Botox anti-wrinkle drugs can be deadly

Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned of the fatal harm of the famous Botox and some other anti-wrinkle drugs, which are mostly Botulinum toxins in the drug.

This toxin has the function of limiting the impulses of nerves and causing them to relax. FDA-issued symptoms include difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, stuttering, muscle fatigue and difficulty keeping the head straight. FDA warns that in some cases after Botulinum injections, toxins can spread to other parts of the body, causing some muscles involved in paralyzed breathing and swallowing to cause sudden death.

Photo of a bottle of Botox taken in 2002. (Photo: AP)

The FDA said most patients with sudden death have cerebral palsy and are taking Botulinum to treat leg paralysis. In addition, at least one woman is being treated after getting Botox injections for beauty.

Although the FDA did not publish the exact number of patients suffering from the symptoms, according to the US Public Citizen Consumer Protection Organization, there are about 180 cases of patients with pulmonary fluid, difficulty swallowing, and pneumonia. Among them, there were 16 deaths.

Botox is widely used in cosmetic industry to reduce wrinkles. However, it is also used to treat many other paralysis symptoms.

While Botulinum toxins can be harmful to normal people, the warning label only gives a warning to people with neuromuscular disease. Therefore, the Public Citizen Consumer Protection Organization criticized the FDA's conclusion that it was too light for these skin wrinkles.

Public Citizen has asked the FDA to take more strict control to let everyone know of their deadly harm.