botulinum toxin - injection, Botox, Botox Cosmetic
GENERIC NAME: BOTULINUM TOXIN - INJECTION (BOT-ue-LYE-num)
BRAND NAME(S): Botox, Botox Cosmetic
Warning |
Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects |
Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes |
Missed Dose | Storage
WARNING: See also Uses section.
This medication can spread to other parts of the body after your injection, causing serious (possibly fatal) side effects. These can occur hours or even weeks after the injection. However, the chances of such serious side effects occurring when this medication is used for migraines or skin conditions such as wrinkles, eye spasm, or excessive sweating are extremely unlikely.
Children being treated for muscle spasms have the greatest risk of these effects, as well as anyone that has certain medical conditions (see Precautions section). Discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.
Seek immediate medical attention if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: chest pain, difficulty breathing, excessive muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat, severe difficulty swallowing or speaking, loss of bladder control.
USES: There are different types of botulinum toxin products (toxin A and B) with different uses (eye problems, muscle spasms, migraines, cosmetic). Different brands of this medication deliver different amounts of medication. Your doctor will choose the correct product for you.Botulinum toxin is used to treat certain eye disorders such as crossed eyes (strabismus) and uncontrolled blinking (blepharospasm), to treat muscle spasms or movement disorders (such as cervical dystonia, torticollis), and to reduce the cosmetic appearance of wrinkles. It is also used to prevent headaches in people with very frequent migraines. Botulinum toxin relaxes muscle by blocking the release of a chemical called acetylcholine.It is also used to treat severe underarm sweating. Botulinum toxin works by blocking the chemicals that turn on the sweat glands.Botulinum toxin is not a cure, and your symptoms will gradually return as the medication wears off.
HOW TO USE: Read the Medication Guide and, if available, the Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start using this medication and each time you get an injection. If you have any questions regarding the information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.This medication is given by injection by an experienced health care professional. It is injected into the affected muscles (intramuscularly) when treating eye disorders, muscle spasms and wrinkles. When used to prevent migraines, it is injected into the muscles of the head and neck. It is injected into the skin (intradermally) for the treatment of excessive sweating.Your dose, the number of injections, the site of injections, and how often you receive the medication will be determined by your condition and your response to therapy. Most people start to see an effect within a few days to 2 weeks, and the effect usually lasts 3 to 6 months.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
|
Back to Medications Index
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the