Botulinum toxins now play a very significant role in the management of a wide variety of medical conditions; from headaches to hypersalivation, and from spasticity to sweating. In this book, a strong, international team of experts outline the basic neurochemistry of botulinum toxins and chart the progress of the drug from laboratory to clinic. Then individual chapters summarize their use for the main clinical indications in the context of other available treatments. This book will be of interest to neuroscientists and practising clinicians working in a wide range of specialities, from neurology and dermatology to pediatrics, plastic surgery and rehabilitation medicine.

1. Introduction Michael Barnes and Anthony Ward; 2. Mechanistic basis for the therapeutic effectiveness of botulinum toxin A on over-active cholinergic nerve Oliver Dolly and Gary Lawrence; 3. Botulinum toxin: from menace to medicine Peter Hambleton, Andrew Pickett and Clifford Shone; 4. Botulinum toxin: primary and secondary resistance Benjamin Anyanwu, Philip Hanna and Joseph Jankovic; 5. Introduction to botulinum toxin and clinical practice Anthony Ward; 6. Cervical dystonia Khalid Anwar; 7. The use of botulinum toxin in otolaryngology Maurice Hawthorne and Khalid Anwar; 8. Spasticity Anthony Ward; 9. Hyperhidrosis Deeanna Glaser; 10. Hypersalivation Fiorella Contarino, Alberto Albanese; 11. Botulinum toxin type A for the prophylactic treatment of primary headache disorders David Dodick; 12. Botulinum toxin in the management of back and neck pain Áine Carroll; 13. Ophthalmological uses of botulinum toxin John Elston; 14. Bladder and bowel indications Guiseppe Brisinda, Federica Cadeddu and Giorgio Maria; 15. Cosmetic uses of botulinum toxin type A Alastair Carruthers and Ken Beer; 16. Other clinical neurological uses of botulinum toxin Michael Barnes.