Jennifer Matthews: Botox. You know it can erase the signs of aging. Now, the toxin is being used to treat a chronic condition known as gastroparesis.
Dr. Frank Friedenberg: Gastroparesis is where there is delayed emptying of the stomach after a meal. It may be for solid food or for liquids, which have been taken in by the patient.
Jennifer Matthews: The condition causes a person to feel full after just a small meal. It also causes bouts of nausea, upset stomach and bloating. Ashley Sterling knows how debilitating it can be.
Ashley Sterling: I go to bed at night scared to death that I'm going to wake up feeling so sick that I can't control my vomiting, which has been happening a lot lately.
Jennifer Matthews: Medications offer relief but often with side effects like restlessness and fatigue. Some doctors are now turning to Botox as an alternative to drug therapy.
Dr. Frank Friedenberg: The idea behind Botox is that it's a very local treatment, so you do not get side effects related to it, and it works right in the area which is involved with gastroparesis.
Jennifer Matthews: Botox is injected into the muscle that sits at the end of the stomach. There, it goes to work.
Dr. Frank Friedenberg: The muscle relaxes and then there is more rapid emptying of the stomach for solids and for liquids.
Jennifer Matthews: There's good reason to believe Botox will mean success. Up to half of study participants showed improvement after the procedure. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.
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