What Are the Dangers of Botox?
Botox has become popular in recent years as a way to eliminate frown lines. It is also used to treat other conditions, such as muscle spasms, crossed eyes and underarm sweating. While Botox is effective for these conditions, it does offer some serious risks. When injected into muscle tissue, it paralyzes them. If done incorrectly, serious health issues, even death, can result.
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Botox Overview
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Botox is a prescription medicine used for treating head, neck and eyelid spasms, crossed eyes and severe underarm sweating. Botox Cosmetic is a similar medication designed to temporarily eliminate wrinkles. Botox is derived from botulinum toxin, the same substance that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. When it is injected, Botox blocks nerve signals that cause particular muscles to spasm. Botox Cosmetic is injected between the eyebrows to reduce muscle activity between them, thus reducing or eliminating frown lines.
Botox can be administered by any authorized health care professional and its effects can last up to four months.
Botox Side Effects
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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received reports of side effects, including respiratory problems. Some of these side effects have even resulted in death. According to the FDA, these side effects occur when the botulism toxin spreads in the body beyond the injection site.
While the most serious side effects, including death, occurred in children who were given Botox to treat arm or leg spasticity related to cerebral palsy, botulism toxins are not approved in the United States for treatment of arm or leg spasms, only for head and neck problems.
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Botox Cosmetic Side Effects
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According to the LawyersandSettlements.com legal news website, a woman reportedly died from the use of the cosmetic form of Botox. However, according to Botox manufacturer Allergan Inc., "a medical review of this actual case demonstrates that the patient passed away in the winter of 2004 from complications associated with staphylococcus pneumonia, not from a Botox cosmetic treatment the patient received seven weeks earlier."
The Botox Cosmetic website warns that this form of Botox can lead to death if breathing or swallowing problems occur after treatment. Other serious side effects in adults include difficulty in holding up the head, inability to speak and drooping eyelids. Some adults have required hospitalization, according to the U.S. FDA.
Precautions
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Do not take Botox if you have any known allergies to botulism toxin products such as Myobloc or Dysport. Botox Cosmetic is not recommended for those under the age of 18. Regular Botox is not recommended for the treatment of excessive sweating for those under 18; for cervical muscle spasms for those under 16 or for those with eye or eyelid muscle problems under age 12.
Those who experience muscle weakness, loss of strength of vision problems after a Botox injection should not drive a car, operate machinery or take part in any other potentially dangerous activity.
Consult a doctor or pharmacist before receiving Botox. List all other medications you take and let the doctor know if you have any known breathing, swallowing or speech problems; past facial surgeries or facial problems; or are pregnant or breast feeding.
Course of Action
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Because of these risks, the FDA states that health care professionals who administer Botox:
1. Be aware that the correct dosage for different Botox products could vary.
2. Watch for signs that a patient has difficulty speaking, swallowing or breathing after an injection.
3. Provide patients and their caregivers with information on the symptoms of side effects.
4. Understand that these side effects can occur as early as one day after an injection and up to several weeks after it.
5. Tell patients to seek immediate medical attention if they have trouble talking, breathing or swallowing or if they feel muscle weakness.
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