FDA warns that Botox can cause death

Sticking one of the most deadly poisons in your face might just kill you.

I have this crease between my eyes and have said repeatedly I'd like to get botox to do away with it. I may rethink my plan now in light of the Food and Drug Administration's warning which includes both Botox, a wrinkle-specific version called Botox Cosmetic, and its competitor, Myobloc.

The deaths being investigated all pertain to children with cerebral palsy who were given Botox for spasticity in their legs, but they are also probing reports of illnesses in people of all ages who used the drugs for a variety of conditions, including at least one hospitalization of a woman given Botox for forehead wrinkles.

According to Dr. Russell Katz, FDA's neurology chief, it's not hundreds, but a relative handful of cases. However, the agency warned that patients receiving a botulinum toxin injection for any reason -- cosmetic or medical -- should be told to seek immediate care if they suffer symptoms of botulism, including: difficulty swallowing or breathing, slurred speech, muscle weakness, or difficulty holding up their head.

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