Migraine and Botox

Migraine is a neurological condition that is characterized by unilateral or bilateral headache attacks and causes severe discomfort to the person. Typically lasting 4–72 hours, headache attacks are throbbing, unilateral, moderate to vigorous intensity, and aggravated by physical activity. These symptoms may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia.

          Migraine can greatly disrupt daily life due to the pain and other symptoms it causes. Migraines affect about 10% of people and are about three times more common in women than men. Chronic migraines, defined as migraine attacks lasting more than 15 days in a month, affect about 1% of people.

        Botox is the brand name for botulinum neurotoxin, a protein substance originally produced from the bacteria Clostrodium botulinum. Botox, in its original form, is the toxin responsible for botulism, the paralyzing disease usually caused by the consumption of contaminated food.

          Botox; It is used to treat a number of medical conditions, including esthetics, muscle spasms, excessive sweating, overactive bladder, and some eye muscle conditions. During the application of Botox in the treatment of these diseases, it was noticed that some patients had an improvement in their headaches, and thus it began to be used in the treatment of chronic migraine. With the application of botox treatment in patients with chronic migraine, a reduction in headache days and an improvement in quality of life were achieved.

                                   How Does Botox Relieve Migraine?

          Botox works by reducing muscle contractions in the area where it is made, blocking the release of pain-producing chemicals such as substance P and the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), stopping neurotransmitters from sending pain signals to your brain. In this way, it helps to reduce the pain caused by migraine and allows many patients to enjoy daily life without interruption.

      Since the effect lasts for approximately 3-4 months, the treatment of the patients is continuous. The most common treatment timeline includes one injection every 12 weeks or four times a year. It may take a week to feel relief from migraine after an injection. Your doctor can adjust this timeline to suit your personal needs.

Botox is only recommended for people who meet the following criteria for chronic migraine:

• Those who experience headaches more than 15 days a month, including migraines lasting at least 4 hours each

• Persistence of these symptoms for at least 3 months

• Be at least 18 years old

                        What to Expect During the Procedure

    Botox can be done very quickly and can be applied in your doctor’s office in about 15-30 minutes. Botox is applied to 31 injection points in 7 regions of the patient, including forehead, temple, nape, neck and shoulder, with very thin and small injections. You can go home immediately after the procedure.

                  Side Effects of Botox for Migraines

Side effects are usually mild and typically go away in a day or two. They may include:

• Headache or sore throat

• Pain, swelling or redness at the injection site

• Sagging of eyelids or eyebrows

• Temporarily blurred vision

• dry eye

             Botox has become a common treatment in headache centers. Botox injections are well tolerated, beneficial, and extremely safe for the long-term management of chronic migraine.