FDA approved Botox by Allergan to treat specific form of urinary incontinence

Botox (onabotulinumotoxinA) is injected to treat urinary incontinence in people with neurologic conditions such as spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis (MS) who have an over active bladder.

Neurological conditions can interfere with nerve signals involved in the bladder control, causing urinary incontinence an inability to store urine. Current treatment includes medications to relax the bladder and use of catheter to regularly empty the bladder.

The Botox treatment works by being injected into the bladder resulting in relaxation of the bladder detrusor muscle, an increase in its storage capacity and a decrease in urinary incontinence.

"Urinary incontinence associated with neurologic conditions can be difficult to manage," said George Benson, deputy director, Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products. "Botox offers another treatment option for these patients"

Botox was found effective in treating this specific type of incontinence by two clinical studies. Studies involving 691 patients who all had neurological conditions such as MS and spinal cord injury showed a significant decrease in the weekly frequency of incontinence episodes in the Botox group compared with placebo.

The most common adverse reaction observed following injection of Botox into the bladder was urinary tract infection and urinary retention. Those who develop urinary retention after Botox treatment required self-cauterization to empty the bladder.