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Botox and ALS

My speech became slurred days after I had a Botox treatment.  No one would even question or consider that the Botox could have migrated to a different area which has now been confirmed by the FDA.   Therefore, I was diagnosed with  Bulbar Onset ALS.  Most of my symptoms now mimic the dire results of a Botox reaction and also ALS.  Could Botox have awakened a dormant ALS within my system or could the Botox have produced these symptoms?
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Avatar universal
OH FFS! I will die mad at myself if botox is what brought out my dormant bulbar ALS. My mother died from it 20 years ago, I'm the youngest of 3, and the only one experiencing slurred speech & weakness in my right hand. Of course, I live in the entertainment capital and work in the industry, so got botox a handful of times. While my siblings live in Europe.
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Avatar universal
anyone find any hard research to support the correlation of botox to ALS onset?  my computer search didn't find much, but it's weird that there are so many on this site that correlate it...........
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anyone find any hard research to support the correlation of botox to ALS onset?  my computer search didn't find much, but it's weird that there are so many on this site that correlate it...........
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
My mother got botox injections every 6 months for her bladder to help control leakage..then within 2 years she started having muscular difficulty with her hands..soon enough i had to feed shower and dress her..she couldn't even blow or wipe her nose.she was diagnosed with ALS in 2015...she was almost 69..She passed away in July 2017 at 71.
I do s u suspect the botox aggravated something dormaint inside her that may not have otherwise affected her during her life span.I would personally stay away from botox at all costs!!
Avatar universal
Hi Billeboo, I hope all has been well. I know this is an older post, but I was wondering if you ever came up with anything relating botox and ALS?
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My friend who is a young 70 had a lot of Botox injected and soon after she had slurred speech and symptoms we thought were directly related. After months and months of testing she is now diagnosed with ALS. My gut tells me the Botox set off this disease. Right now the disease is mostly affecting her vocals and her ability to swallow etc. progressively getting worse.  I just wonder if Botox caused this to happen ?
Avatar universal
my sister died from ALS 5 years ago. She took botox for 20 years before that, before I had even heard anything about it. Her first symptom was slurred speech. She died within 2 years of the diagnosis. It was a short 6 months before she could not talk at all. She was in a nursing home her last year of life and used a wheel chair. I always suspected the botox, but the DRS said no, not related. Now I am seeing warnings about it. I dont think their research is very extensive because noone ever asked her if she used botox. 'She was 52 when she died. Now I see that if it is hereditary and could be caused by botox then I will stay away from it.
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Avatar universal
You don't mention your age but ALS normally starts later in life average is 40 ish
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I would get a second opinion. Most physicians really have to be 100% certain, before diagnosing symptons as ALS. Although you don't mention your other symptons and you don't mention how long it's been going on a second opinion never hurts. Four neurologists followed my symptons for 8 months before they even considered rendering a diagnosis. I was in a wheelchair before they called it ALS. Anything is possible and the start of ALS can be different for anyone. And if it is ALS a name doesn't change anything. It's not like there is a cure or a good treatment for it. So I just enjoy life the best I can.
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Avatar universal
Hello billeeboo,

I too had symptoms of tongue spasm and severe sinusitis 4 days after botox.  My botox injections were 5 weeks ago and still have tongue spasm and sinus problems.  The injections were done on crows feet and two below each eye.  The doc ensures me that botox is NOT the cause...but I'm not so sure.
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Avatar universal
The injections were in my forehead but botox can travel.  Interesting news about Lou Gerhig possibly not having ALS!
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What your botox injection used in your voicebox?   Did the doctors confirm your ALS diagnosis?  
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It has been three years since the botox shots and my slurred speech.  One month ago, I became unable to walk and my speech is worse.  I have asked every doctor about the shots.  They all said "not likely" as the botox effects should have worn off.  I am convinced that the shots awakened the dormant ALS within me. But it is what it is and I am trying to be very proactive in staying ahead of the game.
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hey any progress of with you problem. my sister is diagnosed with ALS and she has used before. how are you doing right now?botox
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Avatar universal
A simple search on 'Botox ALS connection' produced the following from the juvederm website:
Warnings & Precautions: Serious and/or immediate hypersensitivity reactions have been rarely reported. These reactions include anaphylaxis, urticaria, soft-tissue edema, and dyspnea. There have been rare reports of adverse events involving the cardiovascular system. Patients with neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious adverse events.

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Avatar universal
I have a co-worker who told me that she gets restalyne, rather than botox because she has ALS in her family and has been told that it can bring on ALS.  Do some research - the doctor's questionnaire must have asked the question and there must be a reason for asking it.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your comments, Teddy.  The neurologist at the Mayo Clinic did rule out other diseases but would not even address the effects of Botox.  I am going again next week and I am going to ask again about Botox shots amd their possible effects on my system. Anyway, whatever it is, it is moving slowly and I have to be thankful for that.
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Avatar universal
There's also quite a few other things that the doctors have to make sure it's not before they can diagnose ALS.

Anyway I wish you the best of luck.
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Avatar universal
I'm no doctor but --

1 out of 100,000 people get ALS, I believe somewhere in the range of 20% or lower get bulbar onset ALS. Combine these with the fact that you started getting problems with your speech after Botox and I would say don't even think about ALS at all.

I hope this helps a little.

You should go see a doctor for slurred speech anyway whenever you can.
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