Commonly known for reducing wrinkles, Botox is now used for other health-related conditions.

Botox is a prescription medication made from Clostridium botulinum, the same microbe that causes life-threatening food poisoning, according to Medline. Botox is injected into the muscles, where it blocks certain chemical signals, mostly those that cause muscles to contract. The result is a relaxing or even paralysis of specific muscles, and these effects can last, generally, from three to 12 months. Similar products include Dysport, Myobloc, and Xeomin, each slightly different.

Common side effects for all these medicines include pain, swelling, or bruising (where injected). Flu-like symptoms, headaches, and upset stomach may also occur. Effects can spread from the injection point to other areas of the body, warns the Food and Drug Administration; this can cause life-threatening symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, however, no serious case has ever been reported when used properly. Click above to see the many different conditions Botox treats.

Botox
Commonly known for reducing wrinkles, Botox is now used for other health-related conditions, including headaches, overactive bladder, and muscle spasms. Reuters