Woman Says Botox Ravaged Her Brain

RICHMOND, Va. (CN) - A woman says Botox treatments damaged her brain, giving her autoimmune encephalitis, movement disorder, dementia and other problems. She says her doctors recommended two series of Botox injections to treat a head tremor, but she "experienced a whole body rash, fever, vomiting, and mental confusion as well as severe pain in her neck, back and head."

Cynthia Vandenboom says her symptoms worsened, and developed into autoimmune and brain injuries, including "deterioration of cognitive function and difficulty walking."

"Previously an articulate and high-functioning individual," Vandenboom says, "she is now dependent on others for many activities of daily living."

She says she frequently falls now, and has difficulty reading and understanding information.

Vandenboom sued Allergan in City Court. She claims its Botox toxin is "several hundred times stronger than cyanide." And she says Allergan does not warn consumers that Botox can cause "serious autoimmune responses, brain injury and botulism," by migrating outside of the injected area.

She seeks $10 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages for product liability, negligence and breach of warranty.

She is represented by Stephen Bricker with Bricker Anderson.

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