78 responses so far ↓

• Candida A. Beth // Apr 10, 2003 at 11:49 am

  I have given Botox injections for my migraines. I am beginning to experience the following: nausea, headaches, flu symptons, muscle weakness, and severe migraines.

• Gayle // May 7, 2003 at 9:46 am

  Has the Botox injections helped your headaches at all, putting aside the side effects? How often are you supposed to have to get the next injections?

  Thanks for your input.

• Norma Yoro // Jun 17, 2003 at 9:20 am

  I have had terrible after effects from what I suspect was botox treatment administer during plastic surgery. One of the questions asked by my plastic surgeon was whether I had considered Botox treatment. I informed him, I had difficulty with medications and I would not ellect to try any type of ellective medical treatment. I have had other procedures done and never experienced side effects.

  I experienced difficulty breathing, severe fatigues, dissorentation, difficulty consr rating,I had no persperation from my for head for almost a year. I asked my plastic surgeon if he had adminsitered Botox injection, he said he did not. I was desperatly ill. I also called Allegan phamaceutical company and was told these reactions were not known to botox injections. I tried to find some type of treatment for the Botox injections that I suspected were given

  to me from my primeray physician and neorologist in my medical facility and was informed by my neoroligist that even if Botox was administered there were no know sever side effects.

  My hear goes out to Ms Medavoy because I was felt to be a hysterical person when all I realy wanted was to find a remedy to the sever toxic reaction was feel I experienced.

• Norma Yoro // Jun 17, 2003 at 9:24 am

  Sever reaction to Botox treatment I believe was adminstered without my consent during surgical plastic procudure. I have submited some infomation regarding toxic side effects of Botox treatment.

• Vickie Lee // Jun 17, 2003 at 9:29 pm

  I had botox injections almost two years ago and have had many side effects, including most of the side effects that Mrs. Irena Medavoy has encountered. I have permanent muscle loss in my right shoulder and chronic pain in my neck and shoulder. I would like to communicate with Mrs. Medavoy in some way to compare the disabling effects that I have since the injections. The Doctor that gave me the Botox injections has left his practice and no longer has license to practice in this area. If there is someone out there that knows how to communicate with Mrs. Medavoy, please contact me. Thank you very much in advance for any help.

  Vickie Lee on June 18, 2003

• Kimberley Sick LMT // Jun 18, 2003 at 2:39 pm

  My mother recieved botox for “multiple migraines” and since has had many problems similar to Medavoy’s. In which we are now trying to find out more about it. I have also become a licensed massage therapist since her botox, and would like to point out from my point of view that while temporarily deadning a muscle in your neck would cause your other muscles to overcomensate and cause alignment and muscle problems.

• Merrick // Jun 27, 2003 at 9:46 pm

  I had Botox injections in the back of my head, neck and shoulders for chronic head and neck pain after neck surgery (anterior discectomy and fusion at C5-C6 and C6-C7). The flu like symptoms are normal for about a week. My headache went away after about only 7 days (maximum absorption is at 10 days) but was back in full force after 18 days. My neck spasms were never relieved. The day after I was injected my tongue became really inflammed, sensitive and swollen. Fortunately I sleep semi prone mostly but I had a problem with recurring airway obstruction in my sleep for about 6 weeks. It felt as though there was some slackening of structures in the back of my throat. My entire face also slackened, and I had to work to form words as my buccal (cheek) muscles were affected. I had to keep wiping bits of saliva from the corners of my mouth for several weeks. The peak affect seemed to be about 8 weeks for me (effect is supposed to last 3-5 months). At three months my tongue is still numb and sensitive. It is not supposed to have any affect on sensation, but its hard to explain away the effects on my tongue when it coincided with the injection of the Botox, and all the effects I had were related to the facial nerve being exposed to Botox. The facial nerve innervates the anterior 2/3 of the tongue as well as the face. The doctor denied the affect on my tongue was related to the Botox, but couldn’t explain the coincidence or what it might be. I’m hoping the affect will wear off in 5 months. If it does, it most certainly was the Botox. If it doesn’t I still think it’s related to the Botox. I wonder if the drug company tested possible potentiation with other drugs. I asked the doctor to skip the sub occipital injections this time and just inject 3 of my tapezius trigger points to try again to subdue the neck spasms. He refused in light of my reaction, admitting there was a remote possibility that the Botox is the problem. All drugs have side effects. It’s ridiculous to believe you can get something for nothing. It probably is helpful to some people for pain management, but it seems to me there is too much unknown (or not acknowleged) side effects. The effect on the muscles of the tongue is very frightening and extemely dangerous when it leads to airway obstruction. It’s not a drug to mess around with. Those of us with chronic pain are desperate, those who use it for cosmetic purposes are just plain stupid!

• Merrick // Jun 27, 2003 at 10:42 pm

  In my comment below I mentioned most of my problems involve the facial nerve. The muscles of the tongue are controlled by the glossopharyngeal nerve. Obviously I also had some involvement of this nerve, which explains my problem with intermittant airway obstruction when I sleep. The problem with botox is that the doctor can’t control where the drug will spread to. The injection point for the facial nerve is in the right side of the face. No where near where I was injected.

  I apologize for the way my previous final comment came out. I think that using Botox for cosmetic purposes is stupid, not the people who have cosmetic surgery. Doctors have a responsibility to understand and explain the drugs they use on people. Sadly demands for the cosmetic uses make it a very lucrative business for doctors and drug companies. Ethics go out the window.

• Merrick // Jun 28, 2003 at 9:14 am

  I misspoke again.(it was so late at night). Injection points for the facial nerve are on both sides of the face. I fixate on the right because that is where my injury is. I’ll quit now while I’m ahead! Good Luck to you folks with side effects. I hope they fade away.

• Carol // Jul 22, 2003 at 8:34 pm

  I have suffered side effects from botox given for cosmetic reasons above the brow,under the eyes and in the platysma muscle in the front of the neck for neck cords one of the most well know dermatologists in NYC.I had been receiving the treatments for 3 years when the last injection that I had June 2002produced strange side effects. @ 2 weeks after the injections the back of my tongue became higher on one side and burned. I also got flu-like symptoms for the 1st time. My neck was very stiff and felt numb with pain.@ another 2 weeks I started getting burning and tingling down my arms,hands,buttocks,legs.The symptoms lasted for over a year now.I went to various doctors and they had no clue to what was wrong. A top neurologist who specilizes in this area sent me for countless bloodtests to rule out neurological diseases. They all came back negative. I had an extensive EMG of my upper& lower body which came out normal. I told him about the symptoms and the botox and he said that the timing of the botox could have set off these neurological symptoms in me.He feels that I stand a good chance of recovering from this. This has been a horror story. I have been in perfect health and athletic until this happened. I am taking Neurontin for the nerve pain.I helps some. I can’t believe that I trusted my doctor who is well known in NYC and didn’t do the research.She injects herself as well as her young daughter with botox for her headache. Vicki Lee you mentioned that you would like to contact Mrs. Medavoy. She can be contacted through through http://www.medavoybotox.org, the Medavoy website where they are gathering information on others who have suffered side effects from botox.Mrs. Medavoy is suing Arnold Klein(her dermatologist and Allergan the maker of botox for her awful time. In the news there was a woman who died in the plastic surgeon’s chair while being give botox for headaches. She went into shock after several minutes, 911 was called. She was never revived. There was another woman in Florida who received botox injections for migraines.She got flu-like symptoms, felt extremely weak, had excruciating head and muscle pain,fatique. Could not get off the sofa.Was bed ridden for 6 weeks. She thought she was going to die. One woman in California received botox in the face felt very weak and sick, she then had half her face go paralized.It is important for all of you who have been hurt by botox to call the FDA and file a written report. Also call Allergan the maker of botox and file a report with them as well.

  website that is gathering information about botox sufferers.I admire Mrs. Medavoy for taking on this strong challenge against Allergan who made $500M last year and the lawyer representing the botox lawyer who markets himself as once representing O.J.Simson.I am on a mission just like Irena Medavoy is to get word out to the public about how dangerous botox can be and that information is held from the patient. Consent forms say very little.You are made to feel that you are getting a cosmetic instead of a drug.Merrick, You see that I also have tongue complications from being shot in the neck. When I saw an ENT surgeon he gave me an MRI in the front of my neck because tha base of my tonge was risen. It was negative. He has no answers and said the botox couldn’t have cause my tongue problems, but probably my neck.

• Carol // Jul 28, 2003 at 8:54 pm

  I wrote about in the comments about my complications after botox.There is a very dark side to botox that you do not read about in most doctors’ consent forms,especially cosmetic doctors.Irena Medavoy’s lawsuit against Arnold Klein her dermatologist and Allergan the maker of botox is going to be a very important case.The trial is set for February.A few examples of people that I have read about in the news that have suffered severe side effects.1.A woman in Florida who was receiving botox for migraines went into caridiac arrest,shock and died in the plastic surgeon’s office.The autopsy stated that botox was the primary cause. Another woman in Florida, received botox for headaches that had her bedridden for 6 weeks.She thought she was going to die and was ready to sign her will.She was so weak.Allergan rep told her “it couldn’t be the botox”and pointed to every neurological disease imaginable.Another womman in California had botox for cosmetic reasons and one side of her face is paralized for a couple of years.There is a 4 year old child who received botox for cerebral palsy.Before the treatment the child could walk but with difficulty. Now the child cannot walk or feed himself.The cosmetic doctors have patients sign consent forms as if botox is like a cosmetic and has rare mild temporary side effects. I am sure that many people have had side effects from botox that are told that it “can’t be the botox”.My dermatologist told me that my symptoms did not come from botox and implied indirectly that perhaps I was depressed and should be treated for depression. If you have had a complication from botox please report it to the FDA (you can do this on- line), to Allergan( do this for your own protection) and you can report your story to http://www.medavoybotox.org.If I knew the information that I have gathered over the last year, I would have never consented to have cosmetic botox.Today there was an article about the young docotor in his first in practice making housecalls in Manhattan. The photo showed him giving injections to a yoga instructor in the middle of the gym. He said that he has a bartender,etc at $400 a pop.10 minutes for one injection 20 for various and $300.00 for additional sites.( This is disgusting).

  Please write to the Irena Medavoy website.Allergan ( botox) and the doctors whos administer it make it seem benign. It is not. You can get very hurt by treatment with botox. The public needs to made aware of this. The FDA already has made Allergan remove their last three ad campaigns because they were not informing people of the risks and referring to it as a cosmetic instead of a drug. Botox usage has increased dramatically.Doctors view it as a big benign cash cow.It is proving not to be so benign and hopefully information to the public will be widespread.

• Nancy Tiernan // Aug 1, 2003 at 1:12 pm

  I have spasmodic dysphonia and have received botox injections for years. I receive a small dose, one unit, every 3 months. Several times I have had flu-like symptoms after an injection that lasted a few days. In early March of 2002 around 3 weeks after botox, I developed pain in my right armpit. In a few days the pain included my right shoulder and neck. My doctor thought I might have pulled a muscle exercising and had me use ice therapy. A few days later, to my surprise, the pain began moving down my right arm, on the inside, to my hand and fingers. My arm was tingling and slightly numb. I was so scared. I have been healthy all my life, except for my voice disorder, and could not imagine what was happening to me. I went back to my doctor who sent me for x-rays of my neck and shoulder, which showed nothing. A few days later I had numbness and tingling from the waist down. I was at work when this started. My husband drove me to the emergency room at Deaconess Hospital. The doctor there ran blood tests, urine tests, and took medical history. I asked him if he thought botox could be causing my symptoms. He said he didn’t think so. None of my tests showed anything. He advised me to have an MRI of my neck to rule out MS. Next I went to a neurologist. He took my history of symptoms, saying very little, while I described the awful pain I was experiencing. He did a spinal tap and an MRI. Neither showed anything abnorma. The burning pain had migrated to nearly every part of my body by my next visit. I thought I was dying. I was so healthy and vibrant before this illness and was dumbfounded by it. I was describing what the pain felt like. The doctor said to me, “If I didn’t know you I’d think you were loony!” This was the second time I had seen him. He didn’t “know” me at all. I was desperate to know what was wrong with my body. This neurologist put me on Neurontin. It barely phased the pain. Next I went to a rheumatologist. At the time I had tender points and pain consistent with fibromyalgia, though was never diagnosed with it. I had a complete skeletal bone scan, a bone density scan, and more x-rays. I was prescribed Flexeril which did not help either. During this time I could not sleep. The sheets hurt, the bed hurt, anything that touched me hurt. I could scarcely lift my arms to use my curling iron in the morning. The mental anguish I felt during this time was enormous. I was ill from early March 2002 until July 2002 when my symptoms began to subside. I was just as amazed at them leaving as I was at their onset. I have been grateful every day since that the pain went away. I have continued my botox injections with no more adverse effects. I did not know about Ms. Medavoy’s law suit against Allergan and her doctor until recently. I was not aware of anyone becoming ill from botox. Is is possible a bad batch of the toxin is produced now and then? I want to stop taking it now that I know people have been harmed. I asked every doctor I saw if there might be a connection between my illness and botox. None of them thought so. I wish healing to anyone still suffering.

• Alicia A // Aug 18, 2003 at 10:08 pm

  I recieved my first botox injections on May 30th, 2003 for cerical dystonia (torticollis). I was given 100 units the first time. My neurologist told me to call him in 10 days to let him know how I am doing and that I may need a booster since he used such a small dose. He said that my conditin was mild. I called him 10 days later and told him that it didn’t seem to help and thought that the condition had worsened. I was having some burning pain mainly in my neck. I went back in on June 13th for a booster and recieved 100 more units of botox on the left and right side of my neck and back. Two days later at work, I started feeling a burning pain in my neck, shoulder and constant ache in my left arm. I work in a very busy physicians office so I tried to continue to work, but came home at night in tears from the pain. Finally I called my neurologist back and explained my symptoms and he wrote a letter to my employer and thought that maybe I needed a little rest and would be okay. The symptoms persisted and I went back to work only to be in tears constantly from the pain. The pain was so intense that when I took a shower it hurt to put a towel on my head or to bend down and brush my teeth. I have a hard time doing my housework.

  I saw my neurologist again on July 1 and he just pretty much scratched his head and couldn’t figure out why I was having so much trouble. He wanted me to see one of his partners for a second opinion, he then said that he thought I had the worse case of torticollis he has seen, but I couldn’t see him for another month, so he gave me morphine and neurontin and of course antidepressants because he thought I was suffering from depression. I was. The pain is so intense. My doctor kept me off of work until seeing his partner. I just saw him today (August 18) and he does not believe there is any link between botox and the symptoms that I am having. So now he is setting me up with nerve conduction studies and if they are negative then a possible myelogram to see if something else is going on. He thinks its just a coincidence that the symptoms appeared around the same time that I was treated with botox. I have been off work now for six weeks and still nothing has changed as far as my pain goes. The morpine helps some, but not enough. Sometimes the pain has been so unbearable that I called my husband at work and told him I didn’t care if I lived or died. He is of course very concerned. I spoke to a local law firm and they were not willing to take the case, but said if I wanted to pursue it make sure to do it before the statute of limitations expired. I don’t know how long that is, but that may be what I end up doing. Time will tell. I am waiting till the end of September and maybe if the botox wears off, I will have some relief. I was so glad to find this website because everywhere I have looked there is nothing negative concerning botox and I think that more people should be aware of the serious side effects it can cause. I just want my life back the way it was. I had pain then, but at least I had some good days and some bad, but I could control with medication and go to work.

• Carol Staab // Aug 19, 2003 at 8:03 pm

  To Alice A:I hope you get better with time.It is been a year for me.I am taking neurontin,3200 mg a day.Before I had a reaction to botox I was healthy person who worked out 5 days a week and could ski all day on a week’s vacation.There are millions of people receiving botox and the number grows daily.Doctors and the drug company are making a ton of money on injecting people with a neurotoxin that no one knows the long term effects.It really sounds like you had a bad reaction.I had doctors tell me also that it could not be the botox.Then I went to a neurologist who specialized in neuropathy who is well known in NYC.He told me with the timing of the injections that it certainly could have set off the symptoms that I have.I had every test done to exclude a neurological disease including a brain MRI and EMG.I would like to sue the drug company for promoting botox like it is a cosmetic and my doctor who made me sign a consent form that didn’t show the possible side effects.She told me that it could not be the botox.People like you and I who have been hurt by botox seem to be isolated.There are many more.I wish we could file a class action suit.Irena Medavoy the woman in the above article is suing her doctor and the drug company.Her trial is set for February.She was interviewed on Dateline.(The transcript is on Dateline’s website).Irena Medavoy is going to be interviewed on Larry King Live soon. I will post the date when I get it.I am on a mission to get the word out to the public that botox can really hurt people.

• Jan A. // Aug 20, 2003 at 3:08 pm

  I had botox injections for fibromyalgia which involved constant headache, neck and shoulder muscle spasms. Previously I was treated with trigger point injections in the shoulders and accupuncture along with flexeril and NASID meds. I had botox injections in the areas of my temples for headache and had no significant side effects. After my recent injections in the neck, shoulders, and temples I have not been able to keep my head erect. The doctor who administered the injections said the dose was too high for my height and weight and that I now have “bowling ball head syndrome”. Literally my head feels like a bowling ball and my neck muscles are unable to hold me head up without my feeling like I’m going to pass out. This all comes with severe pain in the shoulders too. It is 3 weeks since the injecttions and my physician has started me on 15 minutes of neck strengthening exercises. However. I am really upset and pray that these symptoms will eventually go away completely. Had I known that this could happen, I would never had this done. Who is to blame? The doctor admitted he used too much botox and probably should have used different sites for the injections. So now all I can do is wait. Please write back.

  Thank you all.

• Carol Staab // Aug 20, 2003 at 7:56 pm

  Response to Jan A.-If things go ok, the botox should wear off in 3 months, the longest 5.Your neck muscles became very weak after these injections.If the symptoms don’t subside in this time frame then I would consider a suit.Your doctor admitted to giving you too much botox.I am shocked that he was truthful.My experience was the doctor told me that my symptoms couldn’t be from the botox.My advice is to not have botox again.Botox is experimental, the long term effects are unknown and people are getting hurt by this product. I would report your symptoms via the FDA website so they can tract it.The FDA was so disturbed with Allergan-botox that they made them pull 3 of their ads and their tv ads because they market botox like it is a cosmetic and fail to disclose the dangers.As you know from the above article Mrs. Medavoy is suing botox-Allergan and her doctor Arnold Klein for the effects that she has suffered. You can write an E-mail to her website at http//medavoybotox.org

  Carol(Same Carol from this site)

• Nancy Tiernan // Aug 22, 2003 at 6:43 am

  After reading over your submissions, including the latest by Jan and Alicia, I am convinced that a reaction to botox caused my illness in 2002. The symptoms we describe are too similar to be a coincidence, mainly the burning, relentless pain, headache, and muscle weakness. Carol’s description of the tingling and numbness sounded exactly like what I experienced. That is when the ER doctor said I should be tested for MS. My legs were numb and I was tingling from the waist down. Like Alicia I felt like I was dying. There were days I could barely walk I hurt so bad. My muscles also itched at times! I felt intimidated by the doctors I saw. They acted so puzzled, almost like they did not believe what I was telling them. Like Carol, I have been healthy and active, doing yoga for 20 years. I kept trying to understand how I could be so healthy one moment and then desperately ill. I’ve gone back over the notes I kept during the time I was making the rounds of doctors. I found that the pain in my right armpit and shoulder started 2 to 3 weeks after my Feb. 14, 2002 injection. Since no doctor I saw would connect the botox with my symptoms I had my shot again on May 9th. What I discovered looking over my notes was that the numbness and tingling started a few days after that injection. The pain spread from my right arm and shoulder to my neck and the back of my head, then to the other side of my body. By June I had pain that seemed to migrate from one muscle group to another. Some days I hurt absolutely everywhere! My illness lasted until August when the pain gradually began to subside. This is according to my journal. I had originally said I was better by July. I had taken botox for 8 years with only flu-like symptoms 2 or 3 times. I notice that some of you have taken it for several years with no reaction, also. I wonder if it takes a certain set of circumstances to have an adverse reaction? Maybe our immune systems were compromised at the time.

  Regarding my spasmodic dysphonia, my doctor cut my dose to one unit, given in the thyroarytenoid muscles on either side of my neck, because I was so sensitive to a larger dose. My voice would go completely away. Our size may be a factor, as Jan mentioned. I am 5′2″ and 106 lbs. One unit is the smallest dose my doctor gives. It is extremely small considering the amounts some of you received. I had 5 more injections since the ones I believe made me ill. (the last in May). I decided to stop after reading about Ms. Medavoy’s case, and what I’ve read on this website. Ours must be isolated cases, given the millions that are receiving botox. There are surely more with side effects that have not spoken up. Carol, Alicia, Jan, and the rest of you in pain, my prayers are with you.

• Betty // Sep 19, 2003 at 4:07 pm

  I, too, have suffered the debilitating burning pain after having Botox for migraines. My symptoms have lasted a year and show no signs of letting up. My doctor has had several patients with similar reactions, but none as severe or lasting as mine. When he realized that my symptoms would not disappear, he tried to disappear. He does not want to see me or treat me–I guess he’s afraid it will mar the study he is doing for Allergan and ruin the many trips and lectures he plans. Now the person who comes up with a cure for all of us is the one who should make the billions!

• Carol Staab // Sep 19, 2003 at 9:13 pm

  Betty,how unfortunate to be treated by your doctor this way.You need to see a different neurologist that specializes in headaches and knowledge of botox. You should also document your symptoms to the FDA.You can do this on the internet.Irena Medavoy is suing botox and her doctor Arnie Klein for the complications she has received from botox.You can reach her via:Http//medavoybotox.org. There is a woman in Florida who died from having botox injections in her doctor’s chair. She went into schock.Don’t touch botox again. It is not the benign product that the company promotes like face cream.It actually has the remote possibility to transfer viruses.Read the back of the product information sheet. It is very infomative.

• rob shields // Sep 24, 2003 at 1:52 pm

  Please contact me immediately about the serious side effects about botox injections. rob. 541-621-0183. thanks

• Kaye Loftis // Sep 29, 2003 at 9:21 pm

  I had botox injections today done by my neurologist for migraines. I have headaches at least twice a week and have been on heavy narcotics. I had a headache when I went in, and it is excruciating right now. I got on the web to see what to expect. I am a little concerned now. I quit counting injection sites at 20, I have no idea how many I had. Any suggestions as to what I can expect or do to lessen side effects?

• carol // Sep 29, 2003 at 9:42 pm

  Kaye Loftis-All you can do is wait it out.Botox can last 3 to 6 months.Document now how frequently you are now getting them and the severity.Also any other side effects.I hope you will be fine. Botox is an off-label use for migraines.There is a lawsuit filed by Irena Medavoy against her doctor and botox for severe complications she received after having botox for headaches and cosmetical the third time.She still has effects a year later. You can pull up her interview on NBC-Dateline-Battle over Botox.Irena Medavoy also has a website where you can write about your symptoms.www.medavoybotox.org

• Connie M. Wilhelm // Oct 5, 2003 at 8:30 pm

  I had given up all hope of finding someone that has had severe side effects from botox. I had had neck surgery for herninated disc’s my fourth surgery. This time I ended up with muscle spasms and considerable headaches, so my neurologists refered me to a pain clinic and that’s when the real night mare began for me. This was going to be the miricale for me BOTOX!!! I have been experiencing my own personal hell that I thought besides Irena Medavoy was in. Any one in the medical field I asked questions to absoultely denies that BOTOX would cause so many symptons. I am still so very ill from the BOTOX this has been 16 long months and I still cannot get help from doctors. I live in Ridgefield Washington. Please if anyone would like to correspond please write to me at wilhelmc48@aol.com

  THanks for any advice or help.

  Connie M. Wilhelm

• carol // Oct 11, 2003 at 9:52 pm

  Connie,please also post your botox complication on the botox forum.You can reach it via search.It’s a top pick.Go to the message board.There are quite a few that have posted severe complications to botox.Please report your case to the FDA in detail.Call Allergan to report your case,but don’t expect support from Allergan,if anything they will tell you that your problems are not from botox.Also,register on Irena Medavoy’s website where you can list your symptoms and contact information.They are information gathering about botox complications.If you can’t find the forum post here again to Carol

• Carita Banks // Oct 15, 2003 at 9:08 am

  I am looking for a malpractice attorney specializing in Botox related suits. Can anyone make a referral?

• Carol // Oct 16, 2003 at 1:15 pm

  Response to Carita Banks.I have posted my complications on this site.I am considering legal counsel myself.Please feel free to E-mail me.I am doing research also to get the right counsel.

• Carol // Oct 23, 2003 at 7:26 pm

  Major botox complication article:

  Permanent Fecal Incontinence following botox injection for anal fissure-medical report from doctors at an US Air Force base in texas warning patients that irreersible paralysis might result from botox injection for anal fissure: http://www.acponline.org/chapters/usaf/gastroenterology.2pdf- This is very important because if botox can paralyze this muscle than it has potential for doing the same to other muscles that are treated.

  Botox Destroyed my Life- Website by Bobbie Jenke who claims that her neurologist,Dr. Sheldon injected botox into too many muscles in her right neck and shoulder.She lives so disabled tha thst she has no hope for recovery. please read her wevsite and rsopond to her E-mail.

• Augustus Borchert // Nov 13, 2003 at 12:11 am

  I know how Allergan is wrapping off-label BOTOX treatment dirty data to prove that BOTOX is safe!!! If any one is interested in the details, please write to my e-mail address.

• Dr. Allan // Nov 18, 2003 at 8:51 am

  Augustus: What is your email. I do want more…

  Augustus Borchert says:

  I know how Allergan is wrapping off-label BOTOX treatment dirty data to prove that BOTOX is safe!!! If any one is interested in the details, please write to my e-mail address.

  Posted by: Augustus Borchert on November 13, 2003

• Carol // Nov 19, 2003 at 1:56 pm

  Augustus Borchert- Your comment:” I know about Allergan wrapping off-label Botox treatment dirty data to prove that Botox is safe.” I would like your E-mail address also to learn more. I have suffered from complications and am researching for data on Botox always!

• carol // Nov 29, 2003 at 9:56 am

  To:Augustus Borchert- I thought that you would forward your E-mail to me in reference to the details of the activity of Allergan hiding data.I have been contacted by insider who has Allergan data as well.If you share yours also,it would be helpful to us who are pursuing legal help.Thank you.

• carol // Dec 28, 2003 at 8:06 pm

  To all those reading this that suffer from Botox complications please go to the Botox Forum and write about your experience there. Many have posted complications here and are supportive of one another.You are not alone!

• Callie // Jan 15, 2004 at 6:21 pm

  My niece has a Doctor who wants to give her 7 year old son Botox. He had a stroke at age 2 and has underdeveloped muscles on his right side. The Doctor says he needs Botox shot into muscles in his arm and leg. He says by numbing the muscles that are developed, his body will be forced to use the ones that are atrophed underneath. I haven’t come across anything about children and Botox. If anyone knows anything please let me know-by posting here or sending me an email. Thanks to all.

• LLCARNAGIE // Feb 2, 2004 at 12:45 pm

  I just got home from the hospital after being diagnosed by the ER DR. it could be TIA. I went through MRI,CT,EEG,etc. I was told by the nuerologist that it was a “spell”……?????? I told her that was “unacceptable” for a diagnosis. She then came in the next day with “lets do botox”. My neck at the axis was actually bulging and all the other muscles in neck and shoulders. I have a high matabolism and felt immediate relief. I asked to be released, walked down and got into my daughters car and I have been great since. I have suffered from many concussions throughout my life. I have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and migraines, etc. I need some more injections in the rest of the areas that are in spasms. This is how I look at this Botox “thing”–THANK GOD, THANK GOD, THANK GOD!!!!!!!!! I still can’t be out in the cold, but I am getting a life back that I thought was gone forever. I am so sorry for those of you who haven’t gotten the results I have and I mean that. As far as I am concerned it meant that I would have to be on drugs my whole life (which alters everything perspective)or in severe pain. (I would have opted for the drugs)! Thanks for allowing me to voice my approval for this miracle. (I do know I could later have ungood side affects, but even if its only a month I feel great then I will take it!!!!!!

• Elaine // Feb 3, 2004 at 2:12 am

  I have been offered botox injections for chronic pain in my right shoulder/neck and arm. I have just read the postings here and now feel that even though I am desperate for some pain relief ( morphine no longer works, neurontin nver did) I maybe would be mad to try it. Did anyone have any good responses to Botox?

• carol // Feb 5, 2004 at 7:54 pm

  Elaine,I know that you are in desperation to find pain relief and that morphine isn’t working anymore and that you have been offered botox. Please do a Google search “Botox Ruined my Life- http://www.kaiserpapers.org/bobbie html. Her account of botox injections and for neck and shoulder problems and the outcome are devastating.I know you must be in great discomfort but do your homework. Have you been offered any other kind of therapy? The thing about Botox is that it is a neurotoxin whose long term effects on the nervous system are misunderstood.I would get some serious other medical opinions about botox.

• patti // Feb 16, 2004 at 9:43 am

  I have just read the messages posted here and I am very concerned. I am scheduled to have my first round of Botox on Wednesday 2/18. I have had severe headaches for several years and have tried cervical epidural shots, nerve blocker shots, and all types of medications with little relief. I was hoping these shots would be the answer to my prayers. Has anyone gotten any relief from the Botox for the headaches?

• kate // Feb 21, 2004 at 7:18 pm

  I thought that Botox might finally be the answer for my daily headaches. After reading all of your notes and the severe side effects of your injections, I wonder about the testing and worthiness of this drug in the treatment of intractible headache. Any suggestions for the Kansas City area? Thanks.

• carol // Feb 22, 2004 at 6:27 pm

  Kate, It must be horrible to encounter daily migraines.Please know that Botox is not FDA approved for migraines,it is an experimental drug. Also remember it is a neurotoxin whose long-term effects on the central nervous system are unknown.There is a significant law suit from a famous woman as well as others that I know are filed against Botox for creating such horrible side-effects that people were bedridden for months and thought they were going to die. Please check out the article on the web “The Darker Side of Botox” This aired on CBS.I know of people that have received botox for migraines that now have horrible pain in their neck, shoulders,shaking hands.It is a risk! Some have had good results. But remember it has to be repeated over and over. In my case ( cosmetic) it was a number of years and then bang, I had a horrible reaction.I would research all alternatives before you submit to Botox

• Doreen Wirzman // Feb 28, 2004 at 10:36 am

  I am considering botox injections for my almost daily tension headaches. I also suffer from migraines 3 or 4 times a month. I am doing as much research as I can regarding the botox injections. I must say, I find it odd to know that many people have experienced much pain relief from these injections, but the overwhelming majority of people posting their results on this website are negative. Surely SOMEONE out there has had positive results!!

• dominique el moussa // Mar 4, 2004 at 2:45 pm

  I am scheduled to see my neurologist next week. He had mentioned botox as a possible treatment for my debilitating migraines. After reading this site, I doubt that I could consider it. I hope everyone gets better. Also, has anyone found anything that relieves 3,4 days migraines with vomiting? I get them every two weeks and must miss work which is becoming a problem

• Shelly J. Lee // Mar 16, 2004 at 9:22 am

  I had botox injections for my migraine headaches 10 days ago. I have to say,

  I have not experienced anything bad yet.

  My headaches were the same (everyday) for the first week, but the last 3 have been better. I only needed to take my preventive medication once in the morning and then again in the evening for the last 3 days. After reading all of the emails, now I am frightened that something bad will happen. I will let you know my progress in the weeks to come. But, so far, no bad symptoms.

• Nancy Tiernan // Mar 17, 2004 at 7:26 am

  I just checked the new postings on this site after a long while. I will be praying Irena Medavoy wins her case against Allergan in the coming month. Surely enough data and adverse experiences have been gathered by now to prove her allegations are not frivolous or invented. I will never take another medication or drug without researching it throughly. We that have had debilitating side effects from Botox may be in the minority, but the facts are not all in yet. I believe the toxic effects are cumulative and that more symptoms will appear in people as time goes on.

• carol // Mar 20, 2004 at 7:22 pm

  Nancy, I pray too, that Irena Medavoy wins her case.Her trial is scheduled for April 28th. There are a lot of other cases in the works.Let’s see what happens in her case. With all the reports of side effects,I am shocked that the FDA hasn’t taken action. Also, I know personally of a Botox research person who stated to me that Botox is not conducting their clinical trials in certain areas correctly. They are filling in missing values in the trials and buying perhaps “dirty data” ( trials from doctors who fail to report all the adverse effects to try to make the studies more attractive for FDA approval)

• Nancy Tiernan // Mar 21, 2004 at 2:15 pm

  Carol,

  Allergan deserves to take a dive, like some of the other Corporate giants have, if they prevent all the facts from being known. Skewing trial results is completely unprincipled, & immoral. It proves once again the sad state of human affairs when the mighty dollar takes precedence over common decency.

  From the adverse, bizarre, symptoms some patients are reporting to their doctors, why have none of them realized Botox is the common denominator? Every doctor I saw said Botox could not have caused my symptoms. Why not???? I have so many questions that have not been answered. I didn’t realize how really angry I was about all this until I read a few more postings. Some sound so much like what I experienced it cannot be a coincidence! Several of the illnesses occurred around the same time in 2002, which makes me wonder if a whole batch of the toxin was tainted, not diluted enough, who knows what? We may never know. Some people may never have an adverse reaction to Botox, and then again the cumulative effects could be devastating. I took injections for 8 years before my system crashed. I still have slight numbness in my left leg, ankle, and foot. I still have periodic slight muscle weakness. I vowed to not dwell on it. I want to recover completely from this. I am determined to. I feel compelled, as you do, to state my truth about this, because I can’t bear to think of anyone having to endure suffering, illness, and complete loss of well being because they were uninformed about the risks.

• grey // Mar 24, 2004 at 8:11 am

  My mother passed away on the 12th after receiving a Botox treatment in her neck for spasms. It was the first time they had ever used the treatment on her. We have still not recieved the autopsy report yet. Is there any possability that the botox could have contributed to her death since she was administered the botox 4 hours before her death

• carol // Mar 24, 2004 at 2:56 pm

  Grey,Botox in rare cases can cause death.It is listed on the botox information insert.Check the article on this website where a Florida woman died from shock from Botox minutes after injections.It is a possibility.

• Perry // Apr 1, 2004 at 2:29 pm

  Your note caught my attention. My wife is taking Botox for a similiar condition. Would you please consider sharing the results and details with me?

  My email address is soxfanpjw@lycos.com

• Pat Murphy // Apr 5, 2004 at 7:18 pm

  I have severe migraines- nausea, muscle tension headaches, flu symptoms, muscle weakness- My C5-C6 are fused (injury caused by accident)- My symptoms are not from BOTOX. I hope there’s help out there for us.

  Botox has been approved for some disorders. I know it has helped many people with dystonia, a rare and painful motion disorder. Any medication can have side effects. Do you know anyone who turned purple from the “purple pill”?

• Yolande Szekfy // May 6, 2004 at 6:13 pm

  PLEASE HELP ME. Feel free to email me. I have been in constant pain for 6-7 years… i just woke up with severe headaches and they have never gone away. I have been through hundred of medication including methadone and morphine…have tried alternate methods… have been scanned, mri’d, cut open, injected and more… nothing helps. My neurologist suggested botox… I haven’t started yet. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this constant pain that has been on botox. It’s great to get first hand information. Thankyou.

  Yolande.

• Yolande Szekfy // May 8, 2004 at 3:09 am

  My email address is yolande2@dodo.com.au

• Joy // Jun 9, 2004 at 2:14 pm

  No Warning!

  I have had severe affects after Botox injections for about 13 months.

  Severe head, neck, & eye pain with swelling of right eye, & illnesses. Have had many test done too numerous to mention here!

  It all reverts back to my Botox injections that I received for frown lines, just before all this started.

  If I had known that this treatment could have caused me to be so ill and in so much pain & agony,…I would gladly have kept my frown lines.

  If anyone has experienced these same symptons,….Please e-mail me! Thank You.

• Kim // Jun 15, 2004 at 4:05 pm

  Please tell everyone you know to stay away from Botox. I have had migraines almost all my life (since I was 4 years old) and I have literally tried everything. About two years ago I was dumb enough to try a new shot called Botox; not only was I suffering from migraines, but also from severe neck pain. My neurologist assured me that this would help and could do no harm. Right after the injections in the base of my skull, the two sites swelled. I was really concerned and went back a week or two later and the doctor said it was completely normal. My neck hurt so bad I couldn’t move it for a few months. After the swelling went down, one of the sites atrophied. I had a hole about the size of a quarter in the the back of my head with all of the hair in that area gone. If my neurologist had told me that he was injecting a type of food poisoning into my head which wasn’t FDA approved and could cause such serious effects I would never have agreed. Two years later and my neck hurts so much worse than it did. Thanks to some extensive physiotherapy the hole is now gone and the hair has grown back. Having Botox was the worst mistake of my life, please don’t let it be yours too.

• Carol // Jun 25, 2004 at 9:49 am

  I have suffered from severe migraines ever since I was 6 years old. I have repeatedly seeked advice from several neurologist and have undergone treatments from acupuncture to nerve blocks. My latest neurologist suggested that we do botox treatment. I had several shots in the forehead, and the back of the neck. Since having the shots, I have had severe neck pain; like a constant stiff neck, but worse. I wish I had known more about the ‘down side’ of botox injections, I would not have agreed to them. It hurts to keep my head up straight. Why don’t doctors tell us the side-effects that might occur instead of saying, ‘none of my other patients have experienced any problems’. Well, I may not be any of your other patients!!!! I am unique!!!

  By the way, the migraines are still occurring!

• Glenn // Jun 27, 2004 at 9:31 pm

  I’ve suffered from headaches for years. Several years ago I began a series of botox shots. I was cured aftered several months. Thank GOD for botox. I thought I was going to die before it came along. I’m cured. It’s a wonder drug; again thank GOD for botox.

• Linda Pollack // Jul 5, 2004 at 6:07 am

  I had my last botox for cosmetic reasons five days ago and will never use it again, after years of blithly getting injected whenever a wrinkle looked as if it might appear. I started off with injections between the eyebrows, under the eyebrows, and at the crow’s feet area about five years ago. Had injections every three or four months until the last two years, when I had injections one year apart and the last were 7 months apart. I mention these details because I believe there is either a cummulative effect or the body reaches a point where it is no longer able to handle what it once was. The usual post botox headache and tightening never resolved, my left shoulder and neck ache, I have mild tingling running down my left arm to my fingertips. I feel like an idiot for not listening to my mother who told me I was crazy to do this. I never even looked for a website like this until a few days ago when I realized I have a problem. I wish all who are suffering relief from their pain, and those who are enamored with pictures of people who are 50 and look 35 to tell you from personal experience, the benefits of looking younger do not outweigh the cost.

• Suzanne Postle // Jul 15, 2004 at 3:58 pm

  My plan was to phone my Dr and go in for my 1st Botox treatment this week. I don’t think so now after reading all of your writings. This treatment was mentioned to me for pain relief of daily headaches. I don’t think that I could do this now that I know about the side effects.

• Denise Stewart // Aug 31, 2004 at 1:22 pm

  I have been suffering from chronic headaches since I had a spinal tap done. I have tried every medication that you can to treat headaches. I was advised that Botox is my cure after reading the many articles I will not use it. I have chronic headaches that feel very tight like my head is being squeezed I cannot sleep and feel alot of pain also. Has anyone tried something besides Botox that works?

• Bev Dobson // Sep 2, 2004 at 10:52 am

  I only wish I had found and read this site before I had my botox. I had shots about 20 of them for migraines 2 weeks okay. The dr told me that my headaches may get worse in the first 7 days. Well not only are they worse, I to have had such a sore and stiff neck, like nothing I have had before, and spent last weekend in bed with what I thought was the flu. I now belive that I am having a reaction to the Botox. My eye’s and eye-lids are so puffy I look like I have either been crying for a week (ladies you will not what I mean) or that I have not slept in weeks. I really thought it was a “miracle” cure as I had heard nothing but “great” things. Wow was I fooled. I keep hoping and waiting for this neck pain and headache to dissapate but it seems to be getting worse. Is there anything I can do for it? I would appreciate any suggestions - my regular meds don’t seem to help elivate any pain. I have suffered with migraines since I was 16, which became worse last Sept. 2003 and since then I have had permanent headaches. Been treated with every med out there plus spinal tap, then spinal plug, ct scan, mri. Is there any relief for us?

  Thanks for listening - this site is excellent. I will recommend it to anyone I can who is thinking about getting botox. I used to kid that I can use it and get rid of the headaches and the wrinkles. Well I WANT MY WRINKLES BACK and my headaches gone.

  Bev D. Canada

• Ann // Sep 6, 2004 at 4:44 pm

  Less than a week ago I had cosmetic Botox. Within 3 days I had terrible throbbing headaches, today I woke up with major soreness on the back of my upper arms, throughout my arm pit and halfway through my chest. I also feel aches and pains in various other parts of my body. My boyfriend is an internist and doesn’t know what to think of my symptoms. From what I am reading, sounds like it might be Botox related. Has anyone found anything that helps these symptoms? Is there anything that can help rid the body of Botox?

• Nancy T // Sep 28, 2004 at 12:53 pm

  Ann,

  I was ill for 5 1/2 months in 2002 following Botox for Spasmodic Dysphonia. My symptoms were similar to what you describe. Pain first manifested in my armpit, arm, and neck. My entire body was affected in the next months. I experienced numbness and tingling in my arms and legs, severe muscle weakness and always, the burning pain. After 5 doctors, dozens of tests, and no diagnosis, I gradually began to feel better. I believe that Botox is sometimes NOT safe, through contamination, being injected too deeply, or not being diluted enough. The neurologist I saw said a virus can sometimes produce symptoms as I had. Botox contains human albumin so it’s possible it might contain a virus. It might also effect the nervous system. I had taken injections for 8 years at the time of my illness.

• Diane // Oct 4, 2004 at 9:44 pm

  I have been following the on-going list of patients’ life-changing complications from Botox injections from 2002 to the present (Oct.2004). It appears that there indeed may have been a “bad” batch of Botox manufactured in 2001 as I was injected Dec. 2001 and became gravely ill in early 2002. My treatment was for cosmetic usage - frown lines (glabellar furrows) and crow’s feet. I didn’t make the Botox connection until I saw info. on brain injuries as my complaints included problems with my vision - depth of field compromised, light sensitivity and an overwhelming feeling that I was in a perpetual fog - as time progressed, I became more ill and was bedridden for 3 - 4 months. I felt that I was dying. I could no longer work and had to go on a medical disability and eventually could not return to my job as a medical sales representative. When I mentioned to my dermatologist if there was a possibility that Botox could have traveled to my brain (there are a great many vessels in the forehead that feed directly to the brain} he was quick to say no. Of course, all doctors rely upon their journals for clincial papers on complications from drugs and from the pharmaceutical compannies issuing warning letters advising physicians of potential risks associated with drug usage. At some point, I believe that we have the makings of a class action suit. I’m hoping that perhaps an attorney will take this on. There are far too many patients who have suffered and have no where to turn to except the Internet. I was misdiagnosed as depressed with anxiety as my Internist would have been unable to properly diagnose me because the potential harmful side effects of

  Botox have not been disclosed to physicians, to date. I’m hoping that someone like Carol will contact me for further discussion. To those who are reading this, know that you are not alone - it’s hard to know why afer I received Botox for several years with no problewms except flu-like symptoms (fatigue, respiratory complaints) that this final injection in De. 2001 would forever change my life and my family’s.

• Nancy T // Oct 7, 2004 at 1:23 pm

  Diane,

  “Life changing complications” is very apt regarding some of our experiences with Botox. I took injections at 3 month intervals for over 8 years before I became ill. I was taking a very small dose, only one unit. The injection I received 2/14/02 is the one that triggered my illness. I have several theories regarding Botox. Some of us are hypersensitive to it immediately. There is no way to know, before a potentially devastating reaction, just who is in the vulnerable group. I believe the effects of Botox may be cumulative. I also believe that a BIG BAD BATCH may be produced now and then. My illness began after the 2/14/02 injection. I got immediately worse with my 5/9/02 injection. I continued taking my shot because none of the doctors I saw would admit Botox could be why I was sick. By Sept. of 2002 I had gradually started to feel better. I had 5 more injections at 3 month intervals. It was not until I read about Irena Medavoy’s case and her symptoms that I realized Botox could have caused my symptoms. I stopped taking injections to improve my spasmodic dysphonia then. The numbness in my limbs has never completely resolved. The horrific, burning, muscle pain has. My guess is the shot that made me ill was tainted in some way, or went into my bloodstream. I know it was the Botox that made me sick even though my health improved while I was still taking it.

• sandra // Oct 10, 2004 at 8:33 am

  I have aged 10-15 years in a 4 month period because of Botox. I have also been depressed and can’t sleep at night cusing myself for injecting poison into my face. It has now been 4 months since I had my first (and last) botox treatment for cosmetic reasons. I am 45 years old. I did not look any worse or any better than the avarage 45 year old who takes care of her face. I had 1/2 a vial of Botox injected all over my forehead, the corner of my eyes and in between my eyebrows. I wanted to share the vial with another friend, but the nurse said that I could not share a vial and 1/2 vial was not too much. After a few days, I noticed that I my eyelids had “dissapeared” and my eyes looked liked they were pushed into my sockets. After six days of no improvement I went back to my plastic surgeon who told me that he was going to use electrical shocks to reverse the botox effect. I was a little apprehensive, but he informed me that there was nothing to worry about. He used a small machine that gave me elctrical shocks to the area above my eyebrows (about 10 minutes each side) The nurse then informed me “afterwards” that he is the only doctor using this type of treatment for reversing botox in the city. For two months I had very few problems other than my eyes still looked like they were pushed into the sockets. The problems started 2 months to the day after my injections. First I started having quite severe headaches. After a week of headaches, I went back to my doctor, who informed me that it had nothing to do with Botox. I asked him about the electrical shock machine since I could not find anything in the internet and he informed me that he was testing this device and was writing a paper on it!! I was used as his guinea pig and he NEVER told me that I was a test!!I then began to have very dry eyes and was constanly needing to put eye drops . I also began to have “eye socket” headaches, but only in my left eye. To top matters off my fine wrinkes that I had before appeared in full blown state. I now have numerous wrinkles underneath my eyes when I smile. I had absolutely none before! The crow feet lines at the side of my eyes are now severe lines and I also have wrinkly eyelids, which I never had before! I am depressed! I have ruined my face in 4 months!I feel that the end is still not here since botox is suppose to last 6 months. I am an expat living in Singapore and I do not know what to do!

• Renee // Oct 19, 2004 at 7:19 am

  My neuologist is thinking of putting me

  on Botox injections for Migraines as I have triggers 4-6 times per day if nuerotin does not help as a prevenative,I take 900 mg of nuerotin per day and he says thet wil take 4-6 wks to start working.I’m on my 2nd week

  Has anyone had positive results with Botox as a preventive for Migraines?

• Haley Hayes // Nov 4, 2004 at 5:53 pm

  I read this article for school reserch and it made my report seem to sound better THANKS!

• rick smith // Nov 20, 2004 at 8:54 am

  I had botox injections twice inside of a month for frown lines between my eyes.The first didn’t really do much so they did it again, and it did help, but not enough to make me try again, but at the 4 month after point I started having severe headaches some with vomiting that my primary said were migraines.It has been a year since the first migraine and i continue to have the same severe headaches 2-5 times a week.The dr has me on topamax, and zomig but they only the zomig seems to help, and that only gets rid of it until the next one.Could this be part of the botox?I find it strange that they started right when the botox was wearing off, and have continued since.I dont know what to do, I am missing work because of this and would very much like to have my life back.I feel very stupid for trying something that might have caused this major problem in my life.Does this sound posible? I am going into a state of depression because of this and need help. Where do i turn next,considering my primary physition hasen’t been able to get a handle on this. Thank you if you can help. Nov 20 2004

• Alicia A // Nov 29, 2004 at 10:03 pm

  I had put my nightmare of a story on this website back in 8/03. Here it is almost 12/04 and I am still suffering the side effects of botox. I wish I never would have went to a neurologist. He did admit however that it was the botox and told me I should contact Allergan and the FDA, which I did over a year ago and nothing. My neurologist put me on morphine and provigil for the daytime fatigue. I went a year without being able to get an appt with him, yet he continued to fill my morphine prescription for me. When he realized how long it had been since he had seen me, he realized I needed an appt. He saw me and realized that I was not any better so he sent me to Washington University in St. Louis. He wanted me to see a specialist there to see if he could find out what is going on. What a joke that was, and what a quack of a doctor. He saw me for about 15-20 minutes and then he said you have something, but it’s not torticollis. He then sent my neurologist a note that I was on too much medication and that he needed to do an MRI of my brain and a lumbar puncture to rule out MS. He said that there is no way botox caused migraines, because it has never been reported and that the burning pain in my shoulder was not caused by the botox either. I saw my neurologist and had the MRI done, which as far as I know it was negative. He also stated that he really didn’t know what to do at this point and that until we figure it out he is comfortable masking the pain, so he put me on more medication. I am off of work again because I fell asleep at work on a Monday and couldn’t function. I am a nurse and you need to have all of your faculties when you take care of patients. I came home that night and went to bed. Got up on Tuesday am called in to work and call the Mayo clinic in Minnisota. They said it would be about 2 weeks before I would hear anything from them. In the meantime I called my neurologist and told him about my trouble staying awake and he said that maybe the morpine was too strong and wanted to change it to a different medication. I said I have been on the same dose for a year and a half. I asked him if he could write me a letter to be off of work until we could figure what is going on. He said he wouldn’t do that and that there was nothing more he could do for me. I know why now. I recieved my office note from the doctor in St. Louis and he stated in there that I had a history of substance abuse and that I needed to be off of a lot of my medications, and that he thought I had conversion disorder, which really is a nice way of saying I am a hypochondriac, but we should rule out MS to be for sure. I slept pretty much for three days and then my prayers were answered. The Mayo Clinic called and they can see me on Dec 2. This is a very good facility and you see several doctors and you stay for 3-6 days and they run tests on you and hopefully they will be able to help me. This has gone on too long. I have attorneys who took my case, but now they want to wait a year because they said my case was a lot like Irena Medavoy and basically I was a neurological train wreck and they want to try some more simpler cases first. I dont get where they think that since I have never seen a neurologist until botox. By the way, I dont know if you heard, but Irena Medavoy lost her case with allergan and the attorneys for allergan said that they were glad justice was served and that they have never heard of anyone else having side effects from Botox. I would like to know what they are hiding? Something that is for sure. I was called by her attorney to testify, but my attorney advised against it. He said it would not have done any good anyway because the witnesses that he did have didn’t even get a chance to speak at the hearing. I am just so furious and want to somehow, some way get the word out that Allergan is hiding things and that there are a lot of people out there who suffer with almost the same exact symptoms. Coincidence. I dont think so.

  I am sorry this is so long, but it has been a while since I have been here and II had to vent somewhere. I know you all will understand the frustration. I hope everyone is doing better and hopefully for a lot of you the Botox has worn off and you have your life back. God Bless.

• Rick // Dec 22, 2004 at 4:53 am

  i have suffered from Cluster Headaches for 10 years now and nothing worked. After several neurologists and doctors I finally found one who tried Botx shots. i still get headaches from time to time but I have my life back. Thwe botox helps because if I go to long between shots the headaches come back. i have gone from not being able to work having 5 to 10 headaches a day to maybe two or three a week.

• Rebecca // Jan 5, 2005 at 7:23 am

  Hi, I have a question on Botox treatment for headaches. My doctors’ have tried many medications such as Imitrex, Maxalt, Depakote, Topamax, Celebrex. Also, over the counter meds. Nothing help or if it did it would work a few times an then nothing. I had headaches for 6 yrs. now. And he just told me about the botox but reading the posts now I’m not so sure. I had side effects from some of the medicine he prescribe me. Can someone give me more information on this. Thanks alot.

• Pepper // Mar 1, 2005 at 10:00 am

  When will people start taking responsibility for their own decisions? I am a migraineur of 38 years and when I take a prescription from the doctor or a treatment such as Botox I realize it is my decision and my responsibility. I research drugs before I take them; I don’t blindly trust doctors. I get second opinions, I search the internet, I ask other patients. Doctors aren’t gods and neither are pharmecutical companies. Your treatments are your decisions, your risk. Grow up.

• Marie from Canada // May 18, 2005 at 8:50 am

  I’ve been having botox for 5 years for cosmetic purpose, and I had pain in the trapezius area since, but I always thought the cause was stress from my job. Since I’ve read this discussion group and seen all the side effects, I stopped having botox. It’s been 6 months now, and my shoulders are getting better, the pain is gradually going away. thanks for opening my eyes!

• Ellie Kligman // Jun 26, 2005 at 4:23 pm

  I have had botox injections every three months for the past 1.5 years. I had my last injection three weeks ago and have begun to experience severe headaches. I called my doctor and was told that it would get better, so I am praying that it will dissipate. Should I survive this, I am finished with any kind of plastic surgery.

• Elizabeth // Jul 7, 2005 at 4:36 pm

  I began using Botox for migraines 5 years ago, and Botox gave me my life back. My migraines had become so severe that I was vomitting every 3 days, could not tolerate any noise or light including the air conditioning, etc. After years of living with occasional migraines (b/c none of the medications worked), I decided to try Botox injections. I have only had one migraine since, and that was because I went 11 months between treatments. I have several friends (ranging in age from late 20’s to 60’s) who use Botox cosmetically and/or for migraines–none of them has ever had ANY negative side effects. We all go to VERY reputable doctors, not fly-by-night clinics. Botox is a miracle drug to me, and I strongly encourage anyone who has not had success with other migraine medications to try Botox. One great side effect for me is that I have no forehead lines until about month 8 after treatment.

• Karen // Jul 14, 2005 at 10:14 am

  I started having botox shots less than a year ago, today my face is saging on the left side. I have lost part of my sight in my left eye.My eyes no longer close all the way. I can’t drive at nigth anymore because I can’t see, or stay out in the sun or heat from the pain in my eyes.I live with headackes that are so bad I cry. No doctor seems to know what to do!I beleive that I had to many botox injections in to short of a time or I was injected wrong. I am still looking for answers.I didn’t have a problem untill the last shot. In less than 24 after my last shot I had the head the size of a cow.The doctor first said I a reaction to botox then he said I had a reaction to the a cream I used. Then in the same office visit he said I don’t know what happened. I saw him one week after that and he said I had bell-palsy.This is 5 months later and there is very little change.The only good change is that I can feel most of my face again.I did have my shots done by a very reputable doctor. Before I had anything done I had very long talks about the risks involved. He told me how safe botox is. He stressed to me and lead me to beleive that it was one of the safest drugs on the market.Sad to say as of today I looked better before I had the botox shots. The shots I had were for cosmetic purposes.

• Pam Perdue // Jul 16, 2005 at 9:51 am

  URGENT REQUEST FOR ANSWERS*************

  I had Botox injections 1.5 weeks ago,

  on a Thursday, by Friday I had flu like symptoms which I was advised of that. I then started having severe dizziness, blood pressures dropping with sitting/standing, I became very dehydrated, I was hopitalized yet they weren’t sure what the cause was. I was released after 3 days, I continue to have the dizziness severly any range of motion I nearly pass out. Could someone please help me out, just wondering could this Botox have caused these symptoms, aling with unable to eat properly (get sick afterwards).

  I look forward hearing from someone (any/all) replys greatly appreciated so that I can know which direction I should go to get help. I can;t stand this feeling I also hurt between the skull and neck lines, my Botox was injected @ neck-line of skull and neck line down the shoulders.

  Please reply asap!

  Pam Perdue

• Susan Schwitz // Jul 27, 2005 at 7:21 pm

  Hi, I had seen my doctor today regarding my chronic pain,TMJ, Fibromelgia pain all over my body from head to toe…The pain is getting worse…I have tried everything my doctor has given me as well have had cat scans to learn od disk degenerate disease from neck to lower lumbar…Well after reading all these stories on taking Botox and all the side effects…I am very confused because it has helped many people with no side affects and others caused more illness and damage….Need advise on should I go for my first injection just got the prescription today July 27/05….So my million dollar question is do I continue to suffer, take the risk and pray I will be one of the lucky one’s that Botox works on or should I just try alternatives?

  Sincerely yours, Susan

• Troy // Sep 19, 2005 at 1:52 pm

  My wife had botox injections on May 27, 2005 for Chronic Daily Headache. Immediately after, she had a burning pain in the back of her neck. The botox Dr. said it was because the botox hasn’t had a chance to sink in yet, so he put her on Valium for a couple weeks. The pain never went away. Over the next month, the pain started spreading to her back. She describes the pain as burning pain, or like flesh being ripped from her bones. The pain also has gone into her legs (hips and knees). She also has tingling in her hands and feet, and sometimes they get numb. It just isn’t letting up. She is “down for the count” right now, and no one seems to know if the botox could cause this problem. The botox Dr. say’s it wouldn’t, but the other Dr.’s say they don’t know enough about it. We have seen our family Dr., a Neurologist, Internal Medicine Dr., a Rheumatologist, and the pain Dr., no one has any info, and say’s on paper, she is perfectly healthy. It has been almost 4 months since her injections and no improvement. Her headaches haven’t been as bad, but now the pain in her body is probably worse than the headaches. Does this go away in time? If anyone has any information for me, I’d appreciate it.

  Thanks.

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