Botox is a popular cosmetic treatment intended for skin aging but new study finds that the formulation can also help manage urinary incontinence in women.
Allergan, makers of Botox, announced the results of the study last Friday during the American Urogynecologic Society Meeting held in Seattle.
Specifically, the product onabotulinumtoxinA was found to be effective in decreasing urinary incontinence among women who suffer from symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) and do not respond well to anticholinergic drugs.
The results were based on extension studies of two phase III clinical trials — safety and efficacy assessment — involving the toxin that ran for 3.5 years.
It was noted in the press release that from the 749 participants, 53 percent finished the course of the study.
Some dropped out of the trials for reasons such as inefficacy and unpleasant side effects, which were reported to be at 5.3 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively.
Other reasons for discontinuation are not related to the treatments.
To arrive at the results, investigators looked at 749 women who joined the extension studies, which involved receiving several Botox treatments.
The study showed consistent results of reduced urinary incontinence among those who were given one to six 100U dose of Botox treatment, as stated in a press release.
"Results of this extensive 3.5-year study demonstrates consistent safety and efficacy of long-term onabotulinumtoxinA treatment in this population of female overactive bladder patients," said Peter Sand, a urogynecologist at North Shore University Health System, according to the release.
Sand added that the new findings should introduce Botox as an effective alternative for OAB patients, especially for those who don't show improvement despite anticholinergic therapy.
Overactive bladder affects about 33 million Americans, according to UrologyHealth.org.
About 30 percent of men and 40 percent of women in the country suffer from the symptoms, which include frequent urination, sudden urge to urinate, and nighttime waking just to pee.
