Should Patients with Family History of Myasthenia Gravis Avoid Botox?

Question

If my grandmother had Myasthenia Gravis, should I avoid Botox? Her symptoms started in her 70s, with a droopy eyelid. I don't think I have the disease but noticed if you have it, you can't use Botox. Does the fact that my grandmother had it, put me at risk?

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

Some patients with certain diseases have minimal expression of symptoms, if any at all, until the disease is provoked by some stimulus or stress. If you have an underlying predisposition for myasthenia gravis then possibly the Botulinum toxin could precipitate such symptoms. You should consult with a neurologist first, to be sure

Tanveer Janjua, MD · Answer

You can get checked for Myasthenia Gravis and then proceed to get Botox. The risk with myasthenia gravis and Botox is a very prolonged effect of Botox. If done properly you can still be ok. However if someone develops droopy eyelid, it can take very long to recover.
Regards

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Provided that you do not have Myasthenia, the family history is not a reason to avoid BOTOX. Exposure to BOTOX will not cause the condition. The precaution is taken to avoid BOTOX in individual who have motor nerve conditions because the combination has the potential to cause an additive effect that would be undesirable.

Kavita Mariwalla, MD · Answer

As long as you don't have myasthenia gravis yourself, you should be okay. Family history is important, but if you are not having any symptoms and your primary care agrees that you are not having any symptoms than Botox will be okay for you. As the others have said, the risk is that the action of Botox will be prolonged if you have myasthenia gravis. Above all, go to a board certified physician so that a qualified person is doing the injecting.

	Good luck!

	Dr. Mariwalla

Nancy Swartz, MS, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

If you do not have myasthenia, it is safe to get Botox treatments.  If your grandmother had myasthenia beginning in her 70's, your risk of developing myasthenia remains very small, assuming you don't have other risk factors- like having other autoimmune diseases.  Most people who have myasthenia that runs in their family have a form in which they develop the disease in childhood.  
 
You can feel comfortable trying Botox- you'll love it!

Should Patients with Family History of Myasthenia Gravis Avoid Botox?

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Answer: Botox and myasthenia

Answer: Botox is safe if your grandmother has myasthenia and you don't.

Answer: Botox is safe if your grandmother has myasthenia and you don't.

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Should Patients with Family History of Myasthenia Gravis Avoid Botox?

Answers (6)

Answer: Botox and myasthenia

Answer: Botox and myasthenia

Answer: Botox is safe if your grandmother has myasthenia and you don't.

Answer: Botox is safe if your grandmother has myasthenia and you don't.

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.