Is Botox safe for treating migraines?

Botox is a drug made from a toxic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. When injected into the
body, it blocks certain neurotransmitters from the nerves, causing temporary muscle paralysis.

It was licensed for the treatment of chronic migraine in July 2010 by the MHRA.

Botox for migraine headaches

Botox injection for migraines is given as an injection. The dose depends on the particular
condition it is treating. Botox works by paralyzing muscle activity. It also temporarily blocks the
nerve signals to specific muscles. Botulinum toxin inhibits pain in chronic migraine. It reduces
the expression of certain pain pathways, which play an important role in causing migraine
headaches. Botox blocks the release of neurotransmitters like acetylcholine. It also blocks the
movement of certain nerves and muscles. In this way, the nerves that send the pain message to
the brain are blocked and there is relief from the headaches.
Botox is available in injectable form.

Quick facts you should know about Botox treatment

Pain fibers are involved in migraine headaches. Botox is injected around them and enters the
nerve endings. It then blocks the release of those chemicals which are involved in the
transmission of pain. This results in the blockage or non-activation of pain networks in the
brain.
A headache specialist or neurologist with experience in administering Botox should be
consulted when trying out Botox for migraine.
Botox treatments help in reducing the symptoms of migraine headaches. The symptoms of
Migraine such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and smell get reduced. A period of
10 to 14 days is required to get the desired relief from Botox. Additional treatments may be
required as well.
The current standard of care for the treatment of chronic migraine is Botox injections after
every 12 weeks.
In Botox treatment, the session lasts for about fifteen minutes. Small amounts of Botox are
injected into the shallow muscles of skin.

What to expect after treatment

The levels of success differ in the patients with each type of treatment. Some patients feel a bit
better, while the migraine symptoms of other patients completely go away. Usually, the results
are seen 2 to 3 weeks after the first treatment.
The results of the treatment vary. Some of the patients respond to the first treatment. The
others may need at the very least 3 treatments.
Shots of Botox cut down the total number of days the patients have headaches. You get more pain-
free days each month. The number of days without headaches increase with the number of
treatments undergone by the patients.

Side effects of Botox for migraine headaches

There a very few side effects and complications of Botox and they are pretty rare. There is
hardly any pain when the injections are administered.
Some of the side effects of Botox injections are:
 Neck pain
 Stiffness at the injection site
 Temporary muscle weakness in the neck and upper shoulders
In some cases, the botulinum toxin present in Botox can spread to body areas other than where
it was injected. This can cause serious side effects such as
 Muscle weakness
 Vision changes
 Difficulty swallowing
 Drooping eyelids
The most common side effect of Botox for chronic headaches is neck pain.

Cost
The cost of the treatment depends on the amount of Botox used. The amount of Botox will
depend on your condition and the number of treatments that you require to get treated for
chronic headaches.

Botulinum toxin injections for migraine sites

In Botox treatments for migraines, the injections are typically administered once every three
months. The length of time for the treatment plan depends on the response to Botox. Each
session lasts from 10 to 15 minutes. The doctor injects multiple doses of the medicine into
specific points. Those points are:
 Along the bridge of the nose
 The temples
 The forehead
 Back of the head
 Back of the neck
 Upper back
Is BTX right for you?
Patients suffering from chronic migraine can get treatment with Botox. There are several other
treatments available to for chronic migraine. It is very important that patients discuss all the
options with a practitioner before making any decision. One of the factors to be considered
when getting a Botox for migraine is the cost factor. They are expensive and the treatment is
repetitive.
If you are allergic to any of the ingredients, you should not undergo Botox. The people having a
disease that affects their muscles or nerves should avoid getting the treatment. It is yet not
known whether it is safe during pregnancy and breastfeeding or not.

Conclusion
Botox is a good treatment option for chronic migraines. But various factors need to be
considered before going for Botox. The other options for the treatment of Botox should be
considered along with Botox. This decision should be made with the consultation of a good
healthcare provider. Botox for treatment of chronic migraines is a quick and low-risk process.