Human albumin: I’ve been getting Botox for over 10 years.

Question

Hello! I can’t believe doctors don’t tell you that you are being exposed to human blood products before getting injected. I would like to be the judge if if want to put myself at risk for viruses or worse something like CJD. I’ve been getting Botox for over 10 years and just recently found out about this. I am beside myself and my life is ruined. It’s totally unethical. Why is it not mandatory? I’ll tell you why because no one would do it. I bet no one reply’s to his either

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

Every neurotoxin that is available on the market today is suspended in human albumin. Human albumin goes through very extensive testing for viruses or infections. The safety record is proof that Botox and other neuromodulators have been extremely safe. I think you have very little to worry about. But if your concerns are so high, you don't have to use botox or any other neuromodulators in the future. Good luck from New York City

Marek Kacki, MD · Answer

All available neurotoxins contain a small amount of human albumin. By itself, human serum albumin (HSA) has been used in medicine for decades for multiple reasons. Botox contains approximately 0.5mg of albumin per each 100u vial. This human albumin has been know to produce, on very rare occasions, a hypersensitivity reactions. A path from the albumin donor to Botox is well determined and highly regulated. Each donation, as well as the entire plasma pool, are screen for many contents including antigens and viruses (HIV, Parvovirus, Hepatitis B and C). To maximize the safety, the product is additionally subjected to several virus-removing procedures ranging from filtration, centrifugation and precipitation to inactivation and pasteurization. At the end, the product is re-tested. In case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob, like with other viruses, not a single case of transmission was reported not only with the use of botulinum toxin injections  but with all human serum albumin products.  To visualize the risk, between 1980 and 1991, at the time of less sophisticated than now screening procedures for viruses, there were approximately 20 million individuals that received 951 tons of albumin and protein products (951,000 lbs) without a single case of viral transmission reported. So, theoretically, everything is possible but, to be fair, to consider such a minuscule risk would be as productive as labeling every carrot as a choking hazard. If you take occasionally ibuprofen, your risk of significant, numerous reported side effects is incomparably higher than never reported transmission of any known virus through botulinum toxin aesthetic injections. Nevertheless, if you are apprehensive about your botulinum toxin injections it may be a smart decision to stop using it. Thank you for bringing this topic to the forum.

Human albumin: I’ve been getting Botox for over 10 years.

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Human albumin: I’ve been getting Botox for over 10 years.

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