Counterfeit and misused Botox blamed in 9-state botulism outbreak

Dangerous counterfeit versions of botulinum toxin — amended known arsenic Botox — are being linked to an outbreak that has sickened 19 group successful 9 states, causing 9 hospitalizations, national information officials are warning.

In a Tuesday alert to consumers and wellness attraction providers, nan U.S. Food and Drug Administration said unsafe counterfeit versions of Botox had been recovered successful aggregate states and administered to group for cosmetic purposes. 

The products "appear to person been purchased from unlicensed sources" and could beryllium misbranded, adulterated, counterfeit, contaminated, improperly stored and transported, ineffective and/or unsafe, nan FDA said.

Two states — Illinois and Tennessee — past week reported half a twelve cases involving botulism-like symptoms following shots of perchance phony products. Since then, different 13 cases person been reported successful an further 9 states, pinch each involving women injected pinch phony Botox by licensed and unlicensed individuals successful non-medical settings, specified arsenic astatine homes aliases spas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

People reported experiencing botulism symptoms including blurred aliases double vision, drooping eyelids, trouble swallowing, barren mouth, slurred speech, trouble breathing and fatigue. The cases occurred successful Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee and Washington.

Image of counterfeit package. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The FDA is moving pinch Botox shaper AbbVie to identify, analyse and region suspected counterfeit Botox products recovered successful nan U.S. Currently, there's thing to bespeak nan illnesses are linked to nan company's FDA-approved Botox, pinch nan genuine merchandise safe and effective for its approved uses, nan FDA noted.

Image of counterfeit Botox. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

"In business pinch nationalist wellness authorities, we person confirmed nan information of our Botox and Botox cosmetic proviso concatenation arsenic good arsenic nan safety, quality, and efficacy of each products we manufacture and distribute," AbbVie subsidiary Allergan told CBS MoneyWatch connected Friday.

How to debar counterfeit Botox

If you're considering Botox for aesculapian aliases cosmetic reasons, nan CDC advises asking whether nan provider, session aliases spa is licensed and trained to springiness nan injections, and if nan merchandise is FDA approved and purchased from a reliable source. Some states person a look-up instrumentality that tin beryllium utilized to cheque connected licensing, according to nan agency.

Those successful uncertainty should not get nan injection and those who acquisition symptoms of botulism should activity aesculapian attraction aliases spell to an emergency room immediately, nan CDC said.

Approved for cosmetic usage much than 20 years ago, Botox is simply a popular drug to soft wrinkles and look younger, pinch injections typically costing astir $530, according to nan American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The effects of a changeable past 3 to 4 months connected average, truthful further shots are needed to stay wrinkle-free.

Federal officials person antecedently cracked down connected unregulated Botox and different cosmetic treatments. In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers successful Ohio intercepted specified fillers that had been shipped from Bulgaria, China, Korea and Spain.