Chronic Migraine is 15 or more headache days each month, with migraine on at least 8 of those days, and 4 hours or more of headache per headache day. If you have been diagnosed with migraine and get migraine headaches often, you may wonder if there's anything you can do to prevent them.
Botox for migraine is injected around pain fibers that are involved in headaches. Botox enters the nerve endings around where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission. This prevents activation of pain networks in the brain.
Botox for Migraines: What to Expect
OnabotulinumtoxinA, or Botox, was approved in 2010 for adults who get chronic migraines. That means you have both:
- A history of migraine headaches
- Headaches (including tension-type) on most days (15 or more) of the month of which 8 are migraine
Botox can make a difference in Chronic Migraine:
- Botox prevents tension headaches and migraines before they even start, preventing on average 8 to 9 headache days and migraine/probable migraine days a month (vs 6 to 7 for placebo).
- Botox is the #1 prescribed branded Chronic Migraine treatment.
- 2 million Botox treatments have been given to over 500,000 people with Chronic Migraine since FDA approval in 2010.
What is Treatment Like - When you receive your first Botox treatment for migraines, expect the appointment to take about 20 minutes. The doctor uses a very small needle that feels like a pinprick. He or she injects small amounts of Botox into shallow muscles in the skin. Each treatment typically involves 31 injections in seven key areas of the head and neck. It can take up to six months to see the maximum benefit from Botox. In the meantime, you can continue your regular pain management medications with no risk of a drug interaction.
