Related Botox Information

What is Botox?

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Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA), also called botulinum toxin type A, is made from the bacteria that causes botulism. Botulinum toxin blocks nerve activity in the muscles, causing a temporary reduction in muscle activity.

Botox is used to treat cervical dystonia (severe spasms in the neck muscles), muscle spasms in the arms and hands, severe underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis), urinary incontinence in people with neurologic conditions and to prevent headaches in adult patients with chronic migraine.

Botox is also used to treat certain eye muscle conditions caused by nerve disorders. This includes uncontrolled blinking or spasm of the eyelids, and a condition in which the eyes do not point in the same direction.

Botox Cosmetic is used to temporarily lessen the appearance of facial wrinkles.

Botox may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Important information about Botox

The botulinum toxin contained in Botox can spread to other body areas beyond where it was injected. This has caused serious life-threatening side effects in some people receiving botulism toxin injections, even for cosmetic purposes.

Call your doctor at once if you have a hoarse voice, drooping eyelids, vision problems, severe muscle weakness, loss of bladder control, or trouble breathing, talking, or swallowing. Some of these effects can occur up to several weeks after a Botox injection.

Botox injections should be given only by a trained medical professional, even when used for cosmetic purposes. Do not seek Botox injections from more than one medical professional at a time. If you switch healthcare providers, be sure to tell your new provider how long it has been since your last Botox injection.

Using this medication more often than prescribed will not make it more effective and may result in serious side effects.

You should not receive Botox if you are allergic to botulinum toxin, or if you have an infection, swelling, or muscle weakness in the area where the medicine will be injected.

Before receiving a Botox injection, tell your doctor if you have ALS ( Lou Gehrig’s disease), myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, a breathing disorder, trouble swallowing, facial muscle weakness, a change in the appearance of your face, seizures, bleeding problems, heart disease, if you have had or will have surgery, or if you have ever received other Botox injections such as Dysport or Myobloc.

Before I receive Botox

You should not receive Botox if you are allergic to botulinum toxin, or if you have an infection, swelling, or muscle weakness in the area where the medicine will be injected. Tell your doctor if you have ever had a side effect after receiving a Botox in the past.

If you have any of these other conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests:

facial muscle weakness (droopy eyelids, weak forehead, trouble raising your eyebrows);

if you have had or will have surgery (especially on your face); or

if you have ever received other Botox injections such as Dysport or Myobloc (especially in the last 4 months).

Botox is made from human plasma (part of the blood) which may contain viruses and other infectious agents. Donated plasma is tested and treated to reduce the risk of it containing infectious agents, but there is still a small possibility it could transmit disease. Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of using this medication.

FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether Botox will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Botox. It is not known whether botulinum toxin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not receive this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How is Botox given?

Botox is injected into a muscle. A doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. Injections should be spaced at least 3 months apart.

Botox injections should be given only by a trained medical professional, even when used for cosmetic purposes.

Your injection may be given into more than one area at a time, depending on the condition being treated.

While receiving Botox injections for an eye muscle conditions, you may need to use eye drops, ointment, a special contact lens or other device to protect the surface of your eye. Follow your doctor’s instructions.

If you are being treated for excessive sweating, shave your underarms about 24 hours before you will receive your injection. Do not apply underarm antiperspirants or deodorants for 24 hours before you receive the injection. Avoid exercise and hot foods or beverages within 30 minutes before the injection.

It may take up to 2 weeks after injection before neck muscle spasm symptoms begin to improve. You may notice the greatest improvement at 6 weeks after injection.

It may take only 1 to 3 days after injection before eye muscle spasm symptoms begin to improve. You may notice the greatest improvement at 2 to 6 weeks after injection.

The effects of a Botox injection are temporary. Your symptoms may return completely within 3 months after an injection. After repeat injections, it may take less and less time before your symptoms return, especially if your body develops antibodies to the botulinum toxin. Do not seek Botox injections from more than one medical professional at a time. If you switch healthcare providers, be sure to tell your new provider how long it has been since your last Botox injection.

Using Botox more often than prescribed will not make it more effective and may result in serious side effects.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since Botox has a temporary effect and is given at widely spaced intervals, missing a dose is not likely to be harmful.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms may not appear right away, but can include muscle weakness, trouble swallowing, and weak or shallow breathing.

What should I avoid after receiving Botox?

Botox may impair your vision or depth perception. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be able to see clearly.

Avoid using underarm antiperspirants or deodorants for 24 hours after a Botox injection if you are being treated for excessive underarm sweating.

Avoid going back to your normal physical activities too quickly after receiving an injection.

Botox side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to Botox: hives; difficulty breathing; feeling like you might pass out; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects, some of which can occur up to several weeks after an injection:

unusual or severe muscle weakness (especially in a body area that was not injected with the medication);

chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, general ill feeling.

bruising, bleeding, pain, redness, or swelling where the injection was given;

This is not a complete list of Botox side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Botox?

Other medications such as cold or allergy medicine, muscle relaxers, sleeping pills, bronchodilators, bladder or urinary medicines, and irritable bowel medicines can increase some of the side effects of Botox. Tell your doctor if you regularly use any of these medications.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

an injected antibiotic such as amikacin (Amikin), gentamicin (Garamycin), kanamycin (Kantrex), neomycin (Mycifradin, Neo-Fradin, Neo-Tab), paromomycin (Humatin, Paromycin), streptomycin, tobramycin (Nebcin, Tobi).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with Botox. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More Botox resources

Compare Botox with other medications

Where can I get more information?

Your doctor or pharmacist can provide more information about Botox.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. (‘Multum’) is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum’s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum’s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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