Doc, What Are All the Difference Between Chinese B-tex and USA Botox?

American physicians can only use FDA-approved Botox from Allergan.  All other countries who produce Botox may have different regulations and standards. 

Using a drug that is not locally approved means that it has not met the standards set by the local authorities.  Given the very serious potential side-effects of the toxin (yes a toxin, a poison), you would be very wise to stay with a product that you know has gone through the scrutiny of the FDA.  A different product may be just a poor knock-off, may be more or less potent, may have other components in there that can have negative adverse effects, or can simply be manufactured at a facility where quality controls are lacking and you happen to get a bad batch and it's goodbye for your.  I personally am very suspicious of Chinese products because of the lack of quality control that takes place in that country.  You don't have to think too far back to recall stories of food products from china that caused people to die.  Baby formulas, pet food, the story of processed cardboard particles in hamburgers to add substance to the meat.  All real incidences, not scare mongering.

Sincerely,

Martin Jugenburg, MD

The obvious answer for US based practitioners is that B-Tex is not FDA approved.  The FDA requires that pharmaceutical companies rigorously test their products for safety and efficacy and B-Tex is not FDA approved here in the US.

Because the products is not FDA approved, we would have questions about the exact type of toxin used, the strength, side effects and duration (effectiveness).

On top of the regulatory and efficacy issues, there is also the issue of quality control - safety.  The US is being inundated with counterfeit pharmaceutical products from China and the only way to ensure that patients get the proper medications is by buying directly from US based manufacturers that maintain strict quality controls.

Although the other product is probably cheaper, we would stick the Botox for now.