Author: Shawna De La Rosa

All medicines come with side effects, some good, some bad. The corticosteroid prednisone is no exception. Prednisone has life-saving anti-inflammatory properties. But this miraculous drug is also known to have sinister side effects. Most doctors will warn patients about weight gain, body hair growth, insomnia, acne, nausea, headache and redistribution of fat to various parts of the body. (Typically, these side effects are minor but increase with longer-term use. See Need to Know: Corticosteroids.) Corticosteroids can ever affect your bone density. But too few patients are warned about the psychological side effects of prednisone, and patients can be surprised and…

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While Botox (botulinum toxin) is most well known as a wrinkle-reducing treatment, you might be surprised at what other conditions the drug is used to treat. For one of the ailments below, Botox is not approved for that purpose. 1 Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis) The FDA approved Botox for treatment of severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating) in 2005. It is approved for this treatment in 20 countries. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society, research shows that Botox use results in an 82 to 87% decrease in excessive underarm sweating. Results become apparent after 2 to 4 days and can…

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While Botox is approved for migraine headaches, does it really reduce their frequency? And what are the risks associated with the injection? For migraine sufferers, finding a treatment that works can be, well, a headache. While there are many prescription medications available, they don’t work for everyone and often have side effects. One medication you might not be aware of that is used for migraines is Botox (botulinum toxin) — the same injection that is most commonly known as a cosmetic treatment to reduce wrinkles on the face. Depending on severity and frequency, Botox can be a life-changing preventative measure.…

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