MEDICATION GUIDE
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic (Boe-tox)(onabotulinumtoxinA) for Injection
Read the Medication Guide that comes with BOTOX® or BOTOX®Cosmetic before you start using it and each time it is given to you.
There may be new information. This information does not take the
place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or
your treatment. You should share this information with your family
members and caregivers.
What is the most important information I should know about
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects
that can be life threatening. Call your doctor or get medical help
right away if you have any of these problems after treatment with
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic:
- Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing. These
problems can happen hours to weeks after an injection of
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic usually because the muscles
that you use to breathe and swallow can become weak after
the injection. Death can happen as a complication if you have
severe problems with swallowing or breathing after treatment
with BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic.
- People with certain breathing problems may need to use
muscles in their neck to help them breathe. These patients
may be at greater risk for serious breathing problems withBOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic.
- Swallowing problems may last for several months. People
who cannot swallow well may need a feeding tube to receive
food and water. If swallowing problems are severe, food or
liquids may go into your lungs. People who already have
swallowing or breathing problems before receiving BOTOX®
or BOTOX® Cosmetic have the highest risk of getting these
problems.
- Spread of toxin effects. In some cases, the effect of
botulinum toxin may affect areas of the body away from the
injection site and cause symptoms of a serious condition
called botulism.
The symptoms of botulism include:
- loss of strength and muscle weakness all over the body
- double vision
- blurred vision and drooping eyelids
- hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia)
- trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria)
- loss of bladder control
- trouble breathing
- trouble swallowing
These symptoms can happen hours to weeks after you receive an
injection of
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic.
These problems could make it unsafe for you to drive a car or do
other dangerous activities. See "What should I avoid while receiving
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic".
There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin
effect away from the injection site when BOTOX® has been used
at the recommended dose to treat severe underarm sweating,
blepharospasm, or strabismus, or when BOTOX® Cosmetic has
been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines.
What are BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and
used:
- to treat the abnormal head position and neck pain that
happens with cervical dystonia (CD) in adults.
- to treat certain types of eye muscle problems (strabismus) or
abnormal spasm of the eyelids (blepharospasm) in people 12
years and older.
BOTOX® is also injected into the skin to treat the symptoms of
severe underarm sweating (severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis)
when medicines used on the skin (topical) do not work well
enough.
BOTOX® Cosmetic
is a prescription medicine that is injected into
muscles and used to improve the look of moderate to severe frown
lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) in adults younger than
65 years of age for a short period of time (temporary).
It is not known whether BOTOX® is safe or effective in children
younger than:
- 16 years of age for treatment of cervical dystonia
- 18 years of age for treatment of hyperhidrosis
- 12 years of age for treatment of strabismus or blepharospasm
BOTOX® Cosmetic is not recommended for use in children younger
than 18 years of age.
It is not known whether BOTOX® and
BOTOX® Cosmetic are safe or
effective for other types of muscle spasms or for severe sweating
anywhere other than your armpits.
Who should not take BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Do not take BOTOX® or
BOTOX® Cosmetic if you:
- are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® or
BOTOX® Cosmetic. See the end of this Medication Guide for a list of
ingredients in BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic.
- had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product
such as Myobloc® or Dysport ™
- have a skin infection at the planned injection site
What should I tell my doctor before taking BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if
you have:
- a disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease],
myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome). See “What is
the most important information I should know about BOTOX®
and BOTOX® Cosmetic?”
- allergies to any botulinum toxin product
- had any side effect from any botulinum toxin product in the
past
- a breathing problem, such as asthma or emphysema
- swallowing problems
- bleeding problems
- plans to have surgery
- had surgery on your face
- weakness of your forehead muscles, such as trouble raising
your eyebrows
- drooping eyelids
- any other change in the way your face normally looks
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby.
- are breast-feeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including
prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal
products. Using
BOTOX® or
BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other
medicines may cause serious side effects.
Do not start any new
medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.
Especially tell your doctor if you:
- have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last
four months
- have received injections of botulinum toxin, such as Myobloc®
(rimabotulinumtoxinB) or Dysport™ (abobotulinumtoxinA) in
the past. Be sure your doctor knows exactly which product
you received.
- have recently received an antibiotic by injection
- take muscle relaxants
- take an allergy or cold medicine
- take a sleep medicine
Ask your doctor if you are not sure if your medicine is one that is
listed above.
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with
you to show your doctor and pharmacist each time you get a new
medicine.
How should I take BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic?
- BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic is an injection that your doctor
will give you.
- BOTOX® is injected into your affected muscles or skin.
- BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into your affected muscles.
- Your doctor may change your dose of BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic, until you and your doctor find the best dose for
you.
What should I avoid while taking BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or
general muscle weakness, or vision problems within hours to
weeks of taking BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic.
If this happens,
do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous
activities. See "What is the most important information I should
know about BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic?"
What are the possible side effects of BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic can cause serious side effects.
See "What is the most important information I should know about
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic?"
Other side effects of BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic include:
- dry mouth
- discomfort or pain at the injection site
- tiredness
- headache
- neck pain
- eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased
eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry
eyes.
- allergic reactions. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to
BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic may include: itching, rash,
red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or
feeling faint. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away
if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you
become dizzy or faint.
Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that
does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may
report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
General information about BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic:
Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those
listed in a Medication Guide.
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information
about BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic. If you would like more
information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your doctor
or pharmacist for information about BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic that is written for healthcare professionals. For more
information about BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic call Allergan at
1-800-433-8871 or go to www.botox.com.
What are the ingredients in BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic?
Active ingredient: botulinum toxin type A
Inactive ingredients: human albumin and sodium chloride
Issued: 07/2009
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration.
Manufactured by: Allergan Pharmaceuticals Ireland
a subsidiary of: Allergan, Inc.
2525 Dupont Dr.
Irvine, CA 92612
® mark owned by Allergan, Inc.
Myobloc® is a registered trademark of Solstice Neurosciences, Inc.
Dysport™ is a trademark of Ipsen Biopharm Limited Company