Migraine is a common disorder affecting 12 percent of the U.S. population, or approximately 40 million people in the country. For migraine sufferers, there are a few treatment options to help manage the condition, including Botox injections.
What are the symptoms of migraine?
Migraine symptoms include:
- A headache on one side of the head, described as throbbing and pulsating
- Moderate to severe intensity of the headache
- Association with light and sound
- Nausea that comes on during the headache
- Visual, sensory, or dysphasic auras that start before a headache
Migraine tends to affect women more often than men and peaks during the most productive years of life.
What is chronic migraine?
Most migraine attacks typically last from four hours to three days. Chronic migraine is described as having a headache at least 15 days per month with six to eight of those headaches including the migraine symptoms described above. Many who suffer with chronic migraine are only headache-free a few days per month.
Chronic migraine is less common, affecting about three to four percent of the U.S. population, or about 12 million people. Although fewer people suffer with chronic migraine, it is a disorder associated with more disability and requires more care from the health system.
Botox treatment for chronic migraines
Botox, or botulinum toxin A, was the first medication approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chronic migraine in 2010. The study that led to the FDA approval of Botox for chronic migraine revealed a reduction in migraine and headache days, less severe migraine attacks, and shorter migraine attacks in patients who received Botox injections for chronic migraine. The number of people in the study that stopped the treatment due to adverse events was small, indicating that Botox treatments were well tolerated. This has been consistent with what I have seen in my practice using Botox for the treatment of chronic migraine over the last 20 years.
Does Botox work for all migraine patients?
While it does not work for everyone, many patients have described it as life-changing, due to the reduction in migraine frequency, severity and length they experience after treatment.
For patients who cannot use Botox injections for their migraines, there are other treatment options to discuss with their neurologist, including oral medications and electrical stimulation devices.
How often do you need Botox treatment for migraine?
Botox treatment for migraine includes 31 injections sites in seven different muscles, every 84 to 90 days. Most insurance plans will cover Botox if you meet the criteria. The headache needs to include the symptoms described above, and typically you must have failed to respond to different categories of medications, anti-seizure medications, anti-depressant medications, blood pressure medications, and sometimes the new CGRP medications available for the treatment of migraine.
What are the side effects of Botox for migraines?
The most common side effect from the injections is neck pain at the injection site, though only five to 10 percent of patients experience this pain. Other possible but less common side effects include:
- Flu-like symptoms, such as muscle aches or fatigue
- Stiffness in the neck
- Mild bruising at the injection site
Talk to your doctor about chronic migraines
If you suffer from chronic migraine, talk with your primary care provider or neurologist about treatment options. Our Migraine Center, part of Brown Health Medical Group Neurology, is dedicated to the comprehensive treatment of chronic migraine. Learn more about the Migraine Center on our website or call 401-444-8795.
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