Muscle contraction treatment utilizing botulinum toxin

Abstract

The invention provides for the use of a botulinum toxin to treat contracture, such as muscle contracture, in patients by transdermal administration of the botulinum toxin.

1 . A method for treating a muscle contracture of a patient, the method comprising the step of transdermal administration of a  botulinum  toxin selected from the group consisting of  botulinum  toxin types B, C, D, E, F and G, to a muscle contracture patient, thereby treating the muscle contracture. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transdermal administration step is carried out by contacting a skin surface of the patient with a  botulinum  toxin depot which can release the  botulinum  toxin for absorption through the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the  botulinum  toxin depot is an adhesive patch which comprises a polymeric carrier for the  botulinum  toxin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the  botulinum  toxin is transdermally administered into a calf muscle or hamstring of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the  botulinum  toxin is transdermally administered to the patient to treat a dynamic muscle contracture. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the  botulinum  toxin is  botulinum  toxin type B. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein up to about 1000 units of  botulinum  toxin is administered. 
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a muscle contracture, the method comprising the step of transdermal administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a  botulinum  toxin, selected from the group consisting of  botulinum  toxin types B, C, D, E, F and G, to a muscle contracture patient by contacting a skin surface of the patient with a  botulinum  toxin depot comprising a polymeric carrier which carrier can release the  botulinum  toxin for absorption through the skin surface of the patient, thereby treating the muscle contracture. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of pretreatment of the skin with a skin permeation enhancer prior to contacting the skin surface of the patient with the  botulinum  toxin depot. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of iontophoresis of the skin after the pretreatment step to thereby further enhance transdermal delivery of the  botulinum  toxin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the muscle contracture is a dynamic muscle contracture. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein up to about 1000 units of  botulinum  toxin is administered. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a muscle contracture, the method comprising the steps of: (a) pretreatment of a skin surface of a patient having a muscle contracture with a skin permeation enhancer; (b) transdermal administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a  botulinum  toxin selected from the group consisting of  botulinum  toxin types B, C, D, E, F and G, wherein the  botulinum  toxin is present in a complex, to the muscle contracture patient by contacting the skin surface of the patient with a  botulinum  toxin depot comprising a polymeric carrier which carrier can release the  botulinum  toxin for absorption through the skin surface of the patient, and; (c) iontophoresis of the skin to further enhance transdermal delivery of the  botulinum  toxin, thereby treating the muscle contracture. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the muscle contracture is a dynamic muscle contracture. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein up to about 1000 units of  botulinum  toxin is administered.