title: Treating clients with a deadly poison.
abstract: Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are a highly sought-after elective treatment for temporary relief of some facial lines. Botox is also a highly useful therapeutic agent, approved for use in treating a variety of health conditions. However, Botulinum toxin is a poison responsible for botulism, and, regardless of the purpose for Botox injections, there are serious considerations about safety and adverse effects related to its use that are important for nurses to know. In this article, the relationship between botulism and therapeutic use of Botox is identified. An overview of information about Botox includes particulars related to safe use and Federal Drug Administration warnings and suggestions for patient education.
authors.affiliation: Kent State University College of Nursing, Kent, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Beatrice B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Turkoski
mesh_terms: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D003358:Cosmetics; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D015595:Skin Aging / Q000187:drug effects*; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration
chemical_list: D003358:Cosmetics; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A