[Botulinum toxins for pain].

We review the evidence of botulinum toxins in the treatment of pain. Main indications of botulinum toxin treatment, dystonia and spasticity, involve pain. Increasing evidence suggests direct analgesic effects of botulinum. Botulinum inhibits release of pain mediators (substance P, CGRP, excitatory amino acids, ATP, noradrenaline). Clinical trials have consistently shown analgesic effect of botulinum toxin in post-stroke shoulder pain, bladder dysfunction, chronic migraine, neuropathic pain, bruxism and lateral epicondylitis. Other pain conditions have been studied with yet uncertain results. It seems that the number of patients who would benefit from botulinum toxin treatment will increase considerably in the future.