Botulinum toxin treatment in a resource-limited setting: Experiences from a public institution in a developing...

Introduction. Botulinum toxins have at least 30 therapeutic indications across different medical specialties. Some Latin American studies have described the experience of applying botulinum toxin in isolated clinical contexts. However, researchers have yet to provide comprehensive analysis about its use across diverse clinical indications. Objective. To classify the therapeutic use of botulinum toxin in a public health center in Bogotá, identifying the risks of pharmacological interactions and possible barriers related to its use. This knowledge will promote a better understanding of the indications, practices, and regulations regarding the use of the botulinum toxin in the Colombian context. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze the use of botulinum toxin in a public institution in Bogotá, Colombia, applying the prescriptionindication methodology. Sociodemographic, clinical, and pharmacoepidemiologic data were extracted from medical records and the electronic prescription database Mi prescripción. A bivariate statistical analysis was performed using JAMOVI software, version 2.2.5. Results. A total of 197 patients received a prescription for botulinum toxin. Although the main indication was temporomandibular joint disorder, 70.6% of the prescriptions were classified under neurological conditions. In pediatric patients, the main indication was spastic cerebral palsy (90%). Most described clinical uses (92.4%) were aligned with the indications approved by the Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos de Colombia. Risks of drug interactions were identified in 30.9% of the cases and were significantly associated with an anticholinergic load (p < 0.001). Conclusions. Botulinum toxin is used for multiple indications in multiple medical specialties. There is consistency between prescription and indication of the medication recommended by regulatory entities. Reviewing patient’s pharmacological history is essential before prescribing botulinum toxin to reduce the risk of drug interactions.