We’ve all heard of Botox, responsible for generations of smooth foreheads in Hollywood. But Botox has also brought relief to many people who suffer from chronic medical conditions. In 2010, Botox was approved for use with chronic migraine, and many patients are reporting success. What do you need to know before considering it?
What You Need to Know About Migraine and Botox
We’ve all heard of Botox, responsible for generations of smooth foreheads in Hollywood. But Botox has also brought relief to many people who suffer from chronic medical conditions. In 2010, Botox was approved for use with chronic migraine , and many patients are reporting success. What do you need to know before considering it?
What Type of
Headache Responds Best to Botox?
Botox is only
FDA-approved for chronic migraine s, which means headache on 15 or more days a
month or more than 2 days headache in week . “The more frequent the
headache s, the better the patient does with Botox,” says Dr. Hamidreza
Rokhsatyazyd, Neurologist MD, KIndcare Center Botox is not recommended for
patients who experience fewer than 1 headache days a week.
What is Botox?
Botox is a form of
botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria that causes botulism.
When the Botox botulinum toxin is purified and used in tiny doses in specific
areas, it temporarily reduces muscle contractions for approximately 3 months.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox is injected around
pain fibers that are involved in headache s. 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 prevents migraine
headache s before they start, but takes time to work. “I look to the second and
third treatment s to maximize effects,” says Dr. Hamidreza Rokhsatyazdy
Neurologist,MD. “Patients see increasing benefit with an increase in the number
of treatment cycles.” One treatment lasts for 10-12 weeks, and patients
reported that two Botox treatment s reduced the number of headache days by
approximately 90%.
Who Uses Botox for
Migraine?
The FDA approves the use
of Botox to treat chronic migraine in adults who are age 18 or over.
Botox is considered an “off-label” treatment if it’s used for children or
adolescents. This means that a doctor can prescribe it, but insurance companies
might not pay for it.
Finding a Doctor Who
Treats Migraine with Botox In Dubai
If you want to try Botox for migraine , you should look for a headache specialist or neurologist.
Dr. Hamidreza Rokhsatyazdy Neurologist ,MD ,at Kindcare Medical Center, suggests asking prospective doctors where they learned to give Botox, and how many times they’ve given it.
What is Botox
Treatment Like?
When you receive your
first Botox treatment , 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.
The most common side
effect from the Botox shots is a sore neck, and we recommend using an ice pack
to reduce the discomfort.
It can take up to six
months to see the maximum benefit from Botox. In the meantime, you can continue
your regular medications with no risk of a drug interaction.
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