Botox injections (Botulinum toxin) are derived from a bacterial toxin that can ease wrinkles, migraines, muscle spasms, and excessive swelling. But now, researchers from Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego found that this anti-wrinkle injection can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms.
An illustration of before and after Botox injections. (PHOTO: Adobe Stock)
Mathematical Algorithm Reveals Botox Injections Can Reduce Anxiety
The negative side effects of Botox injections are usually discussed because it is also usually reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mail Online reported that some of these potential dangers include pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site, drooling, droopy eyelids, and eye dryness.
But in the new study, researchers tried to find the benefits of Botox aside from improving the kin by easing wrinkles. They used the data from FDA’s Adverse Effect Reporting System (FAERS) database to find what benefits were commonly reported. The database contains millions of reports about the negative effects of various medications but it also included the benefits of Botox injections.
They used a mathematical algorithm to look for statistically significant differences between users of Botox injections and their existing conditions. The team found that those suffering anxiety symptoms noticed a reduction in symptoms after receiving Botox injections at four injections sites, including the forehead, than patients who are undergoing treatment for anxiety.
They concluded that anxiety symptoms were 22% to 72% lower in Botox users who used it to treat four of eight conditions and sites, namely facial muscles for cosmetic use, facial and head muscles for migraine, neck muscles for torticollis, and upper and lower limbs for spasm and spasticity.
Botox Injections Also Reduce Symptoms of Depression
According to Medical Xpress, researchers of the study also published similar research in July 2020, which showed that people who received Botox injections reported experiencing lesser symptoms of depression compared to patients undergoing different treatments for the same condition.
The mechanism behind these two studies is still unknown but one theory explains that people may have become happier after getting the injections so they experience less anxiety and depression. Another theory suggests that fewer wrinkles on the face leads to less frowning and therefore perceived as happier.
|For future researchers, the team recommends investigating Botulinum toxins that could be transported to the parts of the central nervous system that are responsible for controlling mood and emotions.
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