Toss that bottle of aspirin in the trash can. Flip the lights back on. Migraine relief is no longer limited to outdated remedies such as isolation in a dark, quiet room or over-the-counter medications. Prescription drugs are also unnecessary. If you are one of the estimated 36 million Americans who suffer from migraines, as reported by the American Migraine Foundation in 2011, you have a new treatment option. Find out why everybody is raving about the effectiveness of Botox® for migraines.
Botox was recently approved by the FDA as a treatment for migraine headaches
What is a Migraine?
A migraine is nothing like an ordinary headache caused by sinus problems, hormonal changes or dehydration. The National Women’s Health Information Center describes a migraine as “an intense, throbbing pain on one, or sometimes both, sides of the head.” Light and sound often become unbearable, and some patients experience nausea and vomiting. Women are three times more likely than men to suffer from migraine headaches, and a severe migraine can last for more than 72 hours.
Are There Different Types of Migraines?
There are several different types of migraines. Two of the most common are classical migraines and common migraines. Abdominal migraines, complicated migraines, basilar migraines, ophthalmoplegic migraines, hemiplegic migraines and nocturnal migraines are other migraine types, though they are far less common.
A classical migraine, also known as a migraine with aura, causes sensory symptoms such as flashing lights, numbness and a distorted sense of smell. These symptoms occur 10 to 30 minutes before a migraine attack. 20 percent of people who have a migraine headache experience an aura, and symptoms are more common in men than women.
Migraines without aura, or common migraines, are what the remaining 80 percent of migraine sufferers experience. No aura is present in a common migraine, but the other characteristics of a migraine attack are still found.
What Causes a Migraine?
Genetic factors are believed to be the cause of most migraines. The National Headache Foundation states that children of a parent with migraines have a 50 percent chance of experiencing migraines. The rate increases to 75 percent when both parents suffer from migraine headaches.
Migraines are also caused by a variety of other factors, some of which can easily be prevented:
- Lack of sleep
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Pregnancy
- Poor dietary habits, including the consumption of artificial colors, flavors and sweeteners
- Loud noises
- Pungent odors
- Bright or flashing lights
- Excessive caffeine consumption or caffeine withdrawal
- Changes in the weather
What is Botox?
Onabotulinum toxin A, commonly referred to as Botox, is a drug derived from a toxin found in Clostridium botulinum. Clostridium botulinum causes a life-threatening form of food poisoning known as botulism, but is safe in small doses. Botox is produced by a California-based company called Allergan Inc., and annual sales exceeded $1 billion dollars in 2009.
While Botox is best known for erasing wrinkles and fine lines from the faces of celebrities and upper class women, there are several other ways that the drug is used. Botox injections are used to control hyperhidrosis, a form of excessive sweating. Patients afflicted with uncontrollable blinking, known as blepharospasm, can find relief for three to four months with Botox. It is also used to treat strabismus, cervical dystonia and migraine headaches.
How Does Botox Work to Treat Migraines?
Botox was not always used as an effective treatment for migraines. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release on October 15, 2010 promoting Botox injections as a safe way to “prevent headaches in adult patients with chronic migraine.” Migraine patients who experience a headache for more than 15 days each month, four hours per day, are classified as having chronic migraines.
Researchers are not completely sure how Botox reduces the symptoms associated with migraine headaches, but it is believed that each injection blocks the release of a chemical from the brain that contributes to migraines. Blocking this chemical prevents facial muscles from contracting, resulting in fewer headaches each month. It also reduces the sensation of pain.
A typical Botox session for migraine pain relief involves 31 injections in the head and neck. Each session comes with a hefty price tag of as much as $1500, and the treatment is not always covered by insurance. The procedure is repeated every 12 weeks, and patients should expect to participate in no fewer than five treatment sessions.
Is Botox a Safe Migraine Remedy?
The FDA generally considers Botox to be a safe treatment option for migraine headaches. However, like all prescription drugs, it carries a risk of side effects.
You may experience none, some or all of the following side effects after a Botox migraine treatment session:
- Pain at the site of each injection
- Upset stomach
- Symptoms similar to the flu
- Drooping eyelids (this is only a temporary side effect)
- Difficulty controlling urination
- Problems swallowing, breathing, or speaking (contact your doctor immediately)
Why Should You Consider Using Botox for Your Migraines?
Migraines can prevent you from the living your life the way you want. Social commitments can seem like a chore during a painful episode, and your boss may only allow you to take so many sick days each year. Don’t jeopardize your career or put your social life on hold. If traditional treatment methods have failed to fully relieve the symptoms of your migraines, consider FDA-approved Botox injections. You’ll be pain-free for up to three months.
What are People Saying About Botox for Migraines?
If you’ve picked up a newspaper or watched television lately, you’ve probably heard the buzz about Botox and migraines. FoxNews, ABC News, CNN and The Wall Street Journal are just a few of the media outlets who have recently discussed this new treatment. Celebs are also raving about how effective Botox is at relieving migraine headaches.
Broadway star Kim Chenoweth credits Botox for keeping her employed, stating that
without it, I would not be able to sing or perform.
Kim Zolciak from Real Housewives of Atlanta is also a fan of Botox, confiding that
I started getting Botox when I was 25 for migraines. I recommend that to anybody.
Is There Anything Else You Should Know About the Use of Botox for Migraines?
Currently, Botox injections are only approved for patients with chronic migraine headaches. Studies have shown that Botox injections are ineffective for patients who do not consistently experience migraines each month. If you decide to treat your migraine symptoms with Botox injections, proceed with caution. Although the FDA has deemed Botox as a safe, effective remedy for migraines, long-term effects are not yet known.
Photo Credit: 肉 姨