Botox and ALS

[billeeboo]

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?

[TeddyK]

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.

[TeddyK]

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.

[billeeboo]

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.

[ErinVincent]

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.

[ErinVincent]

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.