Can Botox Make Autoimmune Disease Worsen?

I have been receiving botox injections in my eye area due to an eye problem as a result of bells palsy which occured over 26 years ago. It is more that 3 years now that I have been receiving the injections every 4 to 5 months. It has been now a little over 2 years I have felt extreme fatigue and muscle pain to the point where it interferes with my daily activities and which at times is so severe that I do not know how to deal with it . I have been also seeing doctors for the past 2 years who have told me that the symptons were due to depression and menopause. However just this week I have some results from the immunologist that I have Lupus. I am now wondering could it be that I have had an autoimmune desease for awhile now and the botox injections have made things worse for me , and led me to get Lupus.

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bells palsy autoimmune disease

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by mariano in montreal

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There is no medical evidence which supports that Botox® causes any autoimmune disorders

There is no conclusive medical evidence which supports that Botox® causes or induces any autoimmune disorders. I do think that it is imperative that you continue your care and follow-up with your medical doctors, including your immunologist. I hope this helps!

Botox and autoimmune disease

Botox works by chemically binding and blocking acetylcholine release, causing a chemical denervation. Acetylcholine release requires docking and binding of the neurotransmitter vesicles to the presynaptic membrane. I am aware of no scientific evidence linking Botox and autoimmune disease. I hope this helps.

Botox and lupus

As far as I know, there is no association between getting botox injections and developing an autoimmune disorder.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Botox does not cause Lupus

As other doctors noted, there has been no evidence to date that Botox can cause any kind of autoimmune disease. On a separate note, I have several patients with pre-existing Lupus and other autoimmune diseases who come to me for their Botox injections. I had them all check with their rheumatologists prior to start of Botox treatment, to confirm that it is safe for them, and all the rheumatologists gave them a green light for Botox treatment. It is pretty safe to say that Botox in no way... more

No evidence that Botox causes autoimmune disease

There is an autoimmune disease called Myasthenia Gravis (causing symptoms of muscle weakness) in which Botox use should be avoided. As far as I know, however, Botox has not been found to cause any autoimmune disease including Lupus. I hope you find an experienced rheumatologist who can help you deal with your new diagnosis.

Botox does not cause autoimmune disease

Mariano, Botox does not cause autoimmune disease. It is more likely in your case to be a coincidence rather than a cause. It sounds like you are seeing the right doctors. Good luck with your progress.

There is no evidence that Botox causes Lupus

First, I hope that now you have been diagnosed with Lupus and can get appropriate treatment, you will feel better. There is currently no evidence that treatment with botulinum toxin A causes any autoimmune diseases. Know that there is now a 20-year history of treatment with Botulinum toxin A. Last year something like 4 million treatments were done. WIth these kind of numbers, if Botulinum toxin A did cause an autoimmune disease, there would likely be evidence to support this idea. There... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Evidence does not support this...

There is no evidence that I am aware of that links continued Botox use and the stimulation of autoimmune diseases, including Lupus. I don’t see any similarity between the antigen of Lupus (the molecular structure to which the body attacks via antibodies) and Botox.