What is Botox for Sialorrhea?
Sialorrhea means excessive drooling or saliva build-up, which can happen in conditions like Parkinson’s disease, ALS, cerebral palsy, or after a stroke. Botulinum toxin can be injected into the salivary glands to reduce how much saliva they produce. This helps decrease drooling, makes swallowing and speaking easier, and improves comfort and confidence.
How do you prepare for Botox for Sialorrhea?
- Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, especially blood thinners or medicines that affect nerves and muscles.
- Discuss any swallowing or breathing difficulties before treatment.
- Arrive with a clean face and neck (no lotions or creams).
- Most people can eat and drink normally before the procedure.
Why is Botox for Sialorrhea performed?
- To reduce drooling and saliva build-up.
- To make eating, drinking, and speaking easier.
- To improve quality of life and reduce embarrassment in social settings.
- To lower the risk of aspiration pneumonia (when saliva goes into the lungs).
- Botox is often used when oral medicines don’t work well or cause side effects.
What can you expect during Botox for Sialorrhea?
- The treatment is usually done in a clinic and takes 15–30 minutes.
- A very fine needle is used to inject Botox into the salivary glands (usually the parotid and submandibular glands, located around the jaw and below the ears).
- Doctors often use ultrasound guidance to make sure the injections go into the correct glands.
- Most patients describe only mild discomfort, similar to a quick pinch.
- You can go home the same day and return to normal activities right away.
What is the follow-up like for Botox for Sialorrhea?
- Relief begins in about 3 days and peaks around 3 weeks.
- The effects last around 3 months, so injections are usually repeated every 3 months.
- Your doctor will check how much the drooling improves and may adjust the dose or injection sites over time.
- Many patients stay on long-term Botox treatment with good results.
What are the potential risks for Botox for Sialorrhea?
Most side effects are mild and temporary. These may include:
- Dry mouth.
- Temporary pain or swelling where the shots were given.
Rare but more serious risks include:
- Thickened saliva.
- Aspiration (if swallowing becomes harder instead of easier).
- Allergic reaction (very uncommon).
- difficulty swallowing
Are there related tests to Botox for Sialorrhea?
- Usually, no special tests are needed before Botox.
- Your doctor may do a swallowing evaluation if you already have swallowing problems.
- Ultrasound may be used to guide injections into the salivary glands.
- Imaging (like MRI or CT) is generally not needed unless another condition is suspected.
Providing specialized neurological and pain management care with a patient-centered approach. Dr. Sader combines clinical expertise with compassionate care to help patients achieve optimal health outcomes.
