What is Migraine Treatment – Botox?
Botox is used in medical aesthetics to correct the lines formed on the forehead and around the eyes due to the contraction of dynamic muscles called mimic lines. Botox is a liquid substance, acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that provides muscle and nerve transmission, and prevents the contraction of the target muscles. This actually is not a paralysis. It reduces or completely stops muscle movements.
Botox controls the pain before it reaches the brain, by blocking the chemical transmitters that are released from the nerve endings and cause the pain in chronic migraine. Scientific studies revealed that botox application is effective in three quarters of patients with chronic migraine.
How is migraine treated with botox in chronic migraine?
Botox injection is applied to the trigger points known to start migraine in the forehead, both temples, the neck, the back and the shoulders. The process takes an average of 10 minutes. In the treatment of chronic migraine, in the first year botox injections are applied at three-month intervals. One year later, injection intervals are rescheduled according to the patient’s condition.
What should be avoided after the application?
In order for botox not to spread over a larger area, head should not be bend forward for at least two hours and patient should not stay in horizontal position for two hours as well. Hot shower should not be taken on the day of application.
When do the effects of migraine treatment with botox appear?
The effects occur within 4-10 days after botox injection.
What are the side effects of migraine treatment with botox?
It has almost no side effects. Slight bruising, swelling, redness or tenderness may occur at the injection points. There may be a headache on the same day. Usually all these side effects will cease until the next day.
Who are not recommended to have migraine treatment with botox?
Botox is not applied to pregnant and breastfeeding women, and to those with any neurological or muscle diseases such as MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). In case of an infection at the injection site, botox application is not recommended for people who have bleeding disorders or who use blood thinners.