Researchers find Botox toxin a lot riskier than you’re led to believe
It can cause a life-threatening side effect the FDA has known about for years.
But instead of reining in Botox, the agency has been busy rubber-stamping more and more uses for it.
Now, researchers have proven exactly how the toxin can move to different areas of the body, causing a cascade of reactions.
Including some that could kill you.
And even worse, doctors are going hog wild using Botox off-label, giving it to children with certain disabilities at high doses.
It’s an urgent warning that everyone needs to hear — especially if you or someone you love suffers from conditions ranging from migraines to muscle spasms, overactive bladder and even cerebral palsy.
Botox — a purified version of the bacterial toxin that causes botulism — can relax muscles and stop involuntary movements and spasms. Mainstream docs will tell you it’s a miracle fix for underarm sweating, crossed eyes, migraines and even wrinkles.
When things go right, that is.
But when things go wrong, well, they can go very wrong.
According to researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the FDA originally approved Botox almost three decades ago based on a fatally flawed premise.
Back then, the researchers said, “the idea was that (the toxins) are safe to use, that they stay where they are injected.”
But that theory didn’t hold water for very long.
So many adverse reaction reports poured into the FDA, that by 2009 it made Botox maker Allergan add a black box warning about “Distant spread of toxin effect.” That’s something that includes “swallowing and breathing difficulties” and “death.”
Some price to pay for getting rid of wrinkles, right?
Now, the Howard Hughes researchers have found out exactly how and why that happens, even showing that the toxin molecules can go “unknown” distances from the injection site.
Lead researcher Edwin Chapman calls the findings undeniable proof that the deadly bacteria can travel throughout the body.
And despite that black box warning, over the years the FDA still granted Allergan other uses, including treating crow’s feet, overactive bladder (yes, that use is as bad as it sounds), and migraine headaches. In fact, Allergan has an animated cartoon character called “Bonnie Botox” on its website who explains just how easy it is to get 35 Botox shots in your head.
But the most dangerous use appears to be for those who are the most vulnerable. I’m talking about kids with cerebral palsy.
Mandy Fortuna was one of them.
She “mysteriously” died in her sleep at the age of 21 from pneumonia, leaving her heartbroken parents hunting for answers.
Mandy’s parents put two and two together when they learned about another child, Joshua Drake, who almost died after also being given high doses of Botox to treat his cerebral palsy.
While that use is considered off-label, it came out in the Drake’s lawsuit that Allergan actively promotes using Botox for that purpose to doctors and has been for some time. As of eight years ago, 32 kids had already died due to that treatment, with more deaths since.
“It’s deadly and people need to know that,” said Joshua’s mom, Lori. “They (Allergan) need to be stopped.”
But with Botox sales still in the billions every year it’s doubtful that’s going to happen. Actually, it looks like we’re going in the other direction.
Last year I told you about two Maryland dermatologists who “discovered” that Botox can also make us happier and depression free.
Look, whether on- or off-label, Botox is an incredibly dangerous treatment no matter what your doctor may tell you. And it doesn’t matter if we’re talking about using it for overactive bladder, wrinkles or for kids with cerebral palsy.
Especially kids with cerebral palsy.
Sources:
“Botox risks 2016: New study shows what happens when toxin spreads” Kelsey Drain, August 5, 2016, Medical Daily, medicaldaily.com
