Could Botox Be Fatal?
Botox, a miracle drug manufactured by Allergan, is very popular cosmetics treatment method in today’s modern society. The only reason why it has grown in popularity is because of its effectiveness in addressing beauty problems under a short period of time. Though its effect is only temporary, around 4 to 7 months depending on where it was applied, many people are still patronizing the product that rakes in millions of dollars in sales each year.
The Cause And Effect Of Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum toxin is the generic name of Botox; it is known to cause botulism, which is a form of food poisoning. The bacterium responsible for the said toxin is called Clostridium botulinum, which is known to produce a neurotoxin that causes paralysis in minute doses and death in large quantities. A person can get poisoned by ingesting this strain directly into their system, commonly found in canned goods.
Nonetheless, clostridium botulinum produces a variety of neurotoxins classified from A to F, where Botox belonged to the A variant. These toxins attach to your nerve endings and then to your muscles. Your nerve endings are like electrical signals that control the muscles to contract, they release a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine that triggers the action. Botox specifically works by blocking the release of acetylcholine, therefore hindering the action from taking place.
Respiratory failure is the common cause of death in botulism. The respiratory muscles are paralyzed leading to cessation of breathing. In minute doses, Botox is used to paralyze the facial muscles that are known to cause wrinkles. Careful measurement of Botox dosage must be applied to avoid complications.
Facts On Botox Use
Botox injections are not fatal, since only a small amount of the neurotoxin will injected into a muscle by a very fine needle to avoid spreading it to other parts of the body. The first utilization of Botox was on 1989 for the treatment of eye spasms caused by neurologic disorders. It’s now being used as an anti-aging or anti-wrinkle treatment since 2002, when it was first legalized by Food and Drug Administration to be safe for human use.
At present, Botox is commonly known for treating various medical-related problems, such as hyperhidrosis, migraines, rectal fissures, and more. The amount of time that Botox will effect as treatment will depend on several of factors, such as the chemical built of an individual’s body, as well as some unknown factors that is currently being looked into.
