How to Use Botox to Treat Headaches
Botox is traditionally used cosmetically to reduce wrinkles in the face. However, it also has some non-cosmetic medical uses. One of those uses is to treat headaches. The positive effect of Botox on headaches was originally discovered when cosmetic users reported fewer headaches. After clinical trials substantiated those reports, Botox became a mainstream treatment for chronic headaches. It is not completely understood why Botox can treat headaches, but it is thought to block the chemical that carries pain to the brain.
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Instructions
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See a doctor to have your headaches properly diagnosed. There are many different causes for headaches, and some can be treated without the use of extensive drug therapy.
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Evaluate the frequency of your headaches. Botox therapy is only recommended for chronic headaches. Unless you have headaches more than three times a month, you probably do not need to use Botox injections for relief.
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Discuss Botox treatment with our doctor. Not all doctors are trained or qualified to use Botox. You may need to get a referral from your primary care physician to a cosmetic surgeon or another specialist.
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Undergo your first round of injections. Botox injections to treat headaches are delivered in the forehead and the back of the next. Generally, five injections are given in each location, but your doctor may choose to use more injections to get the desired effect.
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Allow 1 to 14 days for the Botox to reach its full effect. Some people experience immediate results, while other people have delayed reactions. If the frequency and severity of your headaches is unaffected in 2 weeks, you might be among the 30 percent or so of patients for whom Botox does not work.
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Repeat treatment every 2 to 5 months to maintain results.
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Tips & Warnings
If Botox injections do not work for you, there are other preventative drug therapies you can use to treat chronic headaches, including antidepressants, beta blockers and muscle relaxants.
Botox injections can also be used to treat TMJ, which can be the trigger of some headaches.
Most private insurance companies do not cover the cost of Botox treatment for headaches just yet. Botox treatments typically cost several hundred dollars and must be repeated regularly to maintain their efficacy.
Botox is not proven safe for pregnant or breast-feeding women.
Botox injections do have a couple of side effects, including decreased muscle movement and bruising at the injection sites. These side effects are usually minor and do not discourage patients from repeating the treatment.
