Condition
BOTOX FOR MIGRAINES.
Migraines show up as headaches that can cause intense throbbing head pain that lasts hours, even days. Migraines are a chronic problem that affects some people’s quality of life. At London Lip Clinic in Harley Street, London, Rupesh who is highly skilled professional offers Botox® for migraine headaches. Botox reduces the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches.
Botox for Migraine Headaches Q & A
What are migraines?
Migraines aren’t normal headaches brought on by stress or illness. They’re a neurological condition that usually causes throbbing or pulsing pain on one side of the head. During a migraine, you can feel nauseous and be sensitive to bright light and harsh sounds.
Migraine pain can last a few hours or a few days and leave you feeling exhausted afterward. The frequency and severity of migraines differ from person to person, and some people suffer from chronic migraines.
People with chronic migraines have 15 or more migraine headaches each month.
What is Botox?
Botox is a medical injection best known for its use to smooth out facial wrinkles. But the injections also benefit neurological conditions like migraines. In fact, Botox injections are FDA-approved to treat chronic migraines.
Botox contains a purified form of a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin. (A neurotoxin affects the nerves.) Botox blocks the nerve signals to the brain when injected in small amounts into specific areas.
For migraines, Botox blocks the release of the neurotransmitters that trigger pain sensations, easing migraine headaches.
Can Botox for migraine headaches help me?
We complete a thorough exam to determine if Botox makes a good treatment choice for your migraines.
We might recommend Botox injections if you suffer from chronic migraines and less invasive treatments, like medications and lifestyle changes, have failed to provide significant relief.
However, Botox injections for migraines usually work best when combined with migraine medications and lifestyle changes. You need to find healthy outlets for stress, get plenty of sleep, and avoid foods or drinks that trigger your headaches (usually caffeine and alcohol).
What happens during treatments with Botox for migraine headaches?
At your initial consultation, Rupesh reviews what you can expect during your Botox injections for migraines.
During the treatment, your provider injects small amounts of Botox along the hairline around your face, head, and neck. They might also inject Botox into your forehead, temples, the back of your head, or neck, depending on where you feel your pain.
Botox injections are performed with patients free to leave as soon as the treatment has been administered. Initially, the treating Rupesh will spend time identifying the individual trigger points, and will mark the areas with a pen. The located areas will then be sterilised with a chlorhexidine antiseptic spray.
The Botox can then be administered by usually, small cosmetic needles.
Up to 160 units of Botox are usually administered, but this can increase up to 200 units depending on the affected area.
Will I experience any Botox® for migraine side effects?
Like all medicines, Botox® for migraine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. In general, side effects occur within the first few days following the injection and last only for a short time. In rare cases, they may last for several months or longer.
A detailed list of side effects can be obtained from the Patient Information Leaflet. Please ask your medical team for a copy.
Do Botox® injections for migraine hurt?
As with any type of injection, you may experience some discomfort during your treatment session, but this shouldn’t last for long.
Will I need an anaesthetic before my Botox® injections for migraine?
An anaesthetic is not required for your treatment.
What will determine if you can or can’t have Botox® injections for migraine?
Starting a new course of migraine treatment is a major step. So, before recommending treatment Rupesh will have checked that it is a suitable treatment for you. As a guide, you should not receive the treatment if:
you have had a bad reaction to botulinum toxin type A treatment in the past
you have an infection at or around any of the areas to be injected
you are pregnant or breast feeding
There are specific qualification criteria in order to access Botox treatment for chronic migraine and these will be discussed with you:
BOTOX® is licensed for the treatment of chronic migraine, defined as 3 months of at least 15 days of headache a month, of which at least 8 days have migrainous features, such as nausea, light or noise sensitivity, pulsating or lateralised pain.
What happens after Botox for migraines?
Botox for migraines might not provide relief from your head pain right away. In fact, you might need several treatments before you see improvements in the frequency and intensity of your migraines.
Some chronic migraine sufferers experience significant improvements in their migraines and can discontinue Botox injections. But others can require regular Botox injections to control their migraines.
Call the clinic today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about Botox for migraine headaches.
