Botox for Migraines

By Kai Colvin - Senior Medical Research Editor | September 7th, 2012

Migraines can be skull-crushing, excruciating and debilitating pain that can last for days, ultimately restricting an individual from work, family, friends or free time.

Research is underway to identify how Botox can lessen migraine headaches. Scientists at the University of Granada have discovered that injecting Botox into trigger points of the head or neck can reduce migraine occurrences amongst migraine victims.

Migraines vs. Headaches

A migraine is a form of headache that is typically confined to a certain area of the head and most often complemented by a prominent sensitivity to light or sound. Migraines are frequently steady in the beginning stages and become progressively painful until gradual resolution formulates, if one is fortunate.

A chronic migraine is a headache that occurs 15 or more days a month with pain lasting 4 hours or longer for at least 3 consecutive months. Individuals troubled by chronic migraines are nearly spending half the month living with incapacitating headaches.

Tension headaches occur when neck and scalp muscles become tense.

Studying Migraines—Trigger Points

University of Granada researchers have branded the location of trigger points and their connection with the duration and severity of migraine sufferers.

In one study, researchers observed healthy non-migraine patients and those with a diagnosis of migraine (any level), meticulously studying the presence of trigger points and their location. The correlating results found that 95% of migraine sufferers have trigger points, while only 25% of healthy subjects show signs of them.

The most common locations of trigger points are the anterior temporal and the sub-occipital regions. In a second study, researchers examined 52 migraine sufferers, in which patients received a weekly subcutaneous injection of Botox into their trigger points.

The results concluded that 18% of patients experienced a 50% or higher reduction in the occurrence of migraines, while 38% of patients experienced an 11-49% reduction of occurrences.

Studying Migraines—Side Effects

During the same conducted studies, researchers indicated that those individuals with chronic migraines were injected with 12.5 doses of Botox into each trigger point twice, during a period of 3 months. The occurrence, intensity, scales of migraine, and side effects were recorded one month before and one month after the treatment to compare the changes experienced. Side effects were found to be insignificant and impermanent.

Botox in Action

Botox injections generally gravitate our definitive conception as getting rid of unwanted wrinkles around the eyes or on the forehead, but with technological advances Botox is implicated into the medical world in many ways. The FDA has approved using the injections to help patients with neurological conditions who suffer from incontinence, or an overactive bladder, pain in the jaw region and to help reduce excessive sweating. Botox is also used around the world in our very own cosmetic dentistry offices.

Individuals suffering from excruciating migraines often get misdiagnosed or simply feel it is just a way of life. It is important to get the most current information about migraines.

To learn more about the effects of migraines, find a plastic surgeon in your area.