Botox® is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. In this way, Botox® is related to botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning that occurs when someone eats something containing a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin A is one of the neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum.

The most serious symptom of botulism is paralysis, which in some cases has proven to be fatal. The botulinum toxins (there are seven — types are A through G) attach themselves to nerve endings. Once this happens, acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, cannot be released. A series of proteins, VAMP, syntaxin and SNAP-25, are essential for the release of acetylcholine. Certain botulinum toxins attack these proteins. Botulinum toxin A (Botox) affects the SNAP-25.

Basically, the botulinum toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. Say, for example, it attacks the muscles in your chest — this could have a profound impact on your breathing. When people die from botulism, this is often the cause — the respiratory muscles are paralyzed so it’s impossible to breathe.

Botox in the Body

Botox® (botulinum toxin type A) is successfully used to treat blepharospasm, strabismus, and cervical dystonia — these are all conditions that in some way involvespasms, involuntary muscle contractions.

Within a few hours to a couple of days after the botulinum toxin is injected into the affected muscle(s), the spasms or contractions are reduced or eliminated altogether. The effects of the treatment are not permanent, reportedly lasting anywhere from three to eight months. By injecting the toxin directly into a certain muscle or muscle group, the risk of it spreading to other areas of the body is greatly diminished.

Botox® Cosmetic has been successfully used to treat severe glabellar (frown) lines and is approved for use in adult patients up to 65 years of age. Also a form of botulinum toxin type A, when Botox® Cosmetic is injected into the muscles surrounding the brow area for instance, those muscles can not “scrunch up” for a period of time. They are paralyzed. So the wrinkles in that area, often referred to asfurrows or frown lines, temporarily go away.

Botulinum toxin type A side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects, some of which can occur up to several weeks after an injection:

• trouble breathing, talking, or swallowing;

• drooping eyelids;

• unusual or severe muscle weakness (especially in a body area that was not injected with the medication);

• problems with vision or depth perception;

• crusting or drainage from your eyes;

• severe skin rash or itching; or

• chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, general ill feeling.

Less serious side effects may include:

• muscle weakness near where the medicine was injected;

• bruising, bleeding, pain, or tenderness where the injection was given;

• headache, muscle stiffness, neck or back pain;

• fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, flu symptoms,

• dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety;

• dry mouth, dry eyes;

• increased sweating in areas other than the underarms;

• itchy or watery eyes, increased sensitivity to light; or

• eyelid swelling or bruising.