20 December 2010
While many hear the word “botox” and automatically think of people that want the treatment for wrinkles. However, botox, or botulinum toxin type A, has been studied more and more frequently as a treatment for many different types of headaches, including migraine headaches, tension headaches and chronic daily headaches.
This revelation came about as many patients who had received botox injections for cosmetic reasons reported fewer recurring headaches than before. In recent years, botox injections have emerged as a viable treatment for headaches. Relief from headaches after botox injections has lasted anywhere from two to six months.
To be considered a candidate for botox injections for migraine headache, the patient must meet certain criteria. Many studies show that botox injections work best at pain alleviation on migraine headaches that are “tight-feeling” – they feel like something is crushing the head. The injections are not as effective for migraine headaches that feel more like outward pressure in the head. Migraines that are located in the forehead and the neck have been seen to respond well to botox injections.
Botox treatment for migraines has yet to be approved by the FDA, but are still being given by many physicians because of the favorable outcome that has been seen. There has yet to be a definitive reason why botox injections have aided in pain alleviation, but it is thought that the botox injection will decrease muscle tension, which should then result in a positive effect on headache recurrence.
The botox injections for headaches procedure is fairly simple. The physician will inject the botox into the neck, forehead, or shoulders, depending on where the headache presents pain.
The use of botox for migraines has side effects, which can include pain at the injection site, minimal swelling, minor bruising and, rarely, bleeding.
References:
Kellogg Eye Center
http://www.kellogg.umich.edu/patientcare/conditions/ATE.botox.html
