Question
Hi there I am a 42 year old male who was injected 10 days ago for frown lines and I am having a terrible time with side effects.
After just a few hours I felt very strange...Confused and just plain "weird". Almost intoxicated.
By the next morning I also felt nauseous and had the strangest problem with my eyes...My vision was slightly blurred and it seemed I was having a problem comprehending what I was seeing. It was as if familiar objects were no longer familiar to me and I was lost in my own house.
Another interesting effect was that all of the parts of my body that I used a lot started to hurt like crazy. For example my wrist started to hurt from clicking my mouse and my finger joints from typing. Things that had never occured before.
Right now I am having a problem where I am lightheaded and every time I stand up I feel like I'm going to keel over. I also have bad neck, jaw and tooth pain. I am fighting fatigue in the evenings, which was never an issue before.
So I understand Botox stays in your system a long time. I've read it has a half life of seven days so as I was shot with 30 units (enough to kill 30 mice btw) I still have 15 in me now.
How long until these secondary side effects subside?
In fairness I will mention it did work on the frown lines, but I am too sick to enjoy it. Never again.

Answer
Hi there I am a 42 year old male who was injected 10 days ago for frown lines and I am having a terrible time with side effects.
After just a few hours I felt very strange...Confused and just plain "weird". Almost intoxicated.
By the next morning I also felt nauseous and had the strangest problem with my eyes...My vision was slightly blurred and it seemed I was having a problem comprehending what I was seeing. It was as if familiar objects were no longer familiar to me and I was lost in my own house.
Another interesting effect was that all of the parts of my body that I used a lot started to hurt like crazy. For example my wrist started to hurt from clicking my mouse and my finger joints from typing. Things that had never occured before.
Right now I am having a problem where I am lightheaded and every time I stand up I feel like I'm going to keel over. I also have bad neck, jaw and tooth pain. I am fighting fatigue in the evenings, which was never an issue before.
So I understand Botox stays in your system a long time. I've read it has a half life of seven days so as I was shot with 30 units (enough to kill 30 mice btw) I still have 15 in me now.
How long until these secondary side effects subside?
In fairness I will mention it did work on the frown lines, but I am too sick to enjoy it. Never again.

Answer
Hi S
It is very difficult to say exactly how long the systemic effects you are having will last, as postings in this forum reveal that different people appear to have very different recovery times.
In my case I had very poor concentration (couldnt even read a page of a book to the point where I understood it), chronic fatigue, headaches, pressure around my head, "anxiety" rushes, generally feeling unwell and weird. I posted more details under the panic attacks and anxiety subject. In my case I would say that I was severely affected for about 4-6 weeks, and theafter it gradually got better. After this initial phase I seemed to have good days and bad days. But I also went for acupuncture and Chinese herbs to try and help.
In total for me personally it took about 5 months to feel completely better. But do feel reassured that you will make a totally full recovery. I am now 100% better, with no residual problems or issues
P

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Hello...this is my first posting on your site, but have been trying to find reports of the negative effects of Botox and haven't had much luck until now.
I, too, had two series of Botox injections for headaches/cervical dystonia about 1 1/2 years ago. The first series was GREAT! In 3 days, I could tell that it was working and I began to be headache free for the first time in a very long time!
My second series was about 5 months after the initial series. 3 days later, I began experiencing sharp, shooting pains into my middle finger of my left hand. The next day I began having numbness in the lateral aspect of my hand (ulnar nerve distribution) as well as burning on the top of my hand which has continued to this day. Additionally, I started having carpal tunnel-like and cubital tunnel-like symptoms and shoulder pain. Some doctors think I may have thoracic outlet syndrome while others think it is a brachial plexus compression. I had an MRI of the cervical spine which did reveal disc protrusions and a bone spur. I believe that these problems were present prior to the Botox injections (hence, the cervical dystonia that I hoped the Botox would treat). I believe that the Botox injections altered my neck and shoulder anatomy enough to cause nerve compression and thus, the symptoms I have been experiencing for the last year.
I have had 3 cervical epidurals, with very limited relief (2 days only). I will see my doctor again in a week and see if he can come up with something to help. Pain meds and meds like Neurontin/Topamax did not improve my neuropathic pain, so I stopped them some time ago.
I know this is a lengthy note. I appreciate any and all who read it. Just knowing that I am not alone in my negative experience with Botox gives me reassurance that we all will be heard if we stick to what we know is true! Botox is dangerous!

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It has been 2 years and 3 months and I still am experiencing weakness and tingling of hands and feet. My eyes are still very, very dry and achey and I have recently been told I have glaucoma. My eyelids are still puffy every morning.

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Thank you for your reply. I just reported my symptoms to the FDA through Med Watch. I think it is vitally important that all of us who have experienced adverse effects report this immediately to the FDA so that they will take a closer look at this dangerous product.

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Hi S
I just read your account of your reaction to botox.I had my first botox 2 days ago for frown lines and I too was affected almost immediately by that spaced out confused state you mentioned.I also had dry eyes and coudn't focus properly ( I especially notice it when driving and watching tv.)I haven't had the aches and pains you mention yet so fingers crossed.Last night I felt so spaced out I brushed my teeth twice in quick succession having forgotten I'd done it already.Also this morning I got totally confused getting the childrens lunch boxes ready for school and had to really concentrate to remember what I usually give them.I feel a bit better now but I think like another member mentioned it might come and go.Its early days yet.What I'd like to know is if you're better now or still struggling on?

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Hi again.
I just thought I'd give you an update on how things have been going for me.It's been 10 days since my botox shots and I'm afraid I feel worse!I thought it would just go away if I didn't dwell on it but it hasn't.
Just after my last post I ended up with horrible neck and shoulder pain.This went after 4-5 days and I thought things were going to get better but my eyes are still so sore and dry and hard to focus.Also I have very bad sinus pressure and dizzyness.I went to a DR today(not the one who did the botox)and he's given me antibiotics for sinusitis.I asked about if the botox has anything to do with how I've been feeling and I felt he didn't really know.He mentioned that my eyes could be affected if some botox got to nerves in my eyes but then said if I wanted botox again that I should!?I think he hasn't a clue!Anyway I shall see if these antibiotics clear everything up and let you know.I'm going to return to the Botox Dr next week if I'm still not right as I still think it's funny that I felt 100% the day before botox and within hours after couldn't see or concentrate properly.Too much of a coincidence to say I got sinusitis an hour after botox!BUT I really want it not to be the botox because i LOVE the results on my frown lines and sooo want to get rid of brow lines too.Has anyone had a bad reaction,got over it and chosen to have botox again? Did you have a bad reaction next time and if so was it worse or better?

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Well it's been just over 40 days since my Botox injections and I thought I would come back and write about what I have experienced.
The biggest and most chronic problem I have had was diarrhea that started about 10 days after the shots and still continues now to some extent. I believe I had a very bad Salmonella infection related to the injections. I've lost about 7 pounds due to this and had a wretched time on my vacation. I ran a 99.5 fever for about 10 days.
The other major issues were burning muscle and joint pain in almost every part of my body that was used to any degree.
I'm still having some of the psychological effects I described earlier and am still not entirely "feeling like myself". Confusion, shaking hands, nervousness, insomnia and even some wierd emotional issues. I'm a pretty solid guy and this has never been an issue for me before.
I know there is no point in returning to the Doctor who did the shots, as I am sure he would say that I merely contracted Salmonella and became depressed about it, even though the probability of this is zero based on my history.
I think it's only a matter of time before there is a class action on this stuff.

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I, too, have been having vision problems like several of you...VERY blurry vision while watching tv or trying to read. My eyes get extremely fatigued quickly. I suppose I'll make an appt with the ophthalmologist soon, but I know it's related to the Botox injections I had over a year ago. My other symptoms persist...burning in my hand and arms, Thoracic Outlet-type symptoms, etc.
I am happy to report that Med Watch DID acknowledge my report in a very timely manner (albeit a form letter)! What a nice surprise...I didn't think I'd ever hear a word from them. So, I encourage all of you to report your concerns, symptoms, etc. as soon as possible so that they get the message LOUD and CLEAR. Botox is not as safe as most people (patients and healthcare professionals) think. As an R.N. and a long-term sufferer, I can't stress this enough. The FDA needs to take a much closer look at this dangerous product.
Good luck to all...hang in there!

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Feeling better. God bless everyone and thanks having this forum.

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I am so sorry to hear of the negative experience you have just described. It is awful and just plain negligent that the surgeon did not discuss using Botox with you prior to the procedure. You should have given both verbal and written informed consent. You may want to consider reporting not only your negative effects to Med Watch, but also consider reporting this physician to your State's Medical Board. Regardless, obtain a copy of your medical records right away for future reference if you haven't already done so. I was glad to hear that at least your primary care physician is aware of the adverse reactions and is supportive of you. That is a small step in the right direction. I wish you (and all who have shared your stories with us) a speedy recovery...

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Hi S
I'm sorry to hear you're still suffering so badly.I also had diarrhoea the first week after botox but seem to be over that.I've finished my course of antibiotics for sinusitis but it didn't make much difference to my head but my eyes are not aching anymore- still hard to focus though.My sinuses are definately clogged up and I still hold hope that they'll clear with steam baths and natural congestion tablets(you know garlic,horseradish wasabi-I prefer not to take drugs)
I've often suffered from sinus problems after colds and flu and often my sinuses would fill up when I was stressed.Never within hours of a stressful situation though.Maybe botox lowers our immune system and our bodies can't fight off bacteria and virus's that we would ordinarilly resist.
I hope we all improve soon .Isn't it easy to take good health for granted when we have it?

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Hi S,
Your side effects do not sound like botox to me. It sounds like an anxiety attack brought on by the botox. Anxiety attacks can appear in all the stange symptoms you describe below. It is amazing how our minds can affect us physically. Maybe you are scared about having the botox in your body and you keep imagining these symptoms until they become more and more real, and actually, they are real. I suffer from a similar type of anxiety, and so all of what you're saying sounds very familiar to me.
I'm sorry you have to go through all this, and I hope you feel better. Do try and relax and not worry so much. I think you are okay, because these do not sound like typical botox reaction. Feel better.
Leona

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