Skip to main content

Dysport

abobotulinumtoxinA
Used for Cervical Dystonia, Spasticity

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is a medication used to ease muscle spasms and frown lines on your forehead. This medication is injected into the affected muscles by a trained healthcare provider in a clinic setting. Your provider will determine your dose of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) (measured in units) based on your condition. Side effects of this medication differ depending on where you receive the injections, but they can include pain or discomfort at the injection site, and muscle weakness.

Reviewed by:Last reviewed on August 28, 2023
basics-icon

What is Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)?

What is Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) used for?

  • Neck spasms (cervical dystonia) in adults
  • Frown lines in adults under 65 years old
  • Muscle spasms in upper and lower limbs in adults and children age 2 years and older

How Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) works

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is a neuromuscular blocker. It's a toxin made from bacteria (Clostridium botulinum) that temporarily lowers muscle activity by stopping a chemical called acetylcholine from being released in your muscle. This is helpful to treat muscle spasms that are caused by many different conditions, as well as frown lines.

Drug facts

Common BrandsDysport
Drug ClassNeuromuscular blocker
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusNo lower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
side-effects-icon

Side effects of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Nose and throat infection (10%)
  • Headache (9%)
  • Upper respiratory tract infection (i.e., common cold; 3%)
  • Pain at the injection site (3%)
  • Reactions at the injection site (3%)

Please note: Side effects reported by people who received Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for frown lines.

Less Common Side Effects

  • Eyelid swelling
  • Eyelid drooping
  • Nausea
  • Inflamed or swollen sinuses

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) serious side effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.

  • Trouble breathing or swallowing
  • Severe allergic reaction: hives, trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat

Source: DailyMed

The following Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) side effects have also been reported

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Blurred vision

decreased vision

difficulty with swallowing or speaking

double vision

dry eyes

eye pain

hoarseness

itching of the eyes

muscle or bone pain

muscle weakness

problems with focusing of the eyes

seeing double

seizures

stuffy or runny nose

sore throat

voice changes

Less common

Blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin

body aches or pain

chills

cough

cough producing mucus

diarrhea

difficult or labored breathing

ear congestion

fever

general feeling of discomfort or illness

headache

itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin

joint pain

loss of appetite

loss of voice

muscle aches and pains

nausea

shivering

sneezing

stiff muscles

sweating

tightness in the chest

trouble sleeping

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

Incidence not known

Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles", or tingling feelings

change in color vision

difficulty seeing at night

dizziness

fast heartbeat

flushing or redness of the skin

hives, itching, rash

increased sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight

partial or slight paralysis of the face

puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue

unusually warm skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Bleeding, blistering, burning, coldness, discoloration of the skin, feeling of pressure, hives, infection, inflammation, itching, lumps, numbness, pain, rash, redness, scarring, soreness, stinging, swelling, tenderness, tingling, ulceration, or warmth at the injection site

dry mouth

Less common

Drooping upper eyelids

pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones

Incidence not known

Dizziness or lightheadedness

feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings

sensation of spinning

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

prices-container

Get your GoodRx coupon

Avg retail price
$680.08(Save 24.48%)
GoodRx discount
$513.61
See prices
pros-and-cons-icon

Pros and cons of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)

Pros

  • Injected directly into the affected area(s)
  • Some people might see improvement in frown lines in 2 to 3 days
  • Effects from one treatment can last many weeks or months

Cons

  • Needs to be injected by a healthcare provider
  • Injections can be uncomfortable
  • Risk of toxin spreading to other parts of your body and causing serious side effects, such as blurry vision, trouble swallowing, and breathing problems
pharmacist-tips-icon

Pharmacist tips for Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)

pharmacist
  • Though rare, it's possible for Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) to spread beyond the original injection site. This can lead to serious side effects, such as muscle weakness, double vision, trouble swallowing, and breathing problems. These side effects can happen hours to weeks after the Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) injection, so look out for these side effects after you go home and call your provider right away if you experience those symptoms.
  • If you need repeat treatment of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), you'll need to wait at least 3 months in between each session. Getting Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) more often than recommended can raise your risk of serious side effects such as breathing problems or muscle weakness. Talk with your provider if you've questions about how often you can receive Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA).
  • Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) can cause dry eyes. If your eyes are dry, you can consider using lubricating eye drops to ease the discomfort.
  • Though rare, Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) can cause vision problems. Talk with your provider right away if you notice eye pain or changes in your vision, such double vision or light sensitivity.
warnings-icon

Risks and warnings for Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

Spread of toxin effects

  • Risk factors: Children | History of muscle, eye, or lung conditions

Black Box WarningDysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) has been linked to spreading to other body areas outside of the injection site and causing toxic effects, occurring hours to weeks after receiving the medication. This can cause serious side effects, such as unexplained muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, breathing or swallowing difficulty, slurred speech or trouble speaking, or the need to urinate more frequently. If you notice any of these side effects, seek medical help right away.

Difficulty swallowing or breathing

  • Risk factors: History of swallowing or breathing problems | Myasthenia gravis | Lambert-Eaton syndrome | Current muscle-nerve conditions

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) can cause life-threatening problems with swallowing or breathing by weakening muscles involved in these functions, occurring hours to weeks after receiving the medication. These effects can last for many weeks. Your risk is higher if you have certain conditions affecting your muscles or nerves. If you notice any of these problems, seek medical help right away. If you have a history of swallowing or breathing problems, let your doctor know before receiving Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA).

Caution in people with existing muscle or nerve-related conditions

Let your provider know if you've any muscle or nerve-related medical conditions, such as myasthenia gravis. If so, you might be at higher risk for serious side effects of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA), such as trouble swallowing or breathing, and Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) might not be a good option for you.

Dry eyes

Dry eyes have been reported with the use of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) for frown lines. If symptoms of dry eye (e.g., eye irritation, sensitivity to light, vision changes) don't go away, let your provider know. You might need to be seen by your eye provider.

Contains cow's milk protein

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) contains cow's milk protein. If you have an allergy to cow's milk protein, let your provider know before receiving Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) injections. You'll likely need to use a different medication to lower the risk of serious allergic reactions.

Possible risk of infection

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) contains albumin, a protein from human blood. As with all blood products, there's a possible risk that it carries a risk for infections. Keep in mind this risk is extremely low because Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is made under strict manufacturing procedures that screens blood products for infections.

Severe allergic reaction

Rarely, Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) can cause severe allergic reactions. If you experience hives, swelling in your face or throat, or trouble breathing, get medical help right away.

dosage-icon

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) dosage

The average cost for 1 vial of 300 units of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is $513.61 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 24.48% off the average retail price of $680.08.
vialVial
DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
500 units1 vial$851.53$851.53
300 units1 vial$513.61$513.61

Typical dosage for Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) is injected into the muscles (IM), by a healthcare provider in a clinic setting. If additional treatments are needed, you'll need to wait at least 3 months between each treatment.

  • Neck spasms: The typical dose ranges from 500 units to 1,000 units given as divided doses IM into the affected muscles.
  • Frown lines: The typical recommended dose is 50 units, divided into 5 smaller doses, injected IM into the affected muscles.
  • Muscle spasms in limbs:
    • Adults: The typical dose ranges from 500 units to 1,500 units given as divided doses IM into the affect muscles. The maximum dose per treatment session is 1,500 units.
    • Children: Your child's provider will determine the dose based on your child's body weight. The typical dose ranges from 8 units/kg to 16 units/kg given as divided doses IM into the affect muscles. The maximum dose per treatment session is 30 units/kg or 1,000 units, whichever is lower.
interactions-icon

Interactions between Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) and other drugs

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your healthcare professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

cost-icon

How much does Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) cost?

To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
contraindications-icon

Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) contraindications

Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA) will not be safe for you to take.

  • Allergy to cow's milk protein
  • Infection at the injection site(s)
alternatives-icon

What are alternatives to Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)?

There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)
Used for:
  • Neck spasms (cervical dystonia) in adults
  • Frown lines in adults under 65 years old
  • Muscle spasms in upper and lower limbs in adults and children age 2 years and older
$513.61Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:
$11.96Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
Used for:

Temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe facial lines, including:

  • Frown lines
  • Crow's feet
  • Forehead lines
  • Neck lines
$353.77Lowest GoodRx priceView prices
latest-news-icon

News about Dysport (abobotulinumtoxinA)

References

Best studies we found

GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.