If you have migraines, and you have tried many things to help prevent them and relive the awful pain, you are probably aware of the options for treatment. However, you may not have considered Botox for migraines.
When most people think of Botox, they think of injections to smooth wrinkles or help prevent aging. Doctors, on the other hand, are thinking of new ways to use this interesting substance to help people, and one of those ways is to help prevent and lessen chronic migraines. Read on to learn more and discover the benefits of botox for migraines:
Table of Contents
What is Botox?
First, let’s start with the basics. You have probably heard of Botox, but you may not know what it actually is. Botox is derived from botulinum toxin, and while it may sound scary to have toxins injected into your face, Botox has been recognized by the FDA as safe for the treatment of migraines.
The Botox that is used for treatment of fine lines and wrinkles by a plastic surgeon is the same Botox that is used to treat migraines. When the Botox is injected by a medical professional, it is considered safe and effective.
How Does Botox Work for Migraines?
So how exactly does the process work if you have chronic migraines and want to treat them with Botox? Who qualifies for this treatment and how is the treatment administered? You will obviously need to check with your doctor to see if you qualify for Botox treatment for migraines with your specific situation.
The people who do generally qualify to Botox treatment for migraines should be at least 18 years old and suffer from chronic migraines, which means headaches on 15 or more days per month with headaches lasting at least 4 hours on at least 8 of those days with all of those symptoms lasting at least 3 months.
If you do quality, the procedure itself is very quick and can be completed in your doctor’s office if they are trained in administering Botox for migraines. You may receive an anesthetic to numb the area of the injections, and then the Botox will be injected directly to the areas of the head and neck where you experience pain.
Benefits of Botox for Migraines
And now for the part you have been waiting for: the benefits of Botox for migraines. The Botox works by lessening contractions of the muscles and preventing neurotransmitters from sending pain signals to the brain.
So once the Botox is administered, it may take several weeks, but you should have a reduced number of migraines and more migraine-free days, as well as reduced symptoms on the days you do have migraines. Over time, you may have less and less migraines and symptoms.
Some people need to repeat the treatment regularly, and the most common schedule is once every 3 months. However, some people find that over time, they can space the treatments out even more, and a few find that they can stop the injections all together after a while.
So Botox as a treatment for migraines has the potential to greatly reduce the number of days you have migraines, as well as the symptoms you experience on the days you do have migraines. Botox is also considered a safe and effective treatment for migraines by the FDA.
