*Actual patient of Dr. Lum*
Am I A Candidate For Botox Cosmetic?
Botox Cosmetic is administered in localized injections so it is suitable for a wide variety of patients. Ideal candidates for Botox Cosmetic include those who:
- Are in good overall health
- Are looking to make changes in appearance without having to undergo major surgery
- Have facial wrinkles, either minor or major in areas that are injection sites for Botox Cosmetic
- Are not pregnant or breastfeeding
- Do not have any major illnesses or infections
- Have realistic expectations for the procedure
What Should I Expect For My Initial Visit?
We set aside extra time for you to visit with the doctor, discuss your goals, concerns, and be carefully evaluated to determine your options. Should you decide to proceed with treatment, a small needle (30- to 32-gauge) will be delicately used to inject a few drops (0.01ml to 0.1ml) of reconstituted BOTOX® Cosmetic into muscle that causes the wrinkle. This eventually relaxes the muscle to reduce the creasing of overlying skin during facial expression. Over time, static wrinkle lines (the ones at rest) may relax and soften. BOTOX® relaxes muscle. It does not pull, nor does it fill the skin.
How Long Will It Last?
BOTOX® treatment results typically last three months, though this may vary from three to six months depending on the individual. One's muscle anatomy, muscle strength, size, skin quality and thickness, and physiology can affect the treatment outcome. It is recommended that you not be retreated in less than three months time.
BOTOX® temporarily affects the nerve endings. Nerve impulses that trigger muscle contraction are blocked until the nerve endings undergo repair and resume normal function. This does not affect sensation or your ability to feel in the area of treatment.
What Should I Expect After Treatment?
It may take 7 to 10 days or longer (up to 30 days) for you to see maximum treatment results. Most people do not notice a significant difference the day after treatment. You may notice some muscle relaxation before this, but this will progress until the peak effect is reached.
With repeated treatments, the beneficial effects may last longer. With regular use, BOTOX® may reduce the size of treated muscle until you begin using the muscle again. This is known as reversible disuse atrophy and occurs naturally when a muscle is not exercised. This helps keep wrinkles slightly more relaxed during facial expression. At rest, the wrinkle itself may soften over time, because treated muscles do not constantly crease the skin. In essence, this allows the skin to repair the wrinkle.
Is It Safe?
The clinical use of BOTOX® is the result of more than 100 years of study into Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A (BoNTA). BOTOX® is one the world’s most widely-researched medicines with approximately 2,300 publications in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals.
The amount of BOTOX® that is injected for cosmetic use is relatively small in comparison to the that which is typically used to treat patients suffering from debilitating medical conditions, such as severe neck muscle spasm, upper limb spasticity, and cerebral palsy. Although most other drugs you are likely to be familiar with are injected with ample quantity into muscle or vein to achieve therapeutic serum drug levels, only small amounts of BOTOX® are used to work locally around the sites they are injected into.
Since BOTOX® Cosmetic is designed to work locally, the chance of this spreading to unintended areas is generally confined to adjacent muscle. There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX® has been used at the recommended dose to treat chronic migraine, severe underarm sweating, blepharospasm, or strabismus.
BOTOX® should not be administered in women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or in patients who are known to be allergic to the BOTOX®, its ingredients or to other botulinum toxin products such as Myobloc®, Dysport® or Xeomin®.
Distant Spread Of Toxin Effect
Postmarketing reports indicate that the effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic and all botulinum toxin products may spread from the area of injection to produce symptoms consistent with botulinum toxin effects. These may include asthenia, generalized muscle weakness, diplopia, blurred vision, ptosis, dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, urinary incontinence, and breathing difficulties. These symptoms have been reported hours to weeks after injection. Swallowing and breathing difficulties can be life threatening and there have been reports of death. The risk of symptoms is probably greatest in children treated for spasticity but symptoms can also occur in adults treated for spasticity and other conditions, particularly in those patients who have underlying conditions that would predispose them to these symptoms. In unapproved uses, including spasticity in children and adults, and in approved indications, cases of spread of effect have occurred at doses comparable to those used to treat cervical dystonia and at lower doses.
Description
BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) for injection, is a sterile, vacuum-dried purified botulinum toxin type A, produced from fermentation of Hall strain Clostridium botulinum type A grown in a medium containing casein hydrolysate, glucose, and yeast extract, intended for intramuscular use. It is purified from the culture solution by dialysis and a series of acid precipitations to a complex consisting of the neurotoxin, and several accessory proteins. The complex is dissolved in sterile sodium chloride solution containing Albumin Human and is sterile filtered (0.2 microns) prior to filling and vacuum-drying.
One Unit of BOTOX® Cosmetic corresponds to the calculated median intraperitoneal lethal dose (LD50) in mice. The method utilized for performing the assay is specific to Allergan’s product, BOTOX® Cosmetic. Due to specific details of this assay such as the vehicle, dilution scheme and laboratory protocols for the various mouse LD50 assays, Units of biological activity of BOTOX® Cosmetic cannot be compared to nor converted into Units of any other botulinum toxin or any toxin assessed with any other specific assay method. In addition, differences in species sensitivities to different botulinum neurotoxin serotypes precludes extrapolation of animal-dose activity relationships to human dose estimates. The specific activity of BOTOX® Cosmetic is approximately 20 Units/nanogram of neurotoxin protein complex.
Each vial of BOTOX® Cosmetic contains either 100 Units of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin complex, 0.5 mg of Albumin Human, and 0.9 mg of sodium chloride or 50 Units of Clostridium botulinum type A neurotoxin complex, 0.25 mg of Albumin Human, and 0.45 mg of sodium chloride in a sterile, vacuum-dried form without a preservative.
Clinical Pharmacology
BOTOX® Cosmetic blocks neuromuscular transmission by binding to acceptor sites on motor nerve terminals, entering the nerve terminals, and inhibiting the release of acetylcholine. This inhibition occurs as the neurotoxin cleaves SNAP-25, a protein integral to the successful docking and release of acetylcholine from vesicles situated within nerve endings. When injected intramuscularly at therapeutic doses, BOTOX® Cosmetic produces partial chemical denervation of the muscle resulting in a localized reduction in muscle activity. In addition, the muscle may atrophy, axonal sprouting may occur, and extrajunctional acetylcholine receptors may develop. There is evidence that reinnervation of the muscle may occur, thus slowly reversing muscle denervation produced by BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Pharmacokinetics
Using currently available analytical technology, it is not possible to detect BOTOX® Cosmetic in the peripheral blood following intramuscular injection at the recommended doses.
Clinical Studies
Glabellar Lines
Two phase 3 randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of identical design were conducted to evaluate BOTOX® Cosmetic for use in the temporary improvement of the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar facial lines. The studies enrolled healthy adults (ages 18 to 75) with glabellar lines of at least moderate severity at maximum frown. Patients were excluded if they had ptosis, deep dermal scarring, or an inability to substantially lessen glabellar lines even by physically spreading them apart. Subjects received a single treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic (N=405, combined studies) or placebo (N=132, combined studies). Injection volume was 0.1 mL/injection site, for a dose/injection site in the active treatment groups of 4 Units. Subjects were injected intramuscularly in five sites, 1 in the procerus muscle and 2 in each corrugator supercilii muscle, for a total dose in the active treatment groups of 20 Units.
The co-primary efficacy endpoints were the investigator’s rating of glabellar line severity at maximum frown and the subject’s global assessment of change in appearance of glabellar lines, both at Day 30 post-injection. For the investigator rating, using a 4-point grading scale (0=none, 3=severe) a responder was defined as having a severity grade of 0 or 1. For the subject’s global assessment of change, the ratings were from +4 (complete improvement) to -4 (very marked worsening). A responder was defined as having a grade of at least +2 (moderate improvement). After completion of the randomized studies, subjects were offered participation in an open label, repeat treatment study to assess the safety of repeated treatment sessions.
The combined results of these two efficacy trials are presented here. The mean age was 46 years, with 32 patients (6%) ≥ 65 years of age. Most of the subjects (82%) were women, and Caucasian (84%). At baseline, 210 patients (39%) had glabellar line severity scores at rest of moderate or severe.
In these studies, the severity of glabellar lines was reduced for up to 120 days in the BOTOX® Cosmetic group compared to the placebo group as measured both by investigator rating of glabellar line severity at maximum frown (Table 1), and by subject’s global assessment of change in appearance of glabellar lines (Table 2).
TABLE 1.
Investigator’s Assessment of Glabellar Line Severity at Maximum Frown
– Responder Rates (% and Number of Subjects with Severity of None or Mild)
TABLE 2.
Subject’s Assessment of Change in Appearance of Glabellar Lines
– Responder Rates (% and Number of Subjects with at Least Moderate Improvement)
In the subset of patients with resting severity scores of moderate or severe, the investigator assessment of a resting severity of mild or none at day 30 was also achieved by more BOTOX® Cosmetic treated patients (74%, 119/161) than placebo-treated patients (20%, 10/49).
Analysis of the limited number of patients 65 years or older suggested a lower treatment-associated response compared to patients less than 65 years of age (Table 3).
TABLE 3.
Investigator’s and Subject’s Assessment
– Responder Rates for Subjects < 65 and ≥ 65 Years of Age at Day 30
Exploratory analyses by gender suggested that responder rates in the BOTOX® Cosmetic treated group were higher for women than for men for both the investigator assessment (day 30; 85% of 334 women, 59% of 71 men) and the Subject Assessment (day 30; 93% of women, 72% of men). In the limited number of non-Caucasian patients (n=64 in the BOTOX® Cosmetic treated group) the responder rates were similar to those observed in the Caucasian patients.
Indications And Usage
BOTOX® Cosmetic is indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines associated with corrugator and/or procerus muscle activity in adult patients ≤ 65 years of age.
Contradictions
BOTOX® Cosmetic is contraindicated in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any botulinum toxin preparation or to any of the components in the formulation.
Warnings
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic contain the same active ingredient in the same formulation. Therefore, adverse events observed with the use of BOTOX® also have the potential to be associated with the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic.
The recommended dosage and frequency of administration for BOTOX® Cosmetic should not be exceeded. Risks resulting from administration at higher dosages are not known.
Lack of Interchangeability between Botulinum Toxin Products The potency Units of BOTOX® Cosmetic are specific to the preparation and assay method utilized. They are not interchangeable with other preparations of botulinum toxin products and, therefore, units of biological activity of BOTOX® Cosmetic cannot be compared to or converted into units of any other botulinum toxin products assessed with any other specific assay method (see DESCRIPTION).
Spread of Toxin Effect
Postmarketing safety data from BOTOX® Cosmetic and other approved botulinum toxins suggest that botulinum toxin effects may, in some cases, be observed beyond the site of local injection. The symptoms are consistent with the mechanism of action of botulinum toxin and may include asthenia, generalized muscle weakness, diplopia, blurred vision, ptosis, dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria, urinary incontinence, and breathing difficulties. These symptoms have been reported hours to weeks after injection. Swallowing and breathing difficulties can be life threatening and there have been reports of death related to spread of toxin effects. The risk of symptoms is probably greatest in children treated for spasticity but symptoms can also occur in adults treated for spasticity and other conditions, and particularly in those patients who have underlying conditions that would predispose them to these symptoms. In unapproved uses, including spasticity in children and adults, and in approved indications, symptoms consistent with spread of toxin effect have been reported at doses comparable to or lower than doses used to treat cervical dystonia.
No definitive serious adverse event reports of distant spread of toxin effect associated with dermatologic use of BOTOX®/BOTOX® Cosmetic at the labeled dose of 20 Units (for glabellar lines) or 100 Units (for severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis) have been reported.
No definitive serious adverse event reports of distant spread of toxin effect associated with BOTOX® for blepharospasm at the recommended dose (30 Units and below) or for strabismus at the labeled doses have been reported.
Injections In or Near Vulnerable Anatomic Structures
Care should be taken when injecting in or near vulnerable anatomic structures. Serious adverse events including fatal outcomes have been reported in patients who had received BOTOX® injected directly into salivary glands, the oro-lingual-pharyngeal region, esophagus and stomach. Some patients had pre-existing dysphagia or significant debility. (Safety and effectiveness have not been established for indications pertaining to these injection sites.) Pneumothorax associated with injection procedure has been reported following the administration of BOTOX® near the thorax. Caution is warranted when injecting in proximity to the lung, particularly the apices.
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Serious and/or immediate hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. These reactions include anaphylaxis, urticaria, soft tissue edema, and dyspnea. If such a reaction occurs, further injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic should be discontinued and appropriate medical therapy immediately instituted. One fatal case of anaphylaxis has been reported in which lidocaine was used as the diluent, and consequently the causal agent cannot be reliably determined.
Pre-Existing Neuromuscular Disorders
Individuals with peripheral motor neuropathic diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or neuromuscular junctional disorders (e.g., myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome) should be monitored particularly closely when given botulinum toxin. Patients with neuromuscular disorders may be at increased risk of clinically significant effects including severe dysphagia and respiratory compromise from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic (see ADVERSE REACTIONS).
Dysphagia and Breathing Difficulties in Treatment of Cervical Dystonia
Treatment with BOTOX® and other botulinum toxin products can result in swallowing or breathing difficulties. Patients with pre-existing swallowing or breathing difficulties may be more susceptible to these complications. In most cases, this is a consequence of weakening of muscles in the area of injection that are involved in breathing or swallowing. When distant effects occur, additional respiratory muscles may be involved (see WARNINGS).
Deaths as a complication of severe dysphagia have been reported after treatment with botulinum toxin. Dysphagia may persist for several months, and require use of a feeding tube to maintain adequate nutrition and hydration. Aspiration may result from severe dysphagia and is a particular risk when treating patients in whom swallowing or respiratory function is already compromised.
Treatment of cervical dystonia with botulinum toxins may weaken neck muscles that serve as accessory muscles of ventilation. This may result in a critical loss of breathing capacity in patients with respiratory disorders who may have become dependent upon these accessory muscles. There have been postmarketing reports of serious breathing difficulties, including respiratory failure, in cervical dystonia patients.
Patients treated with botulinum toxin may require immediate medical attention should they develop problems with swallowing, speech, or respiratory disorders. These reactions can occur within hours to weeks after injection with botulinum toxin (see WARNINGS, ADVERSE REACTIONS, CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY).
Cardiovascular System
There have been reports following administration of BOTOX® of adverse events involving the cardiovascular system, including arrhythmia and myocardial infarction, some with fatal outcomes. Some of these patients had risk factors including pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
Human Albumin
This product contains albumin, a derivative of human blood. Based on effective donor screening and product manufacturing processes, it carries an extremely remote risk for transmission of viral diseases. A theoretical risk for transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) also is considered extremely remote. No cases of transmission of viral diseases or CJD have ever been identified for albumin.
Precautions
The safe and effective use of BOTOX® Cosmetic depends upon proper storage of the product, selection of the correct dose, and proper reconstitution and administration techniques. Physicians administering BOTOX® Cosmetic must understand the relevant neuromuscular and/or orbital anatomy of the area involved, as well as any alterations to the anatomy due to prior surgical procedures (see WARNINGS).
Caution should be used when BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is used in the presence of inflammation at the proposed injection site(s) or when excessive weakness or atrophy is present in the target muscle(s).
Reduced blinking from BOTOX® Cosmetic injection of the orbicularis muscle can lead to corneal exposure, persistent epithelial defect and corneal ulceration, especially in patients with VII nerve disorders. In the use of BOTOX® for the treatment of blepharospasm, one case of corneal perforation in an aphakic eye requiring corneal grafting has occurred because of this effect. Careful testing of corneal sensation in eyes previously operated upon, avoidance of injection into the lower lid area to avoid ectropion, and vigorous treatment of any epithelial defect should be employed. This may require protective drops, ointment, therapeutic soft contact lenses, or closure of the eye by patching or other means.
Inducing paralysis in one or more extraocular muscles may produce spatial disorientation, double vision or past pointing. Covering the affected eye may alleviate these symptoms.
Caution should be used when BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is used in patients who have an inflammatory skin problem at the injection site, marked facial asymmetry, ptosis, excessive dermatochalasis, deep dermal scarring, thick sebaceous skin or the inability to substantially lessen glabellar lines by physically spreading them apart as these patients were excluded from the Phase 3 safety and efficacy trials.
Needle-related pain and/or anxiety may result in vasovagal responses (including e.g., syncope, hypotension), which may require appropriate medical therapy.
Injection intervals of BOTOX® Cosmetic should be no more frequent than every three months and should be performed using the lowest effective dose (see ADVERSE REACTIONS, IMMUNOGENICITY).
Information for Patients
The physician should provide a copy of the FDA-Approved Patient Medication Guide and review the contents with the patient. Patients should be advised to inform their doctor or pharmacist if they develop any unusual symptoms (including difficulty with swallowing, speaking, or breathing), or if any existing symptom worsens.
Patients should be counseled that if loss of strength, muscle weakness, or impaired vision occur, they should avoid driving a car or engaging in other potentially hazardous activities.
Drug Interactions
Co-administration of BOTOX® Cosmetic and aminoglycosides1 or other agents interfering with neuromuscular transmission (e.g., curare-like nondepolarizing blockers, lincosamides, polymyxins, quinidine, magnesium sulfate, anticholinesterases, succinylcholine chloride) should only be performed with caution as the effect of the toxin may be potentiated.
The effect of administering different botulinum neurotoxin serotypes at the same time or within several months of each other is unknown. Excessive neuromuscular weakness may be exacerbated by administration of another botulinum toxin prior to the resolution of the effects of a previously administered botulinum toxin.
Pregnancy: Pregnancy Category C
Administration of BOTOX® Cosmetic is not recommended during pregnancy. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of BOTOX® Cosmetic in pregnant women. When pregnant mice and rats were injected intramuscularly during the period of organogenesis, the developmental NOEL (No Observed Effect Level) of BOTOX® Cosmetic was 4 Units/kg. Higher doses (8 Units/kg or 16 Units/kg) were associated with reductions in fetal body weights and/or delayed ossification.
In a range finding study in rabbits, daily injection of 0.125 Units/kg/day (days 6 to 18 of gestation) and 2 Units/kg (days 6 and 13 of gestation) produced severe maternal toxicity, abortions and/or fetal malformations. Higher doses resulted in death of the dams. The rabbit appears to be a very sensitive species to BOTOX® Cosmetic.
If the patient becomes pregnant after the administration of this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential risks, including abortion or fetal malformations that have been observed in rabbits.
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility
Long term studies in animals have not been performed to evaluate carcinogenic potential of BOTOX® Cosmetic.
The reproductive NOEL following intramuscular injection of 0, 4, 8, and 16 Units/kg was 4 Units/kg in male rats and 8 Units/kg in female rats. Higher doses were associated with dose-dependent reductions in fertility in male rats (where limb weakness resulted in the inability to mate), and testicular atrophy or an altered estrous cycle in female rats. There were no adverse effects on the viability of the embryos.
Nursing Mothers
It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when BOTOX® Cosmetic is administered to a nursing woman.
Pediatric Use
Use of BOTOX® Cosmetic is not recommended in children.
Geriatric Use
The two clinical studies of BOTOX® Cosmetic did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. However, the responder rates appeared to be higher for patients younger than age 65 than for patients 65 years or older (see CLINICAL STUDIES).
There were too few patients (N=3) over the age of 75 to allow any meaningful comparisons.
Adverse Reactions
General
BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic contain the same active ingredient in the same formulation. Therefore adverse events observed with the use of BOTOX® also have the potential to be associated with the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic.
The most serious adverse events reported after treatment with botulinum toxin include spontaneous reports of death, sometimes associated with anaphylaxis, dysphagia, pneumonia, and/or other significant debility.
There have also been reports of adverse events involving the cardiovascular system, including arrhythmia and myocardial infarction, some with fatal outcomes. Some of these patients had risk factors including pre-existing cardiovascular disease (see WARNINGS).
New onset or recurrent seizures have also been reported, typically in patients who are predisposed to experiencing these events. The exact relationship of these events to the botulinum toxin injection has not been established. Additionally, a report of acute angle closure glaucoma one day after receiving an injection of botulinum toxin for blepharospasm was received, with recovery four months later after laser iridotomy and trabeculectomy. Focal facial paralysis, syncope and exacerbation of myasthenia gravis have also been reported after treatment of blepharospasm.
In general, adverse events occur within the first week following injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic and while generally transient may have a duration of several months or longer. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, erythema and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection. Local weakness of the injected muscle(s) represents the expected pharmacological action of botulinum toxin. However, weakness of adjacent muscles may also occur due to spread of toxin.
Glabellar Lines
In clinical trials of BOTOX® Cosmetic the most frequently reported adverse events following injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic were headache*, respiratory infection*, flu syndrome*, blepharoptosis and nausea.
Less frequently occurring (<3%) adverse reactions included pain in the face, erythema at the injection site*, paresthesia* and muscle weakness. While local weakness of the injected muscle(s) is representative of the expected pharmacological action of botulinum toxin, weakness of adjacent muscles may occur as a result of the spread of toxin. These events are thought to be associated with the injection and occurred within the first week. The events were generally transient but may last several months or longer.
(* incidence not different from Placebo)
The data described in Table 4 reflect exposure to BOTOX® Cosmetic in 405 subjects aged 18 to 75 who were evaluated in the randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies to assess the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic in the improvement of the appearance of glabellar lines (see CLINICAL STUDIES). Adverse events of any cause were reported for 44% of the BOTOX® Cosmetic treated subjects and 42% of the placebo treated subjects. The incidence of blepharoptosis was higher in the BOTOX® Cosmetic treated arm than in placebo (3% vs. 0).
In the open-label, repeat injection study, blepharoptosis was reported for 2% (8/373) of subjects in the first treatment cycle and 1% (4/343) of subjects in the second treatment cycle. Adverse events of any type were reported for 49% (183/373) of subjects overall. The most frequently reported of these adverse events in the open-label study included respiratory infection, headache, flu syndrome, blepharoptosis, pain and nausea.
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not be predictive of rates observed in practice.
TABLE 4.
Adverse Events Reported at Higher Frequency (>1%) in the BOTOX® Cosmetic Group Compared to the Placebo Group
Immunogenicity
Treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic may result in the formation of neutralizing antibodies that may reduce the effectiveness of subsequent treatments with BOTOX® Cosmetic by inactivating the biological activity of the toxin. The rate of formation of neutralizing antibodies in patients receiving BOTOX® Cosmetic has not been well studied.
The critical factors for neutralizing antibody formation have not been well characterized. The results from some studies suggest that botulinum toxin injections at more frequent intervals or at higher doses may lead to greater incidence of antibody formation. The potential for antibody formation may be minimized by injecting the lowest effective dose given at the longest feasible intervals between injections.
Postmarketing Experience
Transient ptosis, the most frequently reported complication, has been reported in the literature in approximately 5% of patients. There has been a single report of diplopia, which resolved completely in three weeks.
The following other adverse reactions have been identified since the drug has been marketed: abdominal pain; blurred vision; brachial plexopathy; decreased hearing; diarrhea; ear noise; erythema multiforme; fever; focal facial paralysis; glaucoma; localized numbness; loss of appetite; malaise; myalgia; myasthenia gravis; pruritus; psoriasiform eruption; retinal vein occlusion; sweating; syncope; vertigo with nystagmus; and vomiting.
Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to botulinum toxin.
Reporting Adverse Events
Adverse events following use of BOTOX® Cosmetic should be reported to the Pharmacovigilance Department, Allergan Inc. (1-800-433-8871). Adverse events may also be reported to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Adverse Event Reporting System. Report forms and reporting requirement information can be obtained from Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) through a toll free number 1-800-822-7967.
Overdosage
Excessive doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic may be expected to produce neuromuscular weakness with a variety of symptoms.
Symptoms of overdose are likely not be present immediately following injection. Should accidental injection or oral ingestion occur or overdose be suspected, the person should be medically supervised for several weeks for signs and sypmtoms of systemic muscilar weakness which could be local, or distant fron the site of injection (see BOXED WARNING and WARNINGS). These patients should be considered for further medical evaluation and appropriate medical therapy immediately instituted, which may include hospitalization.
If the musculature of the oropharynx and esophagus are affected, aspiration may occur which may lead to development of aspiration pneumonia. If the respiratory muscles become paralyzed or sufficient weakend, intubation and assisted respitation may be necessary until recovery takes place. Supportive care could involve the need of a tracheostony and/or prolonged mechanical ventilation, in addition to other general supportive care.
In the event of overdose, antitoxin raised against botulinum toxin is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA. However, the antitoxin will not reverse any botulinum toxin-induced effects already apparent by the time of antitoxin administration. In the event of suspected or actual cases of botulinum toxin poisoning, please contact your local or state Health Department to process a request for antitoxin through the CDC. If you do not receive a response within 30 minutes, please contact the CDC directly at 1-770-488-7100. More information can be obtained at www.cdc.gov
Dosage And Administration
For Intramuscular Injection Only
BOTOX® Cosmetic is to be reconstituted only with 0.9% sterile, non-preserved saline prior to intramuscular injection. Per the dilution table below, draw up the required amount of 0.9% sterile non-preserved sodium chloride solution into a syringe to obtain a reconstituted solution at a concentration of 4 Units/0.1 mL and a total treatment dose of 20 Units in 0.5 mL. The duration of activity of BOTOX® Cosmetic for glabellar lines is approximately 3-4 months. The safety and effectiveness of more frequent dosing with BOTOX® Cosmetic has not been clinically evaluated and is not recommended.
Dilution Table
Reconstituted BOTOX® Cosmetic should be clear, colorless, and free of particulate matter.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is supplied as a single use vial. The product and diluent do not contain a preservative. Once opened and reconstituted it should be stored in a refrigerator (2° to 8°C) and used within 24 hours. Discard any remaining solution. Parenteral drug products should be inspected visually for particulate matter and discoloration prior to administration whenever solution and container permit. Do not freeze reconstituted BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Dilution Technique
Using a 21-gauge needle and an appropriately sized syringe draw up a total of 2.5 mL/100 Unit vial or 1.25 mL/50 Unit vial of 0.9% sterile saline without a preservative. Insert the needle at a 45° angle and slowly inject into the BOTOX® Cosmetic vial. Discard the vial if a vacuum does not pull the diluent into the vial. Gently rotate the vial and record the date and time of reconstitution on the space on the label.
Draw at least 0.5 mL of the properly reconstituted toxin into the sterile syringe, preferably a tuberculin syringe and expel any air bubbles in the syringe barrel. Remove the needle used to reconstitute the product and attach a 30-33 gauge needle. Confirm the patency of the needle.
Injection Technique
Glabellar facial lines arise from the activity of the corrugator and orbicularis oculi muscles. These muscles move the brow medially, and the procerus and depressor supercilii pull the brow inferiorly. This creates a frown or “furrowed brow”. The location, size, and use of the muscles vary markedly among individuals. Lines induced by facial expression occur perpendicular to the direction of action of contracting facial muscles. An effective dose for facial lines is determined by gross observation of the patient’s ability to activate the superficial muscles injected.
In order to reduce the complication of ptosis the following steps should be taken:
- Avoid injection near the levator palpebrae superioris, particularly in patients with larger brow depressor complexes.
- Lateral corrugator injections should be placed at least 1 cm above the bony supraorbital ridge.
- Ensure the injected volume/dose is accurate and where feasible kept to a minimum.
- Do not inject toxin closer than 1 cm above the central eyebrow.
Using a 30-33 gauge needle, inject a dose of 0.1 mL into each of 5 sites, 2 in each corrugator muscle and 1 in the procerus muscle for a total dose of 20 Units. Typically the initial doses of reconstituted BOTOX® Cosmetic induce chemical denervation of the injected muscles one to two days after injection, increasing in intensity during the first week.
How BOTOX® Cosmetic Is Supplied
BOTOX® Cosmetic is supplied in a single use vial in the following sizes:
- 50 Units: NDC 0023-3919-50
- 100 Units: NDC 0023-9232-01
Vials of BOTOX® Cosmetic have a holographic film on the vial label that contains the name “Allergan” within horizontal lines of rainbow color. In order to see the hologram, rotate the vial back and forth between your fingers under a desk lamp or fluorescent light source. (Note: the holographic film on the label is absent in the date/batch area.) If you do not see the lines of rainbow color or the name “Allergan,” do not use the product and contact Allergan for additional information at 1-800-890-4345 from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM Pacific Time.
Rx Only
Single use vial.
Storage
Unopened vials of BOTOX® Cosmetic should be stored in a refrigerator (2° to 8°C) for up to 36 months for the 50 Units and 100 Units vials.
Administer BOTOX® Cosmetic within 24 hours of reconstitution; during this period reconstituted BOTOX® Cosmetic should be stored in a refrigerator (2° to 8°C). Reconstituted BOTOX® Cosmetic should be clear, colorless and free of particulate matter.
Do not use after the expiration date on the vial. All vials, including expired vials, or equipment used with the drug should be disposed of carefully as is done with all medical waste.
