A Botox for migraine injection site is the location at which the Botox for migraines is injected. It can assist in treating chronic migraines by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles. The blockage of these signals reduces the contraction of muscles, which helps relieve pain.
Botox for migraine injections are usually administered every 12 weeks and may result in fewer migraines for patients with chronic migraines.
Migraine is a condition that can cause several symptoms, including severe headaches that can be pulsing and debilitating. These tend to occur on one side of your head and can last from a few hours to a few days. Migraine is considered chronic (long term) if you have headaches that last for at least 4 hours on 15 or more days each month.
Here are the basics on Botox for the purpose mentioned above:
Active ingredient: onabotulinumtoxinA
Drug class: neurotoxin
Drug form: liquid solution given as an intramuscular injection
Available as generic: no
Read on for more information about Botox and its use in preventing headaches in adults with chronic migraine. You can also refer to this article for a comprehensive look at Botox, which is also approved to treat certain other conditions.
Botox side effects
Using Botox to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below include some of the main side effects that may occur while using Botox for this purpose. To learn about other possible side effects of the drug, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You can also visit our comprehensive article on Botox or refer to the Botox medication guide.
Note: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tracks and reviews side effects of drugs it has approved. If you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Botox, you can do so through MedWatch.
Mild side effects
Like other medications, Botox injections to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine can cause mild side effects. These side effects of Botox may be temporary, lasting for a few days or weeks. But if they last for a longer time, or if they bother you or become severe, it’s important to talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Mild side effects of these Botox injections can include:
drooping eyelids
headache
muscle stiffness, spasms, or weakness near Botox injection sites
neck pain
pain at Botox injection sites
You may be wondering if Botox can cause long-term effects. Drooping eyelids caused by Botox injections usually go away on their own within a few weeks. But if you notice any side effects from Botox injections that don’t go away on their own, be sure to talk with your doctor. They can recommend treatments and adjust your medication plan as needed.
Serious side effects
Though rare, Botox injections to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine can cause serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you develop serious side effects while using Botox. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Serious side effects from these Botox injections can include:
allergic reaction
spread of toxin effects, which potentially could cause life threatening swallowing or breathing difficulties*
- Botox has a boxed warningTrusted Source for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the FDA. For more information, see the “Before receiving Botox” section below.
Receiving Botox injections
Botox is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine.
Dosage
For the use mentioned above, the recommended dose of Botox is 155 total units divided into 31 injections. These injections will be given in seven specific muscle areas in your head and neck. Each muscle area has a number of sites where 0.1 milliliters (mL) of Botox will be injected. (In terms of units, 0.1 mL is about 5 units.) In total, the 155 units will be injected across 31 unique sites in your head and neck muscles.
You’ll likely receive the injections every 12 weeks.
Note: In addition to preventing headaches in adults with chronic migraine, Botox has other uses. The medication’s dosage may differ with the other uses. For more information, talk with your doctor.
How Botox is given
Botox’s form is a powder that comes in a single-use vial. The drug is mixed into a liquid solution. For preventing headaches in adults with chronic migraine, the medication is given as intramuscular injections. You’ll receive these from a healthcare provider.
Injection sites
Because intramuscular injections are given directly into a muscle, you may be wondering where they are injected for migraine headaches. Here are the Botox injection sites:
between your shoulder and neck on your right and left sides
at the back of your neck, by the base of your skull on both your right and left sides
the back of your head, behind each ear
the middle of your forehead, above each eye
the lower part of your forehead, right above your nose
the lower part of your forehead, near the inside edge of each eyebrow
behind each temple, above the ear
How often to use
In general, Botox injections are given every 12 weeks for preventing headaches in adults with chronic migraine. But be sure to stick to the dosing schedule your doctor recommends for you.
Cost of Botox
How much Botox costs is based on several factors. These can include your prescribed treatment regimen, the insurance plan you have, the pharmacy you use, and your location. The price is also based on the cost of the appointment to receive doses of Botox from your healthcare provider.
Does botox for migraines help wrinkles
Botox is used as a therapeutic treatment for many conditions, including for prevention of migraine headaches, and Botox Cosmetic is used for aesthetic purposes to lessen wrinkles like crow’s feet or forehead lines.
Botox and Botox Cosmetic are prescription medicines that both contain the active ingredient onabotulinumtoxinA, but they come as separate products.
Originally when Botox was first approved for wrinkles, doctors found it all also helped patients with migraine headaches. It was eventually approved by the FDA for migraine prevention in 2010.
Both treatments are given as injections into the muscles of the face, neck or head, depending upon the use. You will need more injections per session for migraine prevention than for wrinkle treatment.
Botox (for the treatment of chronic migraine) and Botox Cosmetic are for use in adults only.
Learn More: Compare Botox vs Botox Cosmetic
In addition to prevention of chronic migraine headache in adults, Botox is also approved to treat:
overactive bladder
leakage of urine (incontinence) in adults with overactive bladder due to neurologic disease
muscle spasticity
cervical dystonia (abnormal head position and neck pain)
certain types of eye muscle problems or eyelid spasms
severe underarm sweating
Botox Cosmetic is approved for adults to temporarily help improve the look of moderate to severe facial wrinkles:
forehead lines
crow’s feet lines
frown lines between the eyebrows.
Botox Cosmetic is supplied in different unit vial sizes from Botox.
Botox used for migraine comes in 100 and 200 unit single-use vials, while Botox Cosmetic for wrinkles comes in 50 and 100 unit single-use vials.
Reconstitution and dilution instructions in the package insert vary between these two products.
Potency Units of Botox Cosmetic or Botox are not interchangeable with other preparations of botulinum toxin products.
Botox dose for migraine: The recommended total dose for chronic migraine is 155 Units, as 0.1 mL (5 Units) injections per each site divided across 7 head/neck muscle areas, for a total of 31 individual injections. These areas include the forehead, bridge of the nose, the temples, the neck, the back of the head, and just above the shoulder blades in your upper back.
Botox Cosmetic dose for wrinkles: The recommended dose for wrinkles varies based on wrinkle type and typically ranges from 20 to 24 units per wrinkle area. The units per injection site will vary by patient and can be determined by a qualified injector for optimal results.
Can I get Botox and Botox Cosmetic at the same time?
Yes, you can receive Botox and Botox Cosmetic for different uses at the same time as long as the total dose received of onabotulinumtoxinA does not exceed 400 Units administered in a 3 month period for adults.
You may also receive Botox Cosmetic treatment for treatment of different wrinkle areas at the same time. It is not known if Botox Cosmetic is safe and effective for use more than once every 3 months.
The dilution and the resulting units per 0.1 mL (as noted in the package insert) are different between Botox and Botox Cosmetic. Health care providers should see the specific instructions for reconstitution and administration of each product.
Warnings: Botox and Botox Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can happen hours, days, or weeks after an injection and can be life threatening. These include:
Problems breathing or swallowing
Spread of toxin effects (leading to symptoms of a serious condition called botulism)
Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems after treatment.
According to the manufacturer, there has NOT been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when Botox has been used at the recommended dose to treat chronic migraine or when Botox Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat approved wrinkle areas.
What are Botox or Botox Cosmetic side effects?
dry mouth
discomfort or pain at the injection site
tiredness
headache
neck pain
eye problem
drooping eyebrow
urinary tract infection and painful urination
inability to empty your bladder
allergic reaction
upper respiratory tract infection
Review these warnings and side effects in this Medication Guide for Botox and Botox Cosmetic. Tell your doctor if you have a side effect that does not go away or that concerns you.
Bottom Line
Botox Cosmetic is used for aesthetic purposes for wrinkles and Botox is used as a therapeutic treatment for many medical conditions, including migraine headache prevention.
Botox Cosmetic and Botox come as separate products but are both prescription medicines that contain the active ingredient onabotulinumtoxinA.
The number of injections needed for migraine prevention are more than the number needed for wrinkle treatment.
Both products are given as injections into the muscles of the face, neck or head, depending upon the use. You can receive both products as long as the total amount does not exceed 400 Units administered in a 3 month period for adults.
This is not all the information you need to know about Botox or Botox Cosmetic for safe and effective use for migraine. Review the full Botox or Botox Cosmetic information here, and discuss this information and questions with your doctor or other healthcare provider.