More Advanced Warnings Needed on Botox?
In an effort to keep a youthful, wrinkle free facial appearance, many women have turned to using Botox cosmetically for prevention of wrinkles and anti aging maintenance skin care. Botox works by blocking nerve impulses to muscles, which in turn causes the muscles to relax.
Recently, after 16 deaths and 180 reports of adverse effects, a public interest group is petitioning the FDA to increase the warnings on Botox. This public interest group wants the use of black box warnings on Botox.
In the cases of serious adverse reactions, the botulinum toxin spreads to other parts of the body. This can result in paralysis of muscles of the respiratory system or cause difficulty swallowing. The difficulty swallowing can lead to aspiration pneumonia from liquid or food entering the lungs.
The concept behind the more advanced warnings is to let the public know what the possible dangers are. In the event they should gave earlier symptoms of muscle paralysis elsewhere in their body, they could seek medical help.
Early signs of serious side effects would be drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth or difficulty breathing. If any of these symptoms occur, you should seek immediate medical intervention. With how commonplace the use of Botox is today, the group claims that more enhanced warnings would be advisable to prevent possibly tragic results.
