ABSTRACT

Botulinum toxin is licensed for the symptomatic treatment of blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm. It is used without licence to relieve pains due to other types of muscle spasm.

The pharmaceutical preparation contains botulinum toxin of the type A serotype, serum albumin and sodium chloride. The botulinum toxin was first isolated in 1895 from the food of victims of food poisoning. It was then first recognized as a neurotoxin.