Zytaze Dietary Supplementation Enhances Botox Injections?

A patient with spasmodic dysphonia recently asked me whether Zytaze dietary supplement would help enhance the effectiveness of the botox injections I perform to treat spasmodic dysphonia. This dietary supplement contains Zinc Citrate 25mg and Phytase 500mg. Phytase is an enzyme that effectively breaks down phytates commonly found in whole grain products and cereals. Phytase basically enhances zinc absorption in the gut. So what's so special about zinc as it relates to botox ? Theor…

10/18/2019 0

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Animation of Botox Injection to Treat Spasmodic Dysphonia

A new animation has been created in cooperation with Intronix Technologies that demonstrates the steps involved to treat spasmodic dysphonia with EMG guided botulinum toxin. Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurologic condition characterized by vocal breaks during speech due to spasms of the vocal cord muscles. The most common type of spasmodic dysphonia is adductor spasmodic dysphonia where the vocal cords suddenly and involuntarily comes together causing the person’s voice to suddenly break off…

8/08/2019 0

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There are SIX Different Types of Botox Available in the Market

Not many people know that there are now FIVE different types of  botox  available and FDA approved for use in the United States. The five botox products are as follows (the newest one being Daxxify as of 9/8/22): 1)  Botox by Allergan 2)  Myobloc by Solstice Neurosciences 3)  Dysport by Ipsen, Ltd 4)  Xeomin by Merz 5)  Jeuveau by Evlous 6) Daxxify by Revance Obviously, Botox by Allergan was the first and most popular to the point where its product name "botox" is being use…

2/03/2019 0

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Possible Solution to Excessive Facial Sweating?

Image by artur84 on freedigitalphotos.net Every once in awhile, I see a patient with a chief complaint of excessive facial sweating. Treatment for this condition is quite limited with options that have unfortunate downsides. But one new recently FDA approved treatment may change the landscape for this particular complaint. But first, let's go over current treatment options: •  Botox injections . It helps not only wrinkles, but also helps prevent sweating from skin wherever botox in…

6/30/2018 0

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Dr. Chang Article Printed in National Newsletter

Our Voice, a national newsletter published by the  National Spasmodic Dysphonia Association , published a 4 page article written by Dr. Chang (Volume 25, Number 1, Pages 8-11; Nov 2015) on the topic of reflux and spasmodic dysphonia . The article titled "Living with Spasmodic Dysphonia and Reflux" is the 2nd time Dr. Chang has been featured in this national newsletter. The first time was in 2009 (Volume 18, Number 2, Page 3) pertaining to research that Dr. Chang performed that w…

11/23/2015 0

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Botox Injection Severe Side Effects Treatment

Side effects from botox injections are not uncommon and even expected to some degree in the region where the injection was performed. For example, when botox is injected into the voicebox for spasmodic dysphonia , normal and expected side effects include hoarseness and dysphagia . However, in very rare instances, more severe side effects may occur that may even appear to be life-threathening including stridor , shortness of breath, profound difficulty swallowing , etc. Botox overdose so …

7/13/2014 2

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Treatment for Vocal Tremor

Vocal tremor is characterized by a rhythmic undulating vocal quality whenever talking, much akin to vibrato that can not be turned off. In the past, it was felt that use of botulinum toxin type A ( botox ) to treat vocal tremor was not possible nor realistic given the multiple muscle groups involved. This is in contrast to dystonias of the voice (i.e., spasmodic dysphonia ) where only one muscle group is involved and is readily and easily treated with botox injections to the affected vocal co…

7/13/2013 0

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Fake Botox Being Sold to US Physicians: FDA Sends Warning

It is not just patients trying to save money when purchasing medications from online pharmacies located in Canada. It's doctors as well when it comes to expensive drugs like Botox made by Allergan which costs a physician practice $550 per vial (2012 price)... but if purchased from Canada, may cost hundreds less. Unfortunately, just like prescription drugs purchased outside the US, foreign-purchased Botox may be a product that is potentially unapproved, counterfeit, unsafe, or ineffecti…

12/25/2012 0

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Julie Andrews and Her "Botched Throat Surgery"

It has already been well-publicized that the former singing sensation Julie Andrews underwent some type of throat surgery in 1997 after which she never regained her phenomenal 4-octave voice thus relegating her to more conventional roles of being an actress without the singing. This "botched throat surgery" per Julie Andrews lead to a lawsuit that was ultimately settled . It is unknown precisely what type of (presumed) vocal cord pathology was present as well as what type of su…

12/13/2012 1

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Steroid Injection to Eliminate Vocal Cord Nodules

Vocal cord nodules are most always due to excessive voice use leading to "callous" formation on the vocal cord lining, much like shoveling dirt will eventually lead to callous formation on the hands. Traditional standard of care management of vocal cord nodules is voice therapy and avoidance of any activities leading to voice abuse (screaming, yelling, etc). However, resolution of nodules with such behavior focused treatment takes months. However, although it takes a while f…

10/18/2011 0

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Vocal Cord Botox Injections to Treat Asthma???

Yup... It's true... A clinical trial  is under way in Australia to see if botox injections to the vocal cords can improve the shortness of breath some asthmatics have. Though nobody disputes that asthma is a pulmonary problem, it is not uncommon that the vocal cords in asthmatics may be dysfunctional exacerbating the breathing problem. What is meant by dysfunctional? It's when the vocal cords come together when the person is trying to breath. It is also known as paradoxical vocal …

6/29/2011 3

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Speech Therapy Found to be of NO Benefit for Spasmodic Dysphonia

A recent study was published that has found that speech therapy had minimal if any significant beneficial effect on spasmodic dysphonia  (a spastic vocal disorder) in a study cohort of 31 patients. The study was divided in 3 patient treatment groups: - One-third received no further intervention after botox injection which is considered standard of care in the treatment of spasmodic dysphonia - One-third received a standard 5-week course of voice therapy after botox injection - One-th…

6/09/2011 2

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Dr. Chang to Give Lecture on Spasmodic Dysphonia in Richmond, VA

Dr. Christopher Chang  will be a guest lecturer on the topic of  spasmodic dysphonia  in Richmond, VA on June 11, 2011. Dr. Chang was invited to give a 3 hour long talk to the Central Virginia SD Group at the CJW Medical Center Johnston-Willis Campus in the Board Room starting at 12PM. Dr. Chang is a Yale and Duke trained, board-certified otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon with fellowship training in laryngology. He is considered an expert on spasmodic dysphonia and has patients coming from…

6/09/2011 0

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Migraine Headaches Associated with Allergies & Response to Allergy Shots

A recent study published this month in the journal Headache reported an association of migraine headaches with allergy severity and response to allergy shots ... but only in those less than 45 years of age. The study suggested that lower "degrees of atopy" (or allergy) were associated with less frequent and disabling migraine headaches in younger subjects while higher degrees were associated with more frequent migraines. The administration of allergy shots was associated with a…

1/22/2011 0

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Physician Marketing Using Groupon

For those not in the know, Groupon is a website that offers coupons and other savings on local merchandise and services. Groupon also has recently rejected a takeover bid by Google . I recently encountered this amazing deal on Groupon offered by an ENT colleague, Dr. Ghaheri : " $149 for Four Laser Hair-Removal Treatments at The Center for Aesthetic Medicine at The Oregon Clinic (Up to $1,000 Value) " I wonder if such marketing and medical discount offerings like this will b…

12/04/2010 0

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Distributed Botox Injection for Spasmodic Dysphonia (Rather than Single Injection)

For many patients with spasmodic dysphonia , botox injections to the vocal cords are a regular right of passage every few months towards a clearer voice. Spasmodic dysphonia characterized by spastic or breathy voice breaks while talking causes much problems socially as well as misunderstandings. For many physicians who perform botox injections for spasmodic dysphonia, a single injection is performed to either one or both vocal cords. However a few and perhaps growing number of physicians…

11/25/2010 1

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There are FIVE Different Types of Botox Available in the Market

Not many people know that there are FIVE different types of botox available and FDA approved for use in the United States. The five botox products are as follows: 1) Botox by Allergan 2) Myobloc by Solstice Neurosciences 3) Dysport by Ipsen, Ltd 4) Xeomin by Merz 5) Jeuveau by Evlous Obviously, Botox by Allergan was the first and most popular to the point where its product name "botox" is being used interchangeably to mean any botulinum toxin product; much like "Kleen…

10/18/2010 2

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Botox Approved for Migraine Headaches in the United States

On October 15, 2010, the FDA approved botox for use in migraine headaches . It is hoped that eventually, this procedure will soon be covered by most health insurance companies rather than the few who do so now. Dr. Chang has been performing botox injections for migraine headaches since 2005 along with for wrinkles, spasmodic dysphonia , cervical dystonias, oral-mandibular dystonias, etc. Read the NYT article on the FDA approval here . Read the FDA announcement here .

10/16/2010 0

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Botox for "Sale" Due to Market Influences of Supply and Demand

The NYT wrote a somewhat humorous article on Oct 7, 2010 regarding botox injections for wrinkles from both a supply (physician) and demand (patient) viewpoint. In NYC, one can now find neon colored signs advertising botox specials! Read the NYT article here . Of note, our clinic performs botox injections not for just cosmetic reasons (wrinkles), but also medical reasons including migraine headaches , TMJ , spasmodic dysphonia , torticollis, etc.

10/07/2010 0

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Age Influences Botox Response in Patients with Spasmodic Dysphonia

Dr. Chang recently published a book chapter discussing how age influences response to botox injections in patients suffering from spasmodic dysphonia . Introduction Spasmodic dysphonia is a dystonia (muscle spasms) involving the muscles of the voicebox resulting in involuntary attacks of a strangled sounding voice. Treatment is botox injection to the involved muscles resulting in a decrease of such spasms thereby resulting in a more smooth-sounding voice. Unfortunately, there are si…

9/14/2010 0

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