Botox is one of the most well-known medications on the market. Most people know it as a treatment or prevention of wrinkles that makes skin look more youthful. But, Botox can be used for several other reasons too. What is botox? Botox is a medication that contains a toxin called botulinum. Certain organisms make this toxin, which causes a type of food poisoning called botulism. The botulinum toxin by itself can be deadly, but the medication Botox is considered safe because of the way it's processed and manufactured. As with all medications, Botox comes with some risk for side effects. Talk to