Botulinum toxin injection is the first line of treatment for the treatment of dystonia. The treatment is best given by a movement disorder specialist who are specially trained to identify and treat

Injection in the muscles causes temporary relaxation of the muscles. The effect of botulinum toxin usually lasts for 3 months. For patients where smaller muscles are injected, such as blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm, the effect can last upto 6 months.

As the muscle spasm improves with botulinum toxin, the pain associated with the cramping improves significantly. Because the effect of botulinum toxin is temporary, the patients need to be re injected once every 3 months as the effect of the medication wears off.