Botox Side Effects and How to Deal with Them

The popular injectable wrinkle remedy Botox, like every other medicine, has side effects. These side effects are undesirable results that could occur along with the benefits that Botox injections offer. The operational word is “could”. That’s because not all who undergo Botox treatment suffer from side effects; most of those who get Botox injections do not experience any adverse effects at all.

Although the chances of experiencing side effects from Botox treatments are minimal, it would be very useful to know what the Botox side effects are. These side effects were identified through the analysis of the results of thorough clinical studies in which the condition of a control group not taking Botox was compared to that of a group undergoing Botox treatment.

Studies conducted on the use of Botox for cosmetic treatments such as in the reduction of facial lines and wrinkles have established that Botox could cause high blood pressure, dental problems, droopy eyelids, nausea, indigestion, heartburn, muscle weakness and facial pain. These Botox side effects were experienced singly or in combinations by about 1 to 3 percent of those undergoing Botox treatments.

Misalignment or vertical deviations of the eyes, droopy eyelids, upper respiratory infections, difficulty in swallowing, neck pain, and headache are common Botox side effects in patients being treated for medical conditions such as cervical dystonia, blepharospasm (eyelid spasms), strabismus (crossed eyes), and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). Clinical studies revealed that there is an 11 to 21 percent chance of experiencing these side effects.

Other common Botox side effects that have been observed are anxiety, cough and runny or stuffy nose, dry mouth, sore throat, bleeding and/or soreness at the injection site, infection, weakness, drowsiness, dizziness, back pain, and flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills. About 2 to 10 percent of people undergoing Botox therapy for any purpose manifest these Botox side effects.

There are Botox side effects that are potentially serious. These side effects should be immediately reported to a medical practitioner. What are these side effects? They include allergic reactions (such as unexplained rashes, itching, hives, unexplained swelling, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, and wheezing), chest pain, double vision, speech problems, and dry eyes (if being treated for muscle spasms near the eyes).

If you experience any of the Botox side effects mentioned above, the best course of action is to let your doctor know at the soonest possible time. There are cases in which it would be difficult to tell the exact cause of a symptom that you are manifesting; it may or may not be caused by Botox treatments. But whatever the cause is, your doctor will know what to do.

There will always be disadvantages that go along with the benefits that Botox treatments offer. The important thing is to be able to tell if you are manifesting Botox side effects and know what to do in such cases.

About the Author:

Previous post:

Next post: