Potential of Botox for Migraine Relief
The throbbing pain, nausea and light sensitivity that are hallmarks of migraine headaches can be debilitating for the 38 million Americans who suffer from this debilitating disorder. But there is hope, and new treatments are improving outcomes for patients. A recent study found that injecting the drug botulinum toxin — better known as Botox — reduced the frequency and severity of migraine headaches for people who received it.
Injections of Botox, or onabotulinumtoxin A, were shown to reduce the number of days that patients experienced migraines in a month by about half after just two rounds of treatment. During a session, a health care provider administers several shots of Botox around the head and neck. “It blocks a pathway in the brain that carries pain signals,” says John Wolf, MD, family medicine physician and certified headache specialist at University Hospitals.
Migraine headaches are caused by a chemical called neurotransmitters that cause nerves to send messages to the brain. These signals then trigger blood vessels to dilate, which can lead to a variety of painful symptoms.
Can Botox Help For Migraine Relief
Botox works by blocking the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which transmits pain signals to nerve endings in the head and neck. By inhibiting the nerve activity, it decreases muscle contractions and therefore relieves the symptoms of a migraine.
Exploring the Potential of Botox for Migraine Relief
Although many people know that it is used to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, fewer know that Botox has also been FDA-approved for migraine relief. It is typically recommended for patients who meet the criteria for chronic migraine headache, which are those who experience headaches on 15 or more days a month and have at least eight of those days with the features of a migraine. In addition to avoiding migraine triggers and taking daily prescription preventive medications, some patients with chronic migraine also use abortive medications, such as over-the-counter or prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and triptan medicines like Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax and Nurtec.
Can Botox be an effective solution for migraines
Despite the fact that Botox is a toxin, when it is used in small doses and injected under the supervision of an experienced physician or neurologist, it is safe and well tolerated. Common side effects include neck pain and muscle weakness.
Other promising new treatments include CGRP inhibitors, which are a class of medications that block the protein that causes a migraine, and anesthetics such as ketamine. Ketamine, in particular, is showing promise as an acute treatment for migraine and appears to work synergistically with older treatments such as Botox injections.
Exploring the potential of Botox for migraine relief
However, it is important to note that no treatment works for every patient, and all options should be explored in close collaboration with a health care professional. It is crucial that a person receives these injections only from a licensed and skilled health care professional to prevent the spread of the botulinum toxin, which can affect muscle strength throughout the body. In some cases, this could result in weakness of the facial muscles or paralysis of the arms and legs.