CDC probing 19 cases of adverse reaction to counterfeit Botox

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating 19 cases of harmful reactions to counterfeit Botox across nine states, the agency said Monday.

Botox is the commercial name for botulinum toxin as manufactured by pharmaceutical company AbbVie.

When administered wrongly, the toxin can cause blurry vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, slurred speech, dry mouth, fatigue and general weakness, the CDC said.

All 19 cases involved women ages 25 to 59 who received the toxin from unlicensed or untrained individuals at home or a spa. Eighteen of the affected women said they received the toxin for cosmetic treatment.

The counterfeit toxin came from unlicensed sources, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

The counterfeit toxin comes in packaging marked with lot number C3709C3 on the box and vial, along with non-English language on the box and in a 150-unit dosage not offered by AbbVie, the FDA said Tuesday.

The cases were reported from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado and Washington.

Nine patients were hospitalized among the 19 cases. Of those, five were tested for botulism, with all tests coming back negative.

Health officials didn’t say where the toxin involved in these cases originated or whether the providers are being criminally investigated.