Migraines are a severe issue for many people. They can cause severe headaches and make it difficult to function every day. While many different treatments help with migraine pain, Botox is the most popular option because it offers instant relief from your symptoms. But how does Botox work on preventing chronic migraines? Is it safe? And what are its side effects? Keep reading to find out more information about this treatment option!
What is Botox, and how does it Work on Migraine Headaches?
Botox is a medicine that prevents muscle contraction and relaxes the affected muscles. It blocks nerve signals from reaching the brain, which can prevent migraines before they start. Botox can also be a preventive treatment for chronic migraines that have been undiagnosed or untreated for years.
Your head and neck muscles connected to headache pain get usually treated with Botox injections. It aids in blocking acetylcholine, a chemical neurotransmitter that carries pain signals. When injected, Botox helps to stop the pathways in your head and neck from activating, which causes the pain associated with migraine headaches.
Every 12 weeks, 7 muscles around your head and neck get injected with botox. At the clinic, each injection session lasts about 15 minutes. Most patients begin with two sessions to gauge their response to Botox. Although administered in small doses and not absorbed into the bloodstream, botox is a neurotoxin.
Is Botox an Effective Treatment for Preventing Chronic Migraines?
Studies have shown that Botox injections can reduce pain, nausea, and vomiting related to migraines by up to 50%.
However, it's important to note that Botox is not a cure-all solution for migraines—it will not prevent all future attacks or completely stop them from occurring. Furthermore, you should consult your doctor before administering any medical procedure like this if you have severe allergies or are pregnant because there could be side effects or problems with its effectiveness during these times.
Botox is a very safe treatment. There are no known side effects, and the risk of severe allergic reactions is extremely low. The injection process causes minimal discomfort, so you may even forget it's happening!
One of the concerns about Botox injections is their effect on vision or muscle movement—but this isn't true. While some people experience temporary blurry vision after getting Botox shots, this can get corrected with glasses or contact lenses in most cases.
How Long does A Botox Treatment Session Take?
The duration of a Botox treatment session varies depending on the patient's condition. The procedure usually gets done in 15 minutes, and the doctor will inject Botox into the muscles that cause your headaches. A typical session lasts 3 to 4 months, but some people may need more than one treatment per month if they have severe migraines or get them frequently.
In studies lasting 24 weeks, participants continued to experience fewer headache days on most days during that time. Compared to placebo, Botox reduced the average duration of headaches on days when they occurred throughout the study period.
Conclusion
We know that the prospect of a Botox treatment for migraines can be scary. But we hope you feel better about your options after reading this post! Botox works for many people with chronic migraines and is still one of the best treatments. If you have tried other options and haven't been able to find relief from your headaches, it may be the right time to consider neurologists that do botox for migraines.
