variety of pathologies. The effectiveness of the use of the drug «Botox» in urological diseases, both we, as doctors, and our patients are satisfied.