If you suffer from frequent migraines, oftentimes doctor-prescribed medications alone won’t give you adequate relief from the pulsating pain behind the eyes, flashing spots and reduced vision, vomiting and nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound that can impede you for days on end. According to the American Migraine Foundation, Botox is Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved for treating chronic migraines (in patients with 15 or more headache days per month).

Here’s how Botox injections can help relieve and manage chronic migraine pain:

1. What is Botox?
You might have heard of Botox used as a minor cosmetic procedure to plump areas of the face. The neurotoxin (known as Onabotulinum A) is injected as a means to banish crow’s feet, fine lines, and smooth out wrinkles. Yet, unknown to many, Botox can also be injected in the areas of the face, neck, and forehead to reduce migraine headache pain and frequency. Alternatively, Botox has also been used practically to treat several other health conditions such as hyperhidrosis (or heavy sweating), overactive bladder (OAB), dystonia (muscle spasms), and blepharospasm (or excessive blinking).

2. Botox reduces migraine frequency
Studies from Migraine Canada indicate that roughly 2% of the population experiences chronic migraine (at least 15 migraine pain days per month). However, when treated with Botox, patients with chronic migraine pain reported that both migraine frequency and intensity were reduced by half after just 6 months of Botox treatment. In fact, patients who reported 20 days of migraine pain, claimed just 10 days or less with migraines following the treatment.

3. Botox decreases length of a migraine
In a study published by WedMD.com, adults with severe, long-lasting migraines (3 days to one week) reported that Botox injections reduced their total migraine days significantly (to 24-hours) and as a result they had more pain-free days each month and reduced days of missed work.

4. Botox blocks neurotransmitters or pain signals
While Botox is considered a neurotoxic protein, which originates from a bacterium known as clostridium botulinum, it’s completely safe when injected by a migraine specialist. Botox works by blocking nerve signals, thus reducing pain signals from the brain that cause the sensory nerves to become swollen and sensitive, resulting in migraine pain. IN fact, Botox blocks and soothes all pain activity experienced in the face and neck during a migraine.

5. Botox treatment for migraines
According to the American Migraine Foundation, Botox is injected by a pain specialist directly into the pain fibers that trigger a headache. Botox is administered in a series of 30 injections to affected areas every 12-week period. As Botox is shot into the nerve endings, it’s able to block the pain chemicals and impede pain networks from the brain back to the nerves. Studies show that patients typically see results from Botox after six months of treatment.

For more information, please find a migraine specialist to find out if you’re a candidate for Botox migraine treatment…