What Are the Side Effects of Botox?

 

Botox injections are shots that use a toxin to prevent a specific muscle from moving for a limited amount of time. These shots are quite often used to smooth wrinkles on the face. They are also used to treat neck spasms, sweating, overactive bladder, a lazy eye, and other medical conditions. Botox shots can also help prevent migraines.

 

The medicine in Botox injections is made from the same toxin that causes a kind of food poisoning called botulism. But the versions of purified botulinum toxin used by your licensed health care provider meet medical control standards. These standards have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As a documented rule, the bacterial toxins used for medical purposes are not harmful when used correctly.

 

Why Is Botox Used

 

Botox injections block certain chemical signals from specific nerves that cause targeted muscles to contract. The most common and frequent use of these injections is to relax the facial muscles that cause unwanted frown lines and other annoying facial wrinkles.

 

Botox injections are also used to ease symptoms of a variety of health conditions. It is not a cure. Several examples of medical conditions that might be treated with Botox injections include:

 

  1. Neck spasms- In this painful condition, your neck muscles contract in an uncontrolled way. This will cause your head to twist or turn into an uncomfortable position. The condition is also called cervical eye twitching.

 

  1. Lazy eye- The most common and frequent cause of lazy eye is an imbalance in the muscles used for moving the eye. Lazy eye is also referred to as crossed eyes or misaligned eyes.
  2. Sweating- Botox can be used for a condition if you sweat a lot, even when you are not hot or working up a sweat. It is called excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis.
  3. Migraine- Botox injections can help reduce how often you suffer from a migraine. This treatment is usually used for people who have headaches 15 or more days in a month. When you get serious headaches that often, the condition is called chronic migraine. Botox treatments are needed about every three months to retain the benefit.
  4. Bladder problems- Botox shots can also help reduce urinary incontinence as a result of an overactive bladder.

 

Risks of Botox

 

Botox injections are most often safe when you are under the care of a licensed and skilled health care provider. The Botox procedure can result in unwanted side effects or even cause harm if it is given incorrectly. Possible side effects and unwanted results include:

 

  1. Pain, swelling, or bruising at the injection site.
  2. Headache or flu-like symptoms.
  3. Droopy eyelids or crooked eyebrows.
  4. A crooked smile or possibly drooling.
  5. Either watery or dry eyes.
  6. An infection at the injection site.

 

Very rarely, the medicine might spread to parts of your body where it is not supposed to go. It might cause symptoms there. Call your health care provider immediately if you have any of these symptoms hours or weeks following your procedure:

 

  1. Muscle weakness.
  2. Vision issues.
  3. Trouble speaking or swallowing.
  4. Breathing problems.
  5. Allergic reaction.
  6. Loss of bladder control.

 

As a rule, health care providers do not recommend Botox if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Related Article: Is Botox Safe?