When prescription medications do not seem to work or are having adverse reactions for patients with chronic migraine headaches many times Botox injections are suggested by the physician. Chronic migraine sufferers experience migraine at least 15 days each month with the headache being a minimum of four hours long.
Botox (Botulinum toxin type A) has been FDA approved for chronic migraine headache treatment. Botox is a prescription injection that is injected into the muscles of the forehead, neck and sometimes shoulders of adult migraine sufferers.
Treatment with Botox
Botox is able to block chemical changes in nerve endings. The nerve ending in the forehead, neck and sometimes shoulders become too weak to contact when just a small dosage of Botox is injected. Botox injections can take up to two weeks after the injection to begin working. Typically, when Botox is found effective for a migraine headache sufferer the injections will be repeated every 12 weeks.
Botox is considered a preventative medication; however it may not prevent all migraine and headache pain. If a migraine does occur it is reported to be easier to manage with pain medications.
Side effects of Botox
Most migraine sufferers have little to no side effects with Botox. Usually side effects are temporary and will go away within two week after Botox injections.
Migraine headache sufferers who decide to have Botox injections may experience:
- Bruising at the injection site
- Discomfort at the injection site
- Inability to raise eyebrows
- Serious hypersensitivity reaction (anaphylaxis, serum sickness, hives, soft tissue edema or trouble breathing)
- Drooping eyelid
- Headache
- Muscle pain or stiffness
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not have Botox injections because it is unclear how dangerous Botox can be to an unborn or breastfed baby.
The biggest drawback to Botox for migraine treatment is the cost. Most insurance plans do not cover it and if they do the treatment may not be approved. It is important to remember that if the insurance plans do not approve Botox injections even after say that it is covered that the patient is responsible for the fees. The average cost of Botox is $400 per injection area; and usually there are several injection areas.
Tags: botox, Chronic migraine, headache, migraine, migraine attack, migraine headaches, Migraine Medication, migriaine headaches, prevention medication, sid effects
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