What is Botox for Chronic Migraine?
Botox is an excellent treatment that can help people who have chronic migraine, which means headaches on 15 or more days a month that last for hours. Botox is not just for wrinkles — when used for migraine, it relaxes certain muscles and blocks pain signals, which can help reduce how often migraines happen and how bad they feel. Based on landmark studies, it has been shown to decrease headache duration, intensity, and frequency by 60% at the 6 months mark (which is 2 cycles of Botox).
How do you prepare for Botox for Chronic Migraine?
Getting ready is simple:
- Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, especially blood thinners.
- Come with clean skin on your face and neck (no heavy creams or makeup).
- Plan your day — most people can go back to normal activities right after.
- Track your migraines before your appointment so you and your doctor can see how well Botox is working afterward.
Why is Botox for Chronic Migraine done?
Doctors use Botox to:
- Decrease the number of migraine days you have each month.
- Make migraine attacks less painful and easier to manage.
- Help you rely less on pain medicines.
- Improve your daily life, so you miss fewer days at work, school, or social events.
What can you expect during Botox for Chronic Migraine?
- The treatment is done in the doctor’s office and usually takes 10-15 minutes.
- A very small needle is used to give about 30 tiny shots in different spots around your forehead, temples, back of the head, and neck.
- The shots feel like small pinches or stings — most people find them tolerable.
- You will not need anesthesia.
- Afterward, you can go home or back to work right away.
-No massages or hot showers or spa for 2 days after procedure, as it can lead to the Botox traveling to unintended muscles thereby leading to side effects
What is the follow-up like for Botox for Chronic Migraine?
- You’ll need Botox every 12 weeks (about every 3 months).
- It takes three days for the Botox to start working and could take three weeks before you notice fewer migraines.
- Your doctor will check in to see how you’re doing and may adjust where or how much Botox is given.
- Most people need ongoing treatments to keep the benefits going.
What are the possible side effects?
Most side effects are mild and go away quickly. These can include:
- Soreness or bruising where the shots were given.
- Neck pain or stiffness.
- Mild headache right after treatment.
Less common side effects include:
- Drooping eyelids.
- Feeling tired or weak in the neck
- Neck Pain
- Cosmetic side effects (asymmetry between right and left forehead for example, or “Spock eyes”)
- Difficulty swallowing.
Serious reactions are very rare. Always call your doctor if you notice anything unusual.
Are there related tests?
There aren’t special tests needed for Botox itself. However, your doctor may:
- Order scans (like an MRI or CT) if your headaches change or seem different than usual.
Providing specialized neurological and pain management care with a patient-centered approach. Dr. Sader combines clinical expertise with compassionate care to help patients achieve optimal health outcomes.
