Who Is Migraine Botox Suitable For?

If you have been diagnosed with migraine and often suffer from migraine pain, you may be wondering whether there is anything you can do to prevent it. Migraine Botox has been used as a preventive treatment since 2010. Migraine Botox is used for patients who have migraine attacks, whose complaints due to migraine are severe enough to negatively affect their quality of life, and who have frequent migraine attacks.

If you have at least 15 headache days a month, lasting at least 4 hours, for at least 3 months, you may have chronic migraine. Migraines can affect daily life and quality of life. People with migraine are more likely to miss work or school and are more likely to suffer from other conditions such as anxiety or depression. Studies suggest that Botox can reduce the number of migraine days.

What Is Botox?

Botox is a neurotoxin produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. However, it is considered safe when injected for medical purposes in very small, controlled doses by experienced doctors. Doctors consider that Botox injections can help smooth out wrinkles because they relax the muscles in the face. It can also help people who have tics and spasms due to a nerve disorder such as cerebral palsy.

When people with migraine pain used Botox to treat their wrinkles, they told their doctors that their headaches had improved. That is why doctors began to study it as a treatment for migraine pain.

Is Botox Effective for Migraine Headaches?

In a study of adults with chronic migraine headaches, Botox injections reduced the total number of days with these headaches or other types of headache. Participants also had more “crystal clear” — pain-free — days each month and reported fewer days off work. In another study, nearly half of the people who had two rounds of Botox injections reported that the number of days they had headaches each month had been cut in half. After five rounds of treatment, this rose to about 70% of people.

Doctors think Botox works for migraine headaches because it blocks chemicals called neurotransmitters, which carry pain signals from your brain. Botox acts like a roadblock along this pathway. It stops the chemicals before they reach the nerve endings around your head and neck.

Botox Treatment

To reduce or prevent migraine pain, you will have several Botox injections in your head and neck every 12 weeks. You may need 30 to 40 injections in total, with an equal number given on each side of your head. If you have migraine pain in a particular spot, you may need more injections there. You may see results 2 to 3 weeks after your first treatment. You should have this type of Botox treatment from a doctor who has been trained to give these injections for chronic migraine pain, not for wrinkles or other cosmetic purposes.

To reduce or prevent migraine pain, you will have several Botox injections in your head and neck every 12 weeks.

The most common side effects in people with chronic migraine pain who use Botox are neck pain and headache. It is rare, but you may have an allergic reaction to Botox . Signs of this may include hives, shortness of breath or swelling in your lower legs.

Is Migraine Botox Right for You?

You may notice a reduction in headaches as early as 1 week after having Botox. In studies, the average number of headache days fell by 1 to 2 days a week by week 3. Headaches continued to decrease throughout treatment. Some people may need two or three injection cycles to determine whether it works and whether they should continue. Talk to your doctor if you have not noticed an improvement within three treatment cycles.

It takes a few weeks to take effect. Your forehead may feel heavy and you may not be able to move all of your facial muscles. This is because these muscles are temporarily paralyzed. You should notice improvements in your headaches within the first few months, but it may take three cycles to see an improvement. Your doctor may ask you to keep track of your headaches and migraines to see your progress.

Botox is only for adults over the age of 18 who have been diagnosed with chronic migraine. It is usually for people who have not responded to oral preventive treatments. Botox is not recommended for people who are prone to muscle weakness. It can worsen certain neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

How Is Migraine Botox Administered?

Your doctor will inject Botox into seven head and neck muscles. Your doctor will inject 155 units into 31 sites. It will take about 15 minutes. You will need injections every 12 weeks.

The injection sites are:

• The corrugator muscles, located just above the inner end of each eyebrow
• The procerus muscle, located between your eyebrows
• The frontalis muscle, located in your forehead
• The temporalis muscle, located above the ears
• The occipitalis muscles, located behind the ears
• The cervical paraspinal muscles, located at the base of the skull on either side of the spine
• The trapezius muscles, located on each side from the base of the neck to the shoulders

Is Botox Permanent?

Botox wears off in about 10 to 12 weeks. You will need to have injections every 12 weeks. Rarely, your immune system may develop antibodies against Botox. These antibodies recognize Botox as a foreign substance and try to fight it. These antibodies reduce the effect of Botox. This is more likely if you are receiving higher doses or if the interval between treatments is shorter than 12 weeks. Let your doctor know if you think the injections are not working or if they wear off sooner than expected.