Botox and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Lpa...
• September 6, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "It has been 3 months since my Botox injection for migraines. And I am so sick: dizzy, depressed, insomnia, anxiety, extreme fatigue, head feels like it is going to explode. I always feel like I want to throw up. My blood pressure is 100 over 50. Nothing relieves my pain. The neurologist actually yelled at me when I told her how sick I was. She said no way was it the Botox. Botox makes me nauseous, I can't stand up. I just want it out of my body. Wish I never did this. I'm so scared."

• Vai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 5, 2019

For Migraine Prevention "I had a horrific response to the Botox I had for migraines. I ended up 5 days in the ER after the most recent set of injections. Severe heart palpitations, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, feeling faint, weak, dizzy, rash all over my body, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, tightness in my throat, severe dry mouth, tingling in my hands, feet, limbs, etc. I will NEVER get these injections again. There have been days I can barely get up, so severely fatigued and weak. Stabbing random pains, difficulty sleeping, chest tightness and pain, back, head, and neck pain, it has completely halted my way of daily life. Severely puffy eyelids and one is droopy. It has been almost a month since injections, and I am still nowhere near normal. I was told the only thing they can offer me is life support at the hospital if I stop breathing on my own. This has been terrifying. It has caused sudden extreme anxiety, which I didn't have at all before. My neurologist made it sound like the worst that could happen is a droopy eyelid."

• Lpa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 18, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "It has been 15 months since my only Botox injections of 151 units. My headache is 1000 times worse than before the Botox. No meds help. Lost about a foot of my hair. Nauseous, anxiety, insomnia, chest pains, ringing in ears feels like boa constrictors squeezing my arms, hard to swallow. It took my happiness away. Can't even get a botulism poison test. You have to go through the CDC. And if you're not on a ventilator at the ER then no test. The doctors lie to us to line their pockets, and we are thrown to the curb. How do they sleep at night?"

• Lor...
• October 16, 2016

For Urinary Frequency "I had Botox for bladder on the 15th of August 2016, I got urosepsis the first week and was in resus at A&E, an impatient for one week. Now, nine weeks later, it's a complete nightmare. My bladder holds over 200mls, still in retention, constant UTIs. I couldn't get used to self-catheterization because I was using it every hour and kept piercing my bladder. Now, I'm on an indwelling catheter with constant UTIs, a total nightmare and instant pain wearing the catheter. I am worried I will ever have a normal bladder again and live a normal life. I'm worried that using an indwelling catheter will weaken my muscles even further. I'm sick of taking antibiotics, lost weight through stress, and worry. I suggest that whoever considers this treatment should look at all the risks first and do thorough research."

• Lor...
• October 16, 2016

For Urinary Frequency "I had Botox for bladder on the 15th of August 2016, I got urosepsis the first week and was in resus at A&E, an impatient for one week. Now, nine weeks later, it's a complete nightmare. My bladder holds over 200mls, still in retention, constant UTIs. I couldn't get used to self-catheterization because I was using it every hour and kept piercing my bladder. Now, I'm on an indwelling catheter with constant UTIs, a total nightmare and instant pain wearing the catheter. I am worried I will ever have a normal bladder again and live a normal life. I'm worried that using an indwelling catheter will weaken my muscles even further. I'm sick of taking antibiotics, lost weight through stress, and worry. I suggest that whoever considers this treatment should look at all the risks first and do thorough research."

• Dre...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 14, 2016

For Migraine Prevention "I received my first round of Botox in October. I must admit there was some improvement in the frequency and severity of my migraines. What I didn't understand is the many, many drug interactions associated with Botox. Please do your research before trying Botox. I went for my second round in January. I was hesitant because I really wasn't feeling well. But my NP advised a second round. That's when things went way wrong. After about a week, I wasn't able to take any migraine medication because it gave me extreme anxiety. Eventually, I had anxiety full-time. I admitted myself to a hospital after three visits to the ER. None of the doctors acknowledged Botox side effects. I was really in the dark. Since then, I have done a lot of research. Don't do it!"

• Kic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2016

For Urinary Frequency "I had Botox for overactive bladder six weeks ago, and it's been nothing more than a nightmare for me. My main issues were frequency and bladder spasms, and the Botox has only worsened these issues. I initially experienced a great deal of bleeding with large clots for 12 hours, which I was unaware could occur - only slight spotting had been mentioned. Within a week, I could no longer urinate, and a Foley catheter was inserted. Six weeks on, my bladder remains seized, and despite a number of attempts to remove the catheter, my bladder hasn't improved. I have had two UTIs and been admitted to the emergency department for severe bladder trauma, urine retention, and UTI. I have suffered extreme anxiety as a result of all of this. It's not for everyone!"

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 23, 2012

For Migraine Prevention "Although this has greatly reduced my migraines in frequency and severity, the week after receiving it I go into extreme anxiety and weepiness that is crippling. It makes me nauseous and low. It subsides after about a week."

• Suz...
• June 19, 2017

For Urinary Frequency "I had 200 units of BOTOX injected into my bladder 4/52. Worse decision ever! I struggled to pee on the first night and requested an indwelling catheter to be able to rest. On discharge, I could void a little, but not too well. By the following week, the retention was so uncomfy I went to the GP who sent me for a scan. I was retaining 380 ml. Drained bladder and showed me how to self-cath. I wasn't very successful. Had a day with Gyny and nurses the following week, and they ended up putting in an indwelling cath. Been weeks now. Had it out for 2 hours and retained 680 ml, I couldn't void. Awful, awful feeling of being so full. Huge regrets I took this route, 4.5 years post a TVT for stress + urge incontinence that didn't help."

• PDo...
• October 2, 2017

For Migraine Prevention "I had a numerous set of 35 shots of Botox for headaches. Started with 100 units, then 150 units, then 200 units. This is over a period of 1 and a half years. I had pain in my neck, shoulder, and injection site pain, it did help with the headaches but didn't take them away completely. So the doctor gave me 300 units of Botox. That was the biggest mistake of my life. Seven hours later, my head started feeling very weird, I started having bad anxiety. I called the doctor, he said it had to run its 90 days, then it would get better. It's been almost 2 years. It isn't any better. I'm exhausted, the weird feeling and anxiety are worse. I have no life. One doctor at the ER told me the problems I'm having are definitely caused by the Botox. Do your research before you take Botox, it's ruined my life!!"

• Tee...
• August 28, 2018

For Urinary Frequency "I'm 20 years old, I was diagnosed with an overactive bladder a year ago. I have tried many pills, and none of them have worked. I used to walk every single day when I was bored or had nothing to do. I was outgoing, but my background was really unhealthy. I have always been depressed, ever since I have been like this, I have had bad anxiety and depression. I always got sad when my family traveled somewhere out of town, especially my partner, too. I always wished I went with them. I had Botox done on July 24, and it hasn't changed a bit. I haven't tried anything else, but I always wondered if anyone has been in my boat and felt like going all the time but embarrassed to go every time you have the urge."

• Mic...
• August 26, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I have chronic migraine with aura, and without treatment, I have 20+ migraines a month. I've tried a heap of other treatments, and nothing has ever helped as well as Botox. It usually reduces them by about half, and they are less painful. Medicare in my country will pay for it every 12 weeks, however, I find that the effect wears off at around 10 weeks. I get a lot of migraines during the gap. For a week or so after treatment, I still have bad migraines until it kicks in. I also get anxiety and body aches, heavy fatigue, kind of like I'm getting the flu. But after about 10 days, it starts to resolve reasonably quickly, and I have a much better quality of life. For me, it's worth it, even though there are a few bad weeks every 3 months. A few times, I've ended up with slightly uneven eyebrows, but nothing too obvious. I wouldn't want it done by a neurologist who wasn't skilled at it, though, as it won't work if it's not in the right spots and could be dangerous."

• ale...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2021

For Migraine Prevention "My daughter had daily migraines with no relief for 7 months. Finally had the chance to do Botox, all shots were administered, with pain at injection sites. So excited about the opportunity since insurance did not want to cover originally, but headache turned into a horrible 1 1/2 week long migraine, and it never got better, only worse: weak neck could not hold the head up, pain in the neck, given a muscle relaxant, which caused heavy dizziness, fainting. Dry mouth followed, terrible nausea, feeling close to vomiting, insomnia, anxiety, fear of what is going on. When we talked to the neurologist, we were told it is not from the Botox, that no one ever had those reactions. Check with the GP doctor! :) Her face is hot, she has to have a fan on at all times. Tinnitus sounds like a fire drill going on 24/7, chills all over the body, and tremors. At wit's end since no pain medication seems to help, a different kind of head pain since the Botox. Do NOT do Botox unless you have read all information, life & death!"

• Not...
• January 30, 2020

For Migraine Prevention "I can’t take it a second time. I tolerated the pain from the Botox shots well. I have a younger look about me, at least from the cheekbones up. I don’t look like I match now. The slight rise in my eyebrows makes everyone ask if I’m mad. That’s not cool that I look kinda mad. It’s been really worrying me, wondering what happened to me until I started reading some of the comments here. I’ve got worsening anxiety and paranoia, feel nauseated, want to cry, and I’m so not myself. I just want to go to sleep and wake up feeling normal again! I’ve only felt the feeling of ice going through my veins from a toxic level of an antidepressant about 20 years ago, in which case a trip to the ER had to take place, and that’s how I found out what that was, but it was also including vomiting and diarrhea. Now I just feel like ice is going through different veins on and off, and I pretty much stay fatigued and nauseous. My headache has come back."

• S H...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2017

For Facial Wrinkles "This neurotoxin sent me to the hospital with leg convulsions, extreme anxiety, confusion, pain, depression, and difficulties swallowing. I'm 8 weeks post-Botox and still have to take meds to stop my legs from convulsing. My anxiety is still through the roof. It's a very scary thing to be told by medical professionals that there is NOTHING they can do to help you. The only advice I was given was to call 911 if my throat started to close and I'd be put on a ventilator. Every day I'm one day closer to hopefully making a full recovery. But please, if you are considering using Botox, do your due diligence and be informed on the risks. I had had it many times before with no problems, this time my body decided enough was enough!"

• nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2023

For Migraine "After 12 hours, extreme and violent vomiting that lasted the better part of 24 hours. I had continued GI distress and gas lasting more than several hours, plus loss of appetite. I tolerated administration of the drug fairly well, despite the uncomfortable pokes with bleeding. Upon recovery, I found urination difficult, extreme migraine, dizziness, the feeling of spasticity in the upper body, and anxiousness/nervousness."

• nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2023

For Migraine "After 12 hours, extreme and violent vomiting that lasted the better part of 24 hours. I had continued GI distress and gas lasting more than several hours, plus loss of appetite. I tolerated administration of the drug fairly well, despite the uncomfortable pokes with bleeding. Upon recovery, I found urination difficult, extreme migraine, dizziness, the feeling of spasticity in the upper body, and anxiousness/nervousness."