My dermatogist recently suggested Botox was effective against Migraines. Has anyone else heard or tried this?
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Q: My dermatologist has suggested Botox as a Migraine treatment. Has anyone tried this?
Answers (6)
11/30/08 4:57pm
Botox has been very helpful for some people, but not all. If you decide to try it, it's important that the doctor who does the injections is very experienced in doing them for Migraine prevention. The technique is quite different from using Botox for cosmetic reasons.
Here's an article that should be helpful, Intradermal Botox for Migraine, Headache, Pain Disorders.
If you'd like some additional support, come join our discussion forum. There are several discussions of Botox there. You'll need to register again once there because it's a separate membership database, but you can use the same member name, email address, and password that you used here. You can find our forum at http://forums.healthcentral.com/discussion/migraine/forums.
Teri
11/26/08 3:53pm
It was VERY helpful to me for over 2 years, however, the injections seemed to do less and less to help me. During the time I ws treated with Botox, it dramatically decreased the number of migraines I had. I would greatly suggest going to a neurologist who has been doing Botox treatments for quite sometime. Also, I had to fight tooth and nail to get insurance to pay for any of the treatment. As a 22 year old, I was surely not getting Botox for wrinkles, and it was mediaclly necessary at the time. I was often hospitalized after migraines that would last 12-35 days. The Botox treatments did keep me out of the hospital, which was a wonderful relief. Sadly, when the treatments started to work less and less, I was told by three different doctors that my body had become "immune" to the pain preventing effects of Botox. It's worth a shot, if you are willing to pay the big bucks, or give your insurance a run for their money. :)
12/ 2/08 6:33pm
Yes, my neurologist tried it in addition to other preventative treatments. It did not reduce the severity or the frequency of my migraines. I was told by my primary Neuro that I would need to try it twice, 3 months apart, to know whether or not it would help. However, the neurologist/headache specialist told me that I would know after the first injections (within two-three months or two-three menstrual cycles since my migraines are hormonal) if there was any benefit. I don't know how many treatments are usually given for a trial, but you might ask a migraine specialist in your area their thoughts about it rather than the dermatologist.
The botox did decrease forehead wrinkles, but it also felt wierd to me like I was wearing a hood ornament for about a month. I was also so puffy that it lifted the midpoints of my eyebrows, and thus I looked a bit like someone from Star Trek. I was opposed to trying a toxin, but only did so because I have tried so many other preventatives and combinations, but I was finally willing to try it. I hope it helps you, or that you can find an expert who helps you find prevenative treatment that works.
12/ 2/08 9:30pm
I tried for about 2 years. It started with injections 3 months then eventually would increase to 6 months and my doctor was hoping for a year like his other patients but of course I have to be different. It seem to work the first 2 visits but after that my migraines continued to come and and botox injections hurt me as well. My head felt bruised for at least 2 days after each time. Also my insurance did not cover them and each visit was at least $1600 so that hurts too. I wish you the best of luck if you do try this, who knows you might be one of the lucky ones. Good luck.
12/ 4/08 10:36pm
I think that overall, particularly if you're not phobic about needles, it helps to keep the muscles a little more relaxed so that they can't join in the entire circular - pain, tightened muscle, tightened muscle, syndrome that seems to go on in a migraine or TTH.
I do agree that the longer the shots go on the more your body seems to get used to them and the less relaxed your muscles get. Still, I found getting the shots to be more helpful than not getting them in the grand scheme of things.
12/14/08 11:12am
Yes, I have tried 2 rounds of Botox injections without any relief. It was worth a try, though. I have to warn anyone who has allodynia (a pain response to non-painful stimuli) that the injections hurt a lot.
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By ThroughTheLookingGlass— Last Modified: 12/24/10, First Published: 11/26/08
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