BOTOX COSMETIC FDA MedWatch Direct Reports Summary

These tables and charts are created from 53 voluntary U.S. reports for BOTOX COSMETIC (ONABOTULINUMTOXINA) reported by individuals to the FDA via the MedWatch Reporting System from 2004 through April 28, 2026.

For a summary of adverse events including mandatory reports submitted by pharmaceutical companies (all countries and all reporter types) to the FAERS database, View FDA FAERS BOTOX COSMETIC Report.

Top Adverse Effects Associated with BOTOX COSMETIC (from U.S. FDA Medwatch Reports)

 Side Effect# of FDA Reports
1DIZZINESS12
2HEADACHE10
3NAUSEA10
4ANXIETY9
5PALPITATIONS9
6VISION BLURRED9
7LACK OF STRENGTH AND ENERGY (ASTHENIA)7
8SHORTNESS OF BREATH7
9PINS AND NEEDLES6
10TREMOR6
11CHEST PAIN5
12DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING5
13FATIGUE5
14FEELING ABNORMAL5
15OFF LABEL USE5
16BURNING SENSATION4
17DRY MOUTH4
18HYPERSENSITIVITY4
19MUSCULAR WEAKNESS4
20NECK PAIN4
21HIVES4
22WEIGHT DECREASED4
23BACK PAIN3
24BOTULISM3
25DEATH3
Search all MedWatch Reports by Keyword:

BOTOX COSMETIC Total Medwatch Safety Reports by Patient Sex

 Male    Female    Unknown    Total  
 5    46    2    53  

Medwatch Reporter TypeCount
Consumer29
Physician1
Pharmacist7
Other Health Professional4
Lawyer1

Top Indications      
Skin wrinkling
Product used for unknown indication
Skin cosmetic procedure
Face lift
Lip cosmetic procedure

Type of Outcome Reported
Serious: 39
Not Serious: 14
Note: A serious outcome means the adverse event resulted in death, a life threatening condition, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or other serious condition.

Suspected Role
Primary Suspect: 53
Concomitant Drugs: 26
Note: A single MedWatch report can list more than one drug. This summary includes BOTOX COSMETIC identified as the suspect drug or as a concomitantly taken drug.

FDA Safety-Related Labeling Changes

BOTOX COSMETIC (OnabotulinumtoxinA) Biological Drug:
FDA Safety-related Labeling Changes

Public Citizen petitioned the FDA urging that the warning on the labeling of Botox and related drugs be strengthened to make it clear that the drugs are associated with systemic iatrogenic botulism

BOTOX COSMETIC (OnabotulinumtoxinA) Biological Drug:
FDA Safety-related Labeling Changes

Adverse events involving the cardiovascular system, including arrhythmia and myocardial infarction; Cases of dry eye have been reported when the injection is in or near the orbicularis oculi muscle


Have experience (good or bad) with BOTOX COSMETIC? Rate BOTOX COSMETIC at Ask a Patient.

For serious adverse events, report them to the FDA by contacting the drug manufacturer or report directly through the MedWatch voluntary reporting form.

NOTES

This report, created by AskaPatient.com, is derived from U.S. drug-related adverse event cases that were reported directly to the FDA using the voluntary MedWatch online or paper reporting system. MedWatch is the voluntary FDA system for consumers, physicians, and others to directly report adverse reactions. The Medwatch initiative was launched in 1993 as a voluntary reporting program for consumers, physicians and other healthcare practitioners.

After processing the received forms, the FDA adds the MedWatch reports to the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System(or FAERS database.) Click here for the complete FAERS report summary, which includes mandatory reports submitted by pharmaceutical companies (worldwide) combined with the MedWatch reports. MedWatch Reports only represent about 5% of the FAERS database. For more, read "Does the FDA's Rapidly Growing Database of Adverse Events Improve Drug Safety?"


The data in this report was obtained from Open FDA. Data was last updated to include reports through January 27, 2026. The reactions, side effects, or "adverse events," represent up to the 20 most frequently occuring events in the database for a drug related to the event. 

Open FDA states that it only includes the most recent version of a case report. It also adds the disclaimer: "Do not rely on Open FDA to make decisions regarding medical care. While we make every effort to ensure that data is accurate, you should assume all results are unvalidated."

FDA uses the "MedDRA" classification system to describe reported adverse reactions. MedDRA is a standardized medical terminology that facilitates sharing of regulatory information internationally. In some cases, "patient friendly" terms for the layman designated by MedDRA have been substituted for medical jargon. Please contact us with questions about this report.