Exercising Caution Following Reports of Counterfeit Botox
As a medical provider, patient safety is a top priority. By extension, specialty medical marketers have a responsibility to equip the public with the information needed to make informed decisions about their health and well-being, including alerts affecting the industry.
In recent weeks, reports of counterfeit Botox® infiltrating the market have raised significant safety concerns for consumers. According to the FDA,
“These incidents have occurred when counterfeit Botox is injected by licensed and unlicensed individuals and/or in non-medical or unlicensed settings. The products appear to have been purchased from unlicensed sources. Medications purchased from unlicensed sources may be misbranded, adulterated, counterfeit, contaminated, improperly stored and transported, ineffective and/or unsafe.”
Side effects range from blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, and respiratory issues, mirroring the symptoms of botulinum toxin spreading beyond the injection site.
The CDC’s investigation into these incidents underscores the importance of receiving aesthetic treatments from qualified healthcare professionals in licensed or accredited settings. Although Botox has become a well-known and widely used injectable, the quality of treatment and its efficacy are closely tied to the administering provider.
At Firm Media, we have the opportunity to work alongside experts in the aesthetic industry and share their commitment to patient safety. If you are considering Botox injections for cosmetic purposes, exercise caution when choosing a provider. From researching treatment to reading peer reviews, use online resources to verify credentials, licensure, and the legitimacy of products to ensure they are obtained from reputable, FDA-approved sources.
For more information on the FDA’s alerts and CDC’s investigations into counterfeit Botox, visit the following links:
FDA Drug Safety Alert: Counterfeit Version of Botox Found in Multiple States
