Botox (onabotulinumtoxina) is a preventive treatment for adults with chronic migraine, a weakening neurological condition associated with frequent and severe headaches. Botox therapy includes an experienced health care provider that introduces small doses of toxin derived from bacteria in specific areas of the face, head and neck.
Scientific elements support Botox as a safe, well -tolerated and effective therapeutic choice for chronic migraine. However, potential side effects include throat pain and, ironically, a headache or deterioration of migraine. The effect of Botox is temporary, usually requires repeated injections every 12 weeks.
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Botox in 2010 to prevent chronic migraines (15 or more days of headache per month) in adults. It has not been approved for the prevention of episodic migraine, which is 14 or fewer headaches per month.
Botox was assessed in two scientific studies to obtain the approval of the FDA. Studies revealed that participants who received Botox injections had 7.8 to 9.0 fewer days of headache per month. This was statistically important compared to the placebo group (inactive treatment).
Concentrated data from the two studies have also revealed benefits, such as reduced headaches and health -related life -related disability disability. Since its approval on the FDA, Botox has been shown to be effective for chronic migraine.
How does botox work?
Botox comes from the Botulinum Clostridium bacterium. It contains small amounts of bacteria neurotoxin – a toxic substance or “poison” that damage the nerves.
Experts suspect that they are blocking chronic migraine through the following:
- Botox prevents the action of acetylcholine, a nervous chemical manager for muscle contraction. Therefore, when Botox is injected into a muscle, it relaxes and reduces pain.
- Botox reduces the release of inflammatory proteins, such as the peptide associated with the Calsitonin gene (CGRP), which are involved in the transmission of migraine headache signals.
- Botox makes nerve cells less sensitive to stimulation – thereby reducing the vicious cycle of headaches in headaches observed with chronic migraine.
How long do the benefits last
The effect of Botox is temporary, lasting about three months. Therefore, the recommended treatment program is every 12 weeks, equivalent to four treatments per year.
Botox injections are a relatively fast process, which takes about 20 minutes. Most people can return to their daily activities immediately afterwards.
During the procedure, a neurologist (a physician specializing in nervous system disorders) introduces botox into 31 different facial, head and neck positions. The FDA is a total dose of 155 points, with five units per location.
These locations include:
- Over the nose bridge
- Forehead
- Temple
- Back of the head
- Over the throat
- Muscles on the upper back/neck (trapezoidal muscles)
After injections, Botox takes 10 to 14 days to get the optimum result.
Side effects
The most commonly mentioned side effects after Botox injections for chronic migraine are throat pain and headache. Paradoxically, migraine is also referred to as a possible side effect of Botox.
In previously mentioned origin studies, throat pain appeared in 9% of people who received Botox injections for years of migraine, while 3% of people undergoing throat pain.
Of people undergoing Botox. 5% reported headache and 4% reported migraine, compared to the 3% reported by the group with placebo treatment. Experts suspect that after taking Botox, targeted muscle spasms are likely before relaxing, causing a temporary headache.
The injury to a blood vessel, the needle that incorrectly hits the membrane that covers the bones or anxiety and anxiety in the process itself could also lead to a headache.
Other possible side effects of Botox include:
- Face paralysis (weakness/reduced movement)
- Lash (splendor;
- Bronchitis (swelling of the tubes delivering air to the lungs)
- Muscle stiffness/pain/weakness/convulsions
- Pain in the injection area
- Hypertension
Less frequently (less than 1% of people undergoing Botox for chronic migraine) were reported by side effects.
- Vertigo (sense of rotation)
- Land
- Swelling
- Swallowing problem (dysphagia;
- Eye infection
- Jaw
Allergic reactions, including potentially threatening life of a person known as anaphylaxiscan happen with botox. In such cases, the reaction should be treated and the drug is not used again.
Due to the likelihood of serious side effects, such as the toxin spreading from the injection site, Botox has been warned in a box, the strongest warning that the FDA can issue.
Symptoms of toxin poisoning from toxin have been reported hours to weeks after injection. They may include muscle weakness that has felt throughout the body and difficulties in breathing, including neurological symptoms.
However, when administered to consulted doses for chronic migraine, the FDA states that there were no definitive reports on the spread of Botox toxin.
Who should consider
You may be a good candidate for botox injections if you are an adult with chronic migraine.
Chronic migraine is defined as headaches that occur 15 or more days a month for more than three months and these headaches have migraine characteristics (migraine characteristics) in at least eight days a month.
Examples of migraine characteristics include headaches that are:
- Is on one side of the head
- Throbbing and moderate to severe in intensity
- Worsened by physical activity
- Accompanied by symptoms such as light/sound/smell, nausea and vomiting
Keep in mind that Botox is only an option to prevent chronic migraine. Other medical treatments include:
Who is not a candidate for Botox?
Botox has not been approved by FDA for the following populations:
- People with episodic migraine, which is 14 or fewer headaches per month
- Children or adolescents under the age of 18
- People who are pregnant or nurses
People with known allergy to Botulinum toxin are also not candidates.
Cost and insurance
According to the American Migraine Foundation, Botox injections cost for chronic migraine can range from about $ 300 to $ 600.
Since Botox is approved by the FDA for years migraine, it is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Depending on your insurance plan, you may need to pay a meeting. Also, before Botox approval, you may need to try one or more of the mouth (oral) medicines to prevent chronic migraine (mentioned above).
Summary
The FDA has approved botox to prevent chronic migraines. Botox works by loosening the muscles that enter and prevent the release of inflammatory proteins that usually transmit pain signals associated with migraine headaches.
Many studies have proven the benefits of Botox in reducing headache days per month and improving quality of life. Botox also has a strong safety profile, causing a few side effects, especially compared to other preventive migraine drugs.
It is important to understand that there is not only one better treatment plan to manage chronic migraine. Talk to a neurologist or special headache about whether Botox is a possible and reasonable treatment for your migraine care.
