Botox Lawsuit Filed For Unapproved Uses
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Allergan, the maker of Botox Cosmetic, makes about $1.2 billion a year from the drug. Plenty to fight the lawsuits that are filed by users who claim they were injured or by survivors of Botox victims.
The latest one, filed in Orange County Superior Court, claim that Allergan failed to warn of the dangers of the drug. Botox is approved to relax wrinkles and for migraines, as well as used unapproved to treat neurological disorders. The cases involve the unapproved uses.
The lawsuit links Botox to three deaths. Last March, a 69-year old Texas nurse received injections for pain in her neck and shoulder and died. In 2004, a 7-year-old with cerebral palsy who received injections to release spasms also died. And a third death occurred just last week in Arizona. After being injected, a 71-year old was unable to swallow, speak, breathe or eat before she died.
Botox has been used for relaxing muscles since the 1970s.The FDA is reviewing reports of one death and other serious reactions to Botox and its competitor, Myobloc.
The most serious reactions are in children who have nerve disorders and are treated to relax arm and leg spasms.
Public Citizen has reviewed patient records and reports that 16 deaths are linked to the use of Botox or Myobloc and that 87 have been hospitalized with life-threatening conditions.
The suit also charges that a dozen other plaintiffs were left disabled with blurred vision and had allergic reactions to Botox that was given for approved uses.
Four years ago, a high-profile Los Angeles plaintiff, the wife of a movie producer, lost her claim against Allergen. Her case for terrible headaches was dismissed.
Botox comes from botulinum toxin Type A, known to interrupt the communication between nerves and muscles.
Allergan says Botox Cosmetic has been used by 15 million around the world and that the product is purified, highly diluted, and safe.