When you think about Botox injections, the first use that comes to mind might be to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. So, you might be surprised to learn that Botox has approval from the Food and Drug Administration for a variety of uses, including muscle spasms, eye muscle conditions, overactive bladder, and even excessive sweating. It’s even a life-changer for people who suffer from chronic migraine.
Yes, the same treatment that smooths out one patient’s face can help control another patient’s debilitating migraine symptoms. That’s because Botox uses a form of the toxin botulinum to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. In the case of cosmetic Botox, this paralysis is what prevents your skin from wrinkling. For the treatment of migraine, the injections go into the muscle nerves and prevent the pain receptors from sending signals to the brain.
The American Migraine Foundation emphasizes that Botox isn’t the kind of treatment patients should consider for occasional headaches—this option is for people who have chronic migraine, defined as 15 or more headaches a month. Only about 3 percent of the U.S. population has migraine to this degree, but the condition can disrupt quality of life and prevent patients from doing everyday tasks.
While the procedure itself is relatively simple, usually taking no longer than 20 minutes and requiring no more than a simple injection with a small needle, it’s something that must be done approximately every three months and may need to be done in conjunction with other headache treatment methods. This is because your muscle nerves eventually grow new pain receptor fibers, resulting in the return of migraine headaches if Botox is not readministered. Injections can’t be given more often than three months or else your body can develop strong antibodies to the botulinum and become immune—which would mean the treatment wouldn’t work in the future.
Botox has only mild risk of side effects, most prominently in the form of swelling or bruising where the injection was administered. In rare cases, the botulinum could affect surrounding tissue and cause issues like drooping eyelids, vision problems, or trouble speaking or swallowing.
Patients interested in undertaking Botox injections to treat their chronic migraine should consult with a headache specialist or a neurologist who can consider their specific situation. To find one near you, consult the American Migraine Foundation’s doctor database at americanmigrainefoundation.org/find-a-doctor.
