October 12, 2009
What Are the Botox Side Effects?
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.
In studies on the use Botox for cosmetic purposes, such as to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and facial lines, it was found that Botox treatments could induce hypertension, tooth problems, indigestion and heartburn in up to 1 percent of those being treated, muscle weakness and facial pain in up to 2 percent, and droopy eyelids and nausea in up to 3 percent.
On the use of Botox for treating medical conditions such as cervical dystonia, crossed eyes (strabismus), eyelid spasms (blepharospasm) and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), studies show that the following common Botox side effects were experienced by about 11 to 21 percent of patients: headache, droopy eyelids, neck pain, difficulty in swallowing, upper respiratory infections and vertical deviations (misalignment) of the eyes.
Drowsiness, weakness, dizziness, bleeding at the injection site, infection, soreness at the injection site, sore throat, dry mouth, cough, runny or stuffy nose, anxiety, back pain, and flu-like symptoms such as chills and fever are other common Botox side effects. About 2 to 10 percent of people undergoing Botox treatments experience these side effects, regardless of the purpose of the Botox therapy.
There are certain Botox side effects that need to be reported immediately to a physician. These include allergic reactions (such as difficulty in breathing or swallowing, unexplained rashes, itching, hives, unexplained swelling, and wheezing), chest pain, double vision, speech problems, and dry eyes (if being treated for muscle spasms near the eyes). Such side effects are potentially serious and require immediate medical intervention.
While undergoing Botox treatments, there will be times when you have symptoms for which the exact cause can be difficult to tell. These symptoms may or may not be Botox side effects. The best thing to do if you feel or see anything unusual is to consult your physician. Not only will your physician determine the cause, he will treat the condition as well.
Botox treatments certainly offer a lot of benefits to its users. But along with those benefits are disadvantages. It is important that you be able to recognize Botox side effects and know what course of action to follow if you suffer from them.
Jane Villardo has been offering advice about Botox for many years and maintains a website all about Botox. Botoxinjection-facts.com also offers information on Botox creme, plus offers anti wrinkle cream reviews



