Following the injections, patients generally receive some form of physical or occupational therapy, which involves stretching the muscle to lengthen the tissue and improve its function. Despite any alarm triggered by the word botulism, the botulinum toxin is a safe and effective agent when used appropriately by physicians who are professionally trained to use it. The doses required are tiny amounts, which are very carefully injected into specific muscles. Even very small amounts of the toxin can, however, have undesirable side effects. The main side effect is weakness in the group of muscles that is being treated.
Muscular weakness is often short-lived though.
Some patients develop flu-like symptoms, but this is relatively rare. These include strabismus, blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, spasmodic torticollis, oromandibular dystonia, and spasmodic dyphonia. There are several different types of strabismus, which is usually treated surgically. Botulinum toxin can be an effective alternative to surgery for many patients, although studies comparing botox therapy and surgery have not been done. Blepharospasm - is the involuntary forceful closure of the eyelids.