Botox is a drug that is made from a highly purified form of botulinum toxin, which is the same toxin found in the type of food poisoning botulism. Botox is often injected in small doses for cosmetic reasons to eliminate or reduce wrinkles. Botox works by weakening muscles and blocking nerves.eMedicine: Botox Injections

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Botox in the 1980s for the use of uncontrolled blinking and lazy eyes.FDA: Botox Cosmetic: A Look at Looking Good (July-August 2002) Botox has been used for years by cosmetic physicians for facial creases and wrinkles. In 2002, the FDA approved Botox for the treatment of moderate to severe frown lines.FDA: FDA Approves Botox to Treat Frown Lines (April 15, 2002) Botox will only work for about four months. With repeated use, Botox may last longer as the muscles are trained to relax.

Researchers are conducting studies for the use of Botox in ailments such as cerebral palsy, migraine headaches and excessive sweating. However, the FDA has never formally approved the use of Botox in these cases.MayoClinic.com: Botox: Is this wrinkle treatment for you?

• Pain
• Tenderness
• Bruising at the injection site
• Flu-like feeling
• Droopy eyelids
• Headache
• Nausea

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before undergoing a Botox regime.

• Botox Facts: Botox: Side Effects and Safety
• RxList: Botox Side Effects and Drug Interactions | Botox Warnings and Precautions
• DocShop.com: BOTOX Injection Risks and Side Effects
• HealthDay: FDA Warns of Children's Deaths Linked to Botox (February 8, 2008)
  • "We have become aware of a number of reports of serious adverse reactions related to the use of botulinum toxin products," Dr. Russell Katz, director of the FDA's Division of Neurology Products at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said during a Friday afternoon teleconference. "These are reactions that involve parts of the body physically distant from the site of injection."
• Neurology: Risks of erasing wrinkles: Buyer beware! (2006)