A woman has claimed she almost died after receiving Botox injections which left her partially paralyzed and choking on her own saliva.
Alicia Hallock, 36, from Texas, said on social media that she had been receiving injections of the famous anti-wrinkle drug for almost five years to treat her migraines.
In what turned out to be an incredibly rare complication, the muscle-freezing medication spread to the muscles in her neck, leaving her dependent on a brace to keep her head upright – and unable to move the area.
The medication was causing his throat muscles to malfunction, limiting his ability to swallow. This led to a dangerous buildup of mucus in her lungs and throat, causing her to choke and stop breathing.
Without imminent treatment, doctors said she would have died.
Ms Hallock suffered an extreme reaction to Botox injections for migraines after the Botox spread to the muscles in her neck.
Ms Hallock in November 2023, after receiving an infusion for her chronic illnesses
“I ended up having a rare complication,” she said in an Instagram post written from her hospital bed in late February.
“It spread to my neck muscles and it created a lot of problems.”
“My eyelids are drooping, which causes a lot of pressure, blurred vision and dizziness. My neck muscles are basically paralyzed, so I can’t lift my head.
The mother-of-three’s complications also left her unable to swallow sips of water or her saliva.
Mrs. Hallockone author, said the injections, which she received from the same neurology clinic, helped relieve her migraines.
While it is well known for its cosmetic uses, Botox can also be effective in preventing migraines.
When a migraine occurs, the body releases substances called neurotransmitters and pain-associated molecules.
Botox interferes with the pain signals triggered by these substances when they are injected into muscles around the body. head and neck.
This is thought to be because the medication is absorbed by the nerves in the area involved in transmitting these signals to and from the brain.
Ms Hallock’s alarming symptoms appeared after Botox was first injected into a specific muscle in her neck.
However, doctors aren’t sure why the Botox spread or why she suddenly reacted so badly.
Ms Hallock began experiencing symptoms such as a stiff neck within three days of the injections, which gradually worsened over the following week.
She said she “stupidly” waited until the ninth day to go to hospital and was immediately admitted to intensive care.
“I had six tubes shoved down my throat to clear out all the mucus stuck in my lungs and throat,” she told her Instagram followers.
On February 18, she said: “They tried to suction me again last night because I had so much mucus stuck and I temporarily stopped breathing.
“They had to put me in a bag to restore my oxygen levels and keep me from passing out.”
Doctors feared Ms Hallock could develop botulism – a very rare disease which attacks the body’s nerves and can be fatal.
Botulism is a type of food poisoning caused by toxins that grow on improperly sterilized canned and canned foods.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the medication in Botox injections is made from the same toxin that causes botulism.
In this case, however, the toxin is purified and meets the standards set by the FDA.
Ms Hallock said: ‘One doctor had treated foodborne botulism, but no one involved in my care had ever seen this through Botox injections.
The CDC sent Ms. Hallock a special botulism antitoxin to try to reduce its effects.
She was also placed on a feeding tube so that she could be given medication and soft foods.
After 18 days in hospital, Ms. Hallock was discharged to continue her recovery at home.
“I will do some basic exercises at home, but I won’t be able to safely return to physical and outpatient therapy for four to six weeks, once the Botox starts to wear off more and I can actually use and rebuild the strength of my neck muscles,’ she said.
Ms Hallock has previously said she suffers from a lung disease called bronchiectasis, as well as lupus and Ehlers Danlos. She also had the upper lobe of my right lung removed last year.
It’s unclear whether any of her chronic illnesses could have affected how her body responded to the Botox injections.
Because Ms. Hallock’s reaction is so rare, the hospital is conducting a case study on her case.
It has been reported that frequent application of cosmetic Botox over a short period of time could lead to botulism.
A study examined 86 patients with botulism caused by cosmetic Botox injection who were admitted to a hospital in China between April 2009 and June 2013.
Botox injections are generally safe when administered by a licensed, qualified health care provider, the Mayo Clinic said.
This may cause undesirable results and side effects, such as drooping eyelids or infection at the injection site, or cause harm if administered incorrectly.