Last Tuesday, Health Canada announced its findings on Botox injections. The agency claimed that toxins—found in Botox products—can spread to distant parts of the body, which can lead to potentially fatal consequences to patients.

Last February, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that the toxins were present in agency-approved products, as well as unapproved products. This is why Health Canada decided to conduct a review on the Botox products that are currently out in the market. However, no medically proven cases of the toxin have been reported in Canada.

According to the Health Canada advisory, here are some of the symptoms a patient may feel if the toxins have spread: muscle weakness, difficulty in swallowing, pneumonia, speech disorders, and breathing problems.

Botox, manufactured by Allergan, is FDA-approved for treating muscle spasms in the neck, the eye, and the foot. In Canada, the cosmetic drug is also considered a legit treatment for muscle pains and excessive sweating. Botulinum toxin (Botox) disrupts nerve impulses, which cause the muscles to react. While its applications seem limitless, patients should be aware of the potential side effects.

Health Canada said that patients with a history of neurological disorders, swallowing difficulties or breathing problems should be particularly cautions about using these products.    

The FDA claimed that the Botox-related deaths among children with cerebral palsy were a misuse of the drug—a treatment that is not approved in Canada.

Health Canada is working with Allergan to revise labeling, and the agency will continue monitoring the safety concerns for the use of Botox in Canada and the US.