How Can Botox Treat A Migraine

When you think of BotoxⓇ, its benefits as a cosmetic treatment are probably the first thing that comes to mind. Botox injections contain a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes facial muscles whose repetitive movements lead to wrinkles and other signs of aging. We now know, however, that the treatment also provides relief for, of all things, migraine disease.

Adopting Botox treatments to relieve migraine pain, which is typically much more severe and long-lasting than a garden variety tension-type headache, which can successfully be treated by taking over-the-counter pain relievers. 

It is particularly important to find new applications for treatments, so more people can be freed from pain. 

The Misery of Migraine Disease

Migraine is actually a neurological disorder whose symptoms can be severe, last for days, and greatly impact your quality of life. If you’re plagued by migraines, you likely struggle with a plethora of difficult symptoms.

Migraine causes attacks that are characterized, in part, by severe, throbbing head pain, and you may struggle with a group of neurological problems both before and during the pain phase.

Because these neurological events impact you so heavily, there are actually stages identified which spell “migraine:”

1. Prodrome

This is the period of hours to days when your migraine is “gearing up” to happen. You may feel constipated, find yourself yawning a lot, and have food cravings. You might also notice a stiff neck developing, mood changes, and an urge to drink or urinate more.

2. Aura

During this stage, you may experience seeing flashing dots or jagged lines, skin numbness or tingling, or ringing in your ears. You may also notice vision loss or blind spots, altered ability to smell or taste, and even speech changes. It can last anywhere from about 20 minutes to an hour. Not every person gets an aura.

3. Pain

When it hits, the pain is usually one-sided, pulsing, and aggravated by movement. You may also have sensory sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting. This stage lasts 4-72 hours.

4. Postdrome

After the pain phase runs its course, it’s normal to feel “out of it” and weak for a full day or two.

Can Botox Really Help My Migraine Attacks?

Since migraines are considered one of the most debilitating diseases worldwide and the condition is recurring, patients can become anxious about how long it will be before the next attack arrives.

If you have chronic migraine and experience over 15 attacks per month that last for four hours or longer, you’re likely to be eligible for Botox as a preventive treatment. 

The discovery that Botox could help relieve migraine symptoms was a happy accident. People who were getting Botox as a cosmetic treatment started reporting that their migraine attacks improved. This led to more research confirming that Botox relieves migraine symptoms, and the treatment was approved for chronic migraine prevention by the FDA  in 2010.

Studies have looked at Botox’s effects on migraine reflected that patient participants reported they had less frequent migraine days and more “crystal-clear,” or completely pain-free, days per month. They also noted that because they felt better, they weren’t absent from work as often. 

Another study found that at least 70% of people who received five rounds of Botox treatment had their monthly headache days were cut in half. 

Neurotoxin injections block neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) from transporting pain signals from the brain, preventing them from reaching the nerve endings in your neck and head areas.