Botox interactions: Other medications, alcohol, and more

Botox, onobutylenum toxin A, is a prescription drug used to treat certain eye problems, bladder problems, and more. This drug can interact with other medications, including certain antibiotics, such as tobramycin, bethkis, tobi, others. Botox has several uses in adults, including treating urinary incontinence related to a problem with the nervous system, treating overactive bladder, treating cervical dystonia, treating excessive sweating in the armpits, treating spasticity in the arms or legs, treating uncontrollable eyelid twitching, treating crossed eyes, helping prevent headaches related to chronic migraine. Botox is also used in certain children to treat. A type of overactive bladder related to a problem with the nervous system, spasticity in the arms or legs, uncontrollable eyelid twitching crossed eyes, the active ingredient in Botox is onobutylenum toxin A. Botox comes as a powder that’s mixed with liquid for injection into a muscle or other affected area of your body. An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions. Keep reading to learn about Botox’s possible interactions. And for more information about Botox, including details about its uses, see this article. Note, in this article, we describe interactions of Botox that’s used for medical purposes. You can talk with your doctor to learn more about interactions of Botox that’s used for cosmetic reasons. Does Botox interact with other drugs? Before you start receiving Botox, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. To learn whether Botox interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the Are There Other Interactions with Botox section below. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. The table below lists drugs that may interact with Botox. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Botox. For more information about some of these interactions, see the Drug Interactions Explained section below. Drug group or drug name, drug examples, what can happen, certain antibiotics, amikacin, ericic, gentamicin, colistamethate, colimicin M, tobramycin, bethkis, TOBI, others. Streptomycin can increase the effect of Botox muscle relaxers, baclofen, livispa, ozobax DS, others. Carisoprodol, soma, cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone, methacarbamol, robaxin can increase the risk of excessive muscle weakness, anticholinergics, benzotropine, hyosiamine, hyosine, levesin, others, sibutinin, oxytrol, scopolamine, transderm scup, tolteridine, detrol. Detrol LA can increase the risk of side effects from Botox and the anticholinergic other products that contain botulinum toxin. Botox cosmetic, on a botulinum toxin A. Daxify, daxibotulinum toxin A, LAM. Dysport, a bobotulinum toxin A. Juvo, probotulinum toxin A, XVS. Xeomin, incobotulinum toxin, increase the risk of excessive muscle weakness. When should I avoid Botox? Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Botox. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Botox for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Botox. If you have an infection at the injection site. If you have an infection in the area where Botox will be injected, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Botox for you. They may treat the infection before you receive Botox or recommend other treatments instead. If you have certain urinary problems. If you have certain urinary problems, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Botox for treating urinary incontinence or overactive bladder. These problems include urinary tract infection, UTI, urinary retention without the use of a catheter or two.

Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) is a prescription drug used to treat certain eye problems, bladder problems, and more. This drug can interact with other medications, including certain antibiotics such as tobramycin (Bethkis, Tobi, others).

Botox has several uses in adults, including:

• treating urinary incontinence related to a problem with the nervous system
• treating overactive bladder
• treating cervical dystonia
• treating excessive sweating in the armpits
• treating spasticity in the arms or legs
• treating uncontrollable eyelid twitching
• treating crossed eyes
• helping prevent headaches related to chronic migraine

Botox is also used in certain children to treat:

• a type of overactive bladder related to a problem with the nervous system
• spasticity in the arms or legs
• uncontrollable eyelid twitching
• crossed eyes

The active ingredient in Botox is onabotulinumtoxinA. Botox comes as a powder that’s mixed with liquid for injection into a muscle or other affected area of your body.

An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.

Keep reading to learn about Botox’s possible interactions. And for more information about Botox, including details about its uses, see this article.

Note: In this article, we describe interactions of Botox that’s used for medical purposes. You can talk with your doctor to learn more about interactions of Botox that’s used for cosmetic reasons.

Does Botox interact with other drugs?

Before you start receiving Botox, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Botox interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with Botox?” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

The table below lists drugs that may interact with Botox. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with Botox. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section below.

Drug group or drug name	Drug examples	What can happen
certain antibiotics	• amikacin (Arikayce) • gentamicin • colistimethate (Coly-Mycin M) • tobramycin (Bethkis, Tobi, others) • streptomycin	can increase the effect of Botox
muscle relaxers	• baclofen (Lyvispah, Ozobax DS, others) • carisoprodol (Soma) • cyclobenzaprine (Amrix) • metaxalone • methocarbamol (Robaxin)	can increase the risk of excessive muscle weakness
anticholinergics	• benztropine • hyoscyamine (Hyosyne, Levsin, others) • oxybutynin (Oxytrol) • scopolamine (Transderm Scop) • tolterodine (Detrol, Detrol LA)	can increase the risk of side effects from Botox and the anticholinergic
other products that contain botulinum toxin	• Botox Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) • Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm) • Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) • Jeuveau (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs) • Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA)	can increase the risk of excessive muscle weakness

When should I avoid Botox?

Certain health conditions or other factors could raise your risk of harm if you take Botox. In such cases, your doctor may not prescribe Botox for you. These are known as contraindications. The list below includes contraindications of Botox.

If you have an infection at the injection site: If you have an infection in the area where Botox will be injected, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Botox for you. They may treat the infection before you receive Botox or recommend other treatments instead.

If you have certain urinary problems: If you have certain urinary problems, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Botox for treating urinary incontinence or overactive bladder. These problems include:

• urinary tract infection (UTI)
• urinary retention without the use of a catheter to empty your bladder

This is because receiving Botox could worsen UTI or urinary retention. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Botox or any of its ingredients, your doctor likely won’t prescribe Botox for you. This is because receiving the injection could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better options for you.

Before you start receiving Botox, talk with your doctor if any of the factors above apply to you. Your doctor can determine whether Botox treatment is safe for you.

Does Botox interact with alcohol?

Botox is not known to interact with alcohol.

But Botox and alcohol can cause some similar side effects. Examples include headache, dizziness, and fatigue (low energy). So you may be more likely to experience these side effects if you drink alcohol during your Botox treatment.

If you have questions about consuming alcohol during Botox treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug interactions explained

Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with Botox.

Interaction with certain antibiotics

Botox can interact with certain antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections.

Examples of antibiotics that may interact with Botox include:

• amikacin (Arikayce)
• gentamicin
• colistimethate (Coly-Mycin M)
• tobramycin (Bethkis, Tobi, others)
• streptomycin

What could happen

Taking certain antibiotics during Botox treatment may enhance the effect of Botox. This is because Botox works by blocking nerve signals to your muscles. Certain antibiotics can also affect your muscle strength.

So, taking these drugs together could further increase the effect of Botox.

What you can do

Your doctor can recommend whether it’s safe to take certain antibiotics with Botox. If they prescribe these drugs together, your doctor may have you watch closely for side effects of Botox or the antibiotic. They’ll tell you how to manage these side effects and whether it’s safe to continue treatment with either drug.

If you have questions about taking certain antibiotics during Botox treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interaction with muscle relaxers

Botox can interact with muscle relaxers. These drugs are used to treat some of the same conditions as Botox, including spasticity and cervical dystonia.

Examples of muscle relaxers include:

• baclofen (Lyvispah, Ozobax DS, others)
• carisoprodol (Soma)
• cyclobenzaprine (Amrix)
• metaxalone
• methocarbamol (Robaxin)

What could happen

Taking a muscle relaxer with Botox can increase the risk of excessive muscle weakness. Both drugs can cause muscle weakness when used individually. Taking them together can raise the risk of this effect.

What you can do

If you take a muscle relaxer with Botox, tell your doctor right away if you have symptoms of excessive muscle weakness. These may include difficulty swallowing, breathing, speaking, or walking. If your symptoms seem severe or life threatening, call 911 or your local emergency number.

If you have questions about taking a muscle relaxer during Botox treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Interaction with anticholinergics

Botox can interact with anticholinergics. These drugs are used to treat some of the same conditions as Botox, including overactive bladder.

Examples of anticholinergic medications include:

• benztropine
• hyoscyamine (Hyosyne, Levsin, others)
• oxybutynin (Oxytrol)
• scopolamine (Transderm Scop)
• tolterodine (Detrol, Detrol LA)

What could happen

Botox and anticholinergics can both cause certain side effects, including constipation and dry mouth. So taking these drugs together can raise your risk of these side effects.

What you can do

If you take an anticholinergic with Botox, tell your doctor right away if you have worsened side effects from either drug. They’ll tell you how to manage these side effects and whether it’s safe to continue treatment with either drug.

If you have questions about taking an anticholinergic during Botox treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Are there other interactions with Botox?

Botox may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with Botox.

Does Botox interact with supplements?

Before you start using Botox, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Botox and herbs

There are currently no reports of Botox interacting with herbs. But this doesn’t mean that interactions with herbs won’t be recognized in the future.

For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while receiving Botox.

Botox and vitamins

There are currently no reports of Botox interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.

For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while receiving Botox.

Does Botox interact with food?

There are currently no reports of Botox interacting with food. If you have questions about eating certain foods during your treatment with Botox, talk with your doctor.

Does Botox interact with vaccines?

There are currently no reports of Botox interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your Botox treatment, talk with your doctor.

Does Botox interact with lab tests?

There are currently no reports of Botox interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with Botox, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.

Does Botox interact with cannabis or CBD?

There are currently no reports of Botox interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with Botox.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Does my health history affect whether I should take Botox?

Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with Botox. Before using Botox, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether Botox is right for you.

Health conditions or other factors that might interact with Botox include:

Infections at the injection site. Doctors typically will not prescribe Botox if you have an injection in the area where Botox will be injected. For details, see the “When should I avoid Botox?” section above.

Certain urinary problems. Doctors typically will not prescribe Botox if you have certain urinary problems. For details, see the “When should I avoid Botox?” section above.

Nervous system problems. If you have a problem with your nervous system, talk with your doctor before Botox treatment. Examples of these problems include myasthenia gravis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

These conditions may raise your risk of certain side effects from Botox. Examples include difficulty swallowing and double vision. Your doctor can recommend whether Botox is the right treatment option for you.

Difficulty swallowing or breathing. If you have difficulty swallowing or breathing, talk with your doctor before Botox treatment. Receiving the drug may worsen these conditions. Your doctor can recommend whether Botox is the right treatment option for you.

Pregnancy. It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Botox during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor before Botox treatment.

Breastfeeding. It’s not known whether it’s safe to receive Botox injections while breastfeeding. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed, talk with your doctor about your options.

Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Botox or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Botox. This is because receiving the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

How can I prevent interactions?

Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with Botox. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:

• whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
• other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a medication list)
• what to do if you start taking a new drug during your Botox treatment

It’s also important to understand Botox’s label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. Colored stickers that describe interactions may be on the label. And the paperwork (sometimes called the patient package insert or medication guide) may have other details about interactions. (If you did not get paperwork with Botox, ask your pharmacist to print a copy for you.)

If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.

Sure, here is an optimized FAQ section based on the topic of Botox interactions with other medications, alcohol, and more.



### What medications can interact with ⁤Botox?



Botox can interact with⁣ certain medications, particularly those that ⁣affect muscle or nerve functions. These include muscle relaxants, some ‍antibiotics like aminoglycosides, and specific medications for heart rhythm conditions. Always inform your healthcare provider about any medications‍ you are​ taking before receiving Botox treatment.



### Can I drink alcohol after⁢ receiving Botox?



It is generally advised‌ to avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours before and after receiving Botox. Alcohol can increase the risk of bruising and may affect‍ the overall effectiveness of the treatment.



### Is it safe to combine Botox with ​over-the-counter⁣ medications?



While ‍many over-the-counter medications might not interact directly with ​Botox, it’s best to discuss all medications, including supplements and non-prescription drugs, with ‍your⁤ healthcare provider‌ before undergoing Botox treatment to ensure safety.



### How ‍long should I wait before taking other medications⁣ after Botox?



It’s important⁢ to⁤ follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations regarding medication use after Botox. Typically, you might not need to alter your regular medication schedule, but‍ always seek ‌advice ​from your provider for⁤ specific guidance based on your health condition.



### Are there any health conditions that ‍can affect Botox treatment?



Yes, certain health conditions such as nerve or muscle disorders may affect Botox treatment. Conditions like ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome can increase the risk of side effects. Inform your healthcare provider about any pre-existing health conditions before receiving Botox.



### ‍What should I avoid‌ after getting Botox?



After getting Botox, it’s advisable to avoid‍ rubbing the treated area, engaging in strenuous exercise, and exposing your skin to excessive heat (like saunas ⁣or hot‌ tubs) for at least 24 hours to minimize the risk of spreading the ‍toxin to other muscles.



### Can herbal supplements influence Botox treatment?



Some herbal supplements may influence the effects of Botox or increase the risk of bruising or bleeding. Supplements like ‌ginkgo biloba, garlic, and ginseng should be disclosed to your healthcare provider prior to Botox treatment.



### Is it safe to have ‍Botox if I’m on blood thinners?



Being on blood thinners can increase the likelihood of⁢ bruising after Botox injections. Discuss with your ⁢healthcare provider whether⁤ Botox is appropriate for you and​ if any special precautions​ need to be taken.



These FAQs aim to provide clear and concise information on Botox interactions and considerations. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice tailored to your personal health needs.