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More about Botulinum Toxin Injections:
Definition Purpose Precautions Preparation Risks Normal results Resources |
In over 30 years of therapeutic use in humans, botulinum toxin has proven to be remarkably safe. Difficulties associated with administration of toxin are: different patients may experience different effects at the same dose, patients new to the treatment may experience exaggerated effects at subsequent visits and/or neighboring muscles may become activated at subsequent treatments.
Additional side effects may include excessive muscle weakness at the injection site or adjacent muscles. These effects typically resolve quickly. Occasionally, patients report flu-like symptoms but they are usually self-limited.
A certain percentage of patients may also experience resistance to the toxin. The presence of circulating anti-bodies to the toxin is presumed to be the primary reason for resistance to Botox injections. Patients who have little reaction to Botox 'A' may benefit from injections using one of the other six serotypes. Using the smallest effective dose limits the likelihood of immunoresistance in unresponsive patients.
— Bonny McClain, DC
