Botox, a purified form of botulinum toxin, is actually a nerve poison and has the ability to blunt nerve signals to certain glands and muscles for a limited period. The pharmaceutical companies manufacturing Botox believe that though most people still take it as a cosmetic product, it will change in the next few years and the therapeutic indications will outshine its cosmetic use. In fact, it has already started getting popular as an effective remedy for migraine.
The chronic migraine is nothing like an occasional headache. It usually accompanied by vomiting, nausea, dizziness, sensitivity to noise and light and severe pain. Most chronic migraine patients rely on pills, which may or may not work in all conditions. This makes Botox headache shots the only other hope for these patients.
The FDA has already approved Botox for treating crossed eyes, uncontrolled blinking, certain neck muscle spasms, stiffness related to muscle spasticity in the elbows or hands, and excessive underarm sweating. Now it has approved the anti-wrinkle shot as a treatment for chronic migraines. The agency has approved Botox to treat patients who suffer from severe headache caused by migraine for at least 15 days during a month.
FDA protocol involves 31 injections in seven areas, including the back of the head, the forehead, the neck and shoulders. A patient needs to take injections after every three months.
Patients who respond to Botox injection might be a good candidate for surgical deactivation of the migraine trigger points, this can be discussed with Dr. Totonchi at the time of Botox injection or you can find out more by visiting migrainesurgery.com
