The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned doctors regarding mishandled or counterfeit Botox injections that have made several people across the US ill.
Fake Botox Injections Have Been Making People Sick
In the past months, there have been 22 people from 11 US states who ended up developing symptoms following mishandled or counterfeit Botox injections that they had in non-medical settings, such as in their homes or spas. Their symptoms include shortness of breath and blurry vision, among others.
The CDC issued a recent advisory to alert doctors of the ongoing investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local health and state officials. The agency noted that 11 of the affected individuals were hospitalized. There have not been any reported cases of deaths. The cases happened from November 2023 until late March 2024.
Among these 22 people, none met the standards for the official definition of botulism, which is a rare and potentially fatal condition that occurs when botulinum circulates in the blood and damages the nerves of the body. Botulinum toxin is used in cosmetic procedures and medical treatments. While it is rare for botulism to result, it is still possible.
Several of the people who got sick were administered an antitoxin to treat botulism. This is due to how side effects of Botox injections that are poorly administered could be similar to early botulism symptoms, such as double or blurred vision, shortness of breath, constipation, incontinence, difficulty lifting the head, and weakness.
The outbreak-related illnesses have been reported in New York, Washington, Tennessee, Texas, New Jersey, Kentucky, Nebraska, Florida, Colorado, Illinois, and California. Among these people were women aged 25 to 59. All of them reportedly got their injections from untrained or unlicensed individuals and in non-medical settings, such as spas.
The CDC recommends an immediate emergency room visit for individuals who exhibit any suspected symptoms of botulism. If a doctor thinks the person could have the condition, they may administer antitoxin immediately without waiting for lab results. Prompt aid could stop the toxin from causing more damage.
Fake Botox Reports
The initial reports of the injections came earlier this month. Illinois and Tennessee reported botulism-like cases, with New York City following suit later on.
Following their investigations, the FDA warned against unsafe and counterfeit Botox versions. These versions have been spotted across several states and used for cosmetic purposes. The agency also included some counterfeit product photos in the statement, noting that they were purchased from unlicensed sources.
Though the FDA did not exactly note the differences between real and counterfeit products, the agency said that products that are from unlicensed sources could be adulterated, misbranded, counterfeit, contaminated, ineffective, or improperly transported or stored. Dr. Gregoy Greco, the former president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, shares suspicions that unlicensed providers could purchase fake products to reduce costs and that these counterfeit products could have high concentrations, elevating side effect risks.
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