I've Heard Botox is Botulism So How Many Units Would It Take Before It Could Cause Me Harm?

Botox is a highly purified protein derived from the bacteria that causes botulism.  Botox is a very precisely controlled product and the doses used are minute.  The FDA has found no risk of life threatening side-effects with the dosages of BOTOX used for cosmetic services.  Higher doses of BOTOX used for certain medical indications can be associated with side-effects.  Typically these are seen in doses in the 300 unit range which is 10 times the dose used for cosmetic concerns.

There has never been any adverse Botulism effects reported from the cosmetic use of Botox. Botox given in the quantity used for cosmetic applications is very minute, Botox is used for various medical applications and there have been some reported side effects such as breathing difficulty and muscle weakness, these are usually doses that are 10 times the amount of the comsetic applications.