In a medical context, side effects are harmful or undesired outcomes, resulting from a medication or treatment, in addition to the desired therapeutic effect. Any medication on the market has side effects, but not all who are under that particular medication will experience them. As with all other medications, Botox, commonly used to reduce wrinkles and facial lines, carries side effects.

Although the chances of experiencing side effects from Botox treatments are minimal, it would be very useful to know what the Botox side effects are. These side effects were identified through the analysis of the results of thorough clinical studies in which the condition of a control group not taking Botox was compared to that of a group undergoing Botox treatment.

It has been found that Botox treatments have a 3 percent probability of causing droopy eyelids and nausea, a 2 percent probability for muscle weakness and facial pain, and 1 percent for hypertension, tooth problems, indigestion and heartburn. These were established in clinical studies on the use Botox for cosmetic purposes such as in diminishing the occurrence of facial lines and wrinkles.

Studies also show that in about 11 to 21 percent of patients being treated with Botox for certain medical conditions such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), cervical dystonia, blepharospasm (eyelid spasms), and strabismus (crossed eyes), the commonly observed Botox side effects include misalignment or vertical deviations of the eyes, difficulty in swallowing, upper respiratory infections, neck pain, droopy eyelids, and headache.

Other common Botox side effects that have been observed are anxiety, cough and runny or stuffy nose, dry mouth, sore throat, bleeding and/or soreness at the injection site, infection, weakness, drowsiness, dizziness, back pain, and flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills. About 2 to 10 percent of people undergoing Botox therapy for any purpose manifest these Botox side effects.

There are certain Botox side effects that need to be reported immediately to a physician. These include allergic reactions (such as difficulty in breathing or swallowing, unexplained rashes, itching, hives, unexplained swelling, and wheezing), chest pain, double vision, speech problems, and dry eyes (if being treated for muscle spasms near the eyes). Such side effects are potentially serious and require immediate medical intervention.

While undergoing Botox treatments, there will be times when you have symptoms for which the exact cause can be difficult to tell. These symptoms may or may not be Botox side effects. The best thing to do if you feel or see anything unusual is to consult your physician. Not only will your physician determine the cause, he will treat the condition as well.

Botox treatments certainly offer a lot of benefits to its users. But along with those benefits are disadvantages. It is important that you be able to recognize Botox side effects and know what course of action to follow if you suffer from them.