Botulinum Toxin & Flu Vaccine
Important Information for Patients

As we enter into flu season and the H1N1 swine flu continues to make headlines, the DMRF is receiving increasing inquiries about whether it is safe for individuals who get botulinum toxin injections to get flu vaccines. The answer is that it is safe to have both kinds of injected medicines, but some simple precautions should be taken.

Representatives from Allergan and Solstice Neurosciences, manufacturers of the botulinum toxin products BOTOX and MyoBloc respectively, encourage individuals to discuss the following considerations with their physicians:

  • People who require both botulinum toxin injections and flu vaccine should ideally get the botulinum toxin injection first, and then wait 2 weeks before getting the flu vaccine. If individuals experience any unusual side effects from the botulinum toxin, they should call their doctor before going ahead with plans for the flu shots.

  • If an individual gets the flu vaccine first, it is recommended that he/she wait 10 days - 2 weeks before getting botulinum toxin injections. If individuals experience any unusual side effects from the flu vaccine, they should consult their doctor before going ahead with the botulinum toxin injections.

Both botulinum toxin and flu vaccines are biological products, which means side effects are possible. While there is currently no confirmed data to suggest that taking these concurrently would cause a reaction, given the potential for individual reactions with each, it is reasonable to consider separating them. This may simply avoid compounding their potential individual side effects, and also help determine if the side effects are being caused by one injection versus the other.

Patients with questions about botulinum toxin injections and flu vaccine are encouraged to speak with their physicians and contact the drug manufacturers:

Allergan, Inc.
http://www.botoxmedical.com/
800-433-8871

Solstice Neurosciences, Inc.
http://www.solsticeneuro.com/
888-461-2255

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