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Learn More About CD and How BOTOX® Can Help
Visit the Signs of Cervical Dystonia section.

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For medical use, BOTOX® neurotoxin is approved to treat the following conditions:
  • Cervical dystonia (CD)—head tilting, neck pain, and neck muscle spasms
    • CD is also known as spasmodic torticollis
  • Blepharospasm, or eyelid spasms
  • Strabismus, also called crossed eyes
  • Symptoms of severe underarm sweating when topical medicines don't work well enough
BOTOX® treatment for CD

CD is a condition that affects muscles in the neck. If you have CD, those muscles may tighten or spasm without your control. This can force your head and neck into movements or positions that are painful and awkward. It often makes it difficult to do simple things such as dressing, shaving, housework, driving a car, or using a computer. Treatment can manage symptoms and may help you return to activities you enjoyed before your symptoms started.

Many people with CD get relief from BOTOX® injections. BOTOX® works directly on the muscles that spasm. After a BOTOX® treatment, many patients get relief from muscle spasms for up to 3 months. BOTOX® also helps reduce neck pain in patients with CD. Pain relief may happen first, before muscle spasms are significantly reduced.

BOTOX® treatment for blepharospasm (eyelid spasms)

Blepharospasm can also be treated with BOTOX®. This condition causes spasms in and around the eyelids. This results in frequent blinking and closing of the eyes that you can't control. Because of these symptoms, it can be hard to see. Treatment with BOTOX® can help reduce muscle spasms. This reduces blinking, which may help improve your ability to see.

BOTOX® treatment for strabismus (crossed eyes)

Crossed eyes happen when certain muscles tighten around the eye. This tightening pulls the eyeball to the side. BOTOX® treatment can help reduce spasms in the affected muscles. Then the eyeball can return to its normal position.

Indications
BOTOX® is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used:

  • to treat increased muscle stiffness in elbow, wrist, and finger muscles with upper limb spasticity in people 18 years and older
  • to treat the abnormal head position and neck pain that happens with cervical dystonia (CD) in people 16 years and older
  • 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 in people 18 years and older.

It is not known whether BOTOX® is safe or effective for other types of muscle spasms or for severe sweating anywhere other than your armpits.

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 people 18 to 65 years of age for a short period of time (temporary).

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
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 any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic:

  • Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months
  • Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, 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

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.

The dose of BOTOX® is not the same as, or comparable to, another botulinum toxin product.

Serious and or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. These reactions include itchy rash, swelling, and shortness of breath. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you experience any such symptoms; further injection of BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic should be discontinued.

Do not take BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® or Dysport®; have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease], myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including severe dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and respiratory compromise (difficulty breathing) from typical doses of BOTOX® or BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; weakness of forehead muscles, such as trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; 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.

BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, or vision problems. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Other side effects of BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please see full Product Information, including Medication Guide about BOTOX®.

Please see full Product Information, including Medication Guide about BOTOX® Cosmetic.

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