Botox Side Effects: Dizziness, Tiredness and Warning Signs

Refresh MedSpa November 4, 2026 Medically reviewed by Vanessa Levine, APRN, NP-C

Treatment: Botox Condition: Wrinkles

Botox side effects can include bruising, soreness, headache, tiredness or dizziness. Dizziness or feeling faint can be a sign of an allergic reaction, so get medical help right away and do not drive. Seek immediate medical help for trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking, spreading weakness or vision changes. These can start hours to weeks after injections. Call 911 for breathing trouble or signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Which Botox bad side effects need help right away?

Some symptoms need medical care even if the injection sites look fine. The toxin can spread beyond the treated area. Symptoms can start hours to weeks after injections.

What you notice	What to do
Trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking	Get medical help immediately. Call 911 for breathing trouble.
Weakness spreading beyond the treated area	Seek immediate medical attention.
New blurred vision, double vision or reduced eyesight	Get medical help right away. Do not drive yourself.
Wheezing, faintness or throat swelling, with or without hives	Treat this as a possible severe allergic reaction and call 911.
Dizziness or feeling faint	Get medical help right away. It can be a sign of an allergic reaction. Do not drive.
Unusual tiredness without the signs above	Contact your clinician promptly for advice.
Pain, redness or swelling that is getting worse	Contact your clinician promptly for an assessment.

Do not wait for a routine follow-up when you have urgent signs. An online booking request is not a route to emergency care. If you cannot reach your injector, seek medical care elsewhere. If you were treated at Refresh, call (239) 321-5050, Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm. At other times, seek medical care elsewhere.

Can Botox make you dizzy?

Yes, dizziness is listed in the Botox Medication Guide. A clinician needs to assess its cause.

Sit or lie somewhere safe to avoid a fall. Get medical help right away, because dizziness can be a sign of an allergic reaction. Do not drive, use machinery or do tasks where losing your balance could hurt you.

Tell the clinician when the dizziness began. Say if it is getting worse and what else you feel. Mention faintness, rash, weakness, trouble swallowing or changes in sight. These details can help the clinician assess you.

Stay seated or lying down while you arrange medical help.

Can Botox make you tired?

Yes, tiredness is a reported side effect. There is no single recovery time that applies to everyone.

Call your clinician if you feel much more tired, or if it lasts or gets worse. Explain whether you feel sleepy or whether your muscles feel weak. Trouble lifting your arms, walking or holding objects is different from simply wanting a nap.

Get medical help right away for spreading weakness or trouble speaking, swallowing or seeing.

Which Botox face side effects can happen?

At Refresh, existing clients can book a follow-up visit. If a bruise, uneven area or droop worries you, call (239) 321-5050 Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4pm so your injector can look at it. For urgent signs, do not wait for the clinic to open.

You may have pain, tenderness, redness, swelling or a bruise where the needle entered. A headache after Botox can also occur. Mild local reactions are often temporary, but symptoms that worsen or concern you deserve a call.

Call your clinician if you still have a headache 5 days after Botox, or sooner if it worsens. Tell them when it began and what other symptoms you have.

If the skin where you had a shot is sore, follow the care advice you were given. Ask your clinician which pain relief you can use. Ask your doctor before you stop a blood thinner or any other prescribed drug.

A drooping eyelid or brow can occur after facial injections. Contact your injector if you notice a new droop. If it comes with blurred or double vision, spreading weakness or other urgent signs, get medical help immediately.

Report body aches promptly if they last or get worse.

What is Botox flu, and when does Botox flu start?

People use this term for flu-like feelings such as aches, headache or tiredness after injections. These symptoms may occur in the days after treatment. Tell your clinician if they are marked, last or get worse.

How should you talk to your clinician about a reaction?

Give a clear account of what changed. Useful details include:

The product name and the date of your injections.
The areas treated and dose, if you know it.
When the symptom started.
Whether it is improving, staying the same or getting worse.
Any other symptoms, new medicines or recent illness.

Keep any treatment record you were given. A photo may help show a bruise or swelling. You need an exam to check your strength or find the cause of dizziness.

Ask what signs should make you seek urgent care and when to check back. If your symptoms worsen before that time, contact a clinician sooner.

Do not receive Botox with an infection at the planned injection site or an allergy to the toxin or its ingredients.

Discuss nerve or muscle disease. Share any past trouble with swallowing or breathing, heart conditions, bleeding problems or blood thinners, and prior reactions. Tell your injector about all medicines and supplements. Include muscle relaxants, antibiotics and any toxin treatment received elsewhere.

Wait to have cosmetic Botox if you are pregnant or nursing. Tell your clinician if you are planning a pregnancy. Ask your doctor before you stop a prescribed drug.

Refresh’s aftercare guidance includes avoiding strenuous exercise for 24 hours. Report concerning symptoms as soon as they occur.

When reporting botulinum side effects, name the product and dose you had. Say where it was injected. Botox is approved by the FDA for specified uses. Masseter and TMD treatment are off-label; approval for other uses does not establish their benefit. Read about the Botox service, how long Botox lasts or masseter Botox costs for those separate questions.

Is Botox covered by insurance?

For cosmetic treatment at Refresh, Botox is $13 per unit, with a first-visit rate of $9 per unit for new clients. Beauty Bank members pay $10 per unit.

Cosmetic Botox for wrinkles is generally not covered by insurance. Some medical uses, such as treatment for excessive underarm sweating, may be covered in part. Ask your insurer about your plan and check billing arrangements with the clinic before treatment.

If you are planning treatment, book a consultation to review your history and risks with our nurse practitioners, led by Vanessa Levine, APRN, NP-C. See Botox in Cape Coral and our pricing page for service details. For urgent symptoms, seek medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you treat dizziness after Botox?

Sit or lie down somewhere safe and get medical help right away, because dizziness can be a sign of an allergic reaction. Do not drive. Seek emergency care if you also have trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking, or spreading weakness. Tell the clinician when it began and what else you feel.

Is it normal to feel tired after Botox?

Tiredness is a reported side effect, so you may feel tired after Botox. Call your clinician if it is marked, lasts or gets worse, and say whether you feel sleepy or your muscles feel weak. Spreading muscle weakness, or trouble speaking, swallowing or seeing, needs immediate medical care.

How long do Botox side effects last?

It depends on the symptom; a bruise may last about a week. Contact your clinician for symptoms that persist or worsen. Get medical help right away for dizziness, faintness, trouble breathing, swallowing, speaking or seeing, or spreading weakness, because these can start hours to weeks after injections.

Can I drive home if I feel dizzy after Botox?

No, do not drive if you feel dizzy or weak, or if your vision changes. Get medical help right away and arrange a safe ride. Call 911 for breathing trouble or signs of a severe allergic reaction such as wheezing, throat swelling or faintness.

Can Botox cause serious or neurological side effects?

Yes, the toxin can spread beyond the treated area and cause serious symptoms. Get immediate medical help for trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking, weakness that spreads beyond the treated area, or vision changes. These can start hours to weeks after injections. Call 911 for breathing trouble.

What are the long-term effects of Botox use?

Treated muscles may become smaller with repeated use, and the effect wears off when you stop. There is no single long-term outcome that fits everyone. Tell your injector about every past toxin treatment and any side effects, and review your plan before each visit, as the same risks apply each time.

What is the 4-hour rule for Botox?

The 4-hour rule usually means staying upright and not lying flat for about 4 hours after injections, so ask your injector what they advise. Refresh’s aftercare guidance is to avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours. Follow the written instructions you are given and report concerning symptoms as soon as they occur.

What should I do about a drooping eyelid or flu-like symptoms?

Contact your injector about a new eyelid or brow droop, and about flu-like symptoms such as aches, tiredness or headache that are marked, last or get worse. If either comes with vision changes, spreading weakness or trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking, get medical help right away. At Refresh, existing clients can book a follow-up check.

This article helps you spot symptoms and choose when to seek care. It cannot diagnose a reaction or replace the Botox Medication Guide and your clinician’s advice.

Each person may respond to Botox in a different way. It has risks. Serious or worsening symptoms deserve medical attention even when you have followed all aftercare steps.