Headaches and hypoesthesia usually last for 24–48 h after botulinum toxin treatment. Dry mouth sensation and flu-like mild malaise can also occur after botulinum toxin injections [6]. Bruising and headaches can be a common complication after botulinum toxin used in the treatment of rosacea flushing [9, 10].
In this post we’ll look at What should you not do after Botox for migraines and Where is Botox injected for migraines.
How Long Do Side Effects Of Botox For Migraines Last
1. Headaches
A headache is characterized by a sharp pain and throbbing or pulsing sensation in the different parts of the head. There are two classifications of headache: primary and secondary.
First, a primary headache may be triggered by a dysfunction in the pain-sensitive regions in the head or changes in the chemical activity in the brain. It can also be caused by lifestyle factors such as lack of sleep, vitamin and nutrient deficiency from skipping meals, too much alcohol, or sometimes excess eating of processed foods.
Cluster and tension headaches are the common kinds of primary headaches. Cluster headaches occur in a localized part of the head and people with this condition often experience bursts of extreme pain in episodes for a certain period.
Meanwhile, a tension headache can be a result of anxiety, stress, or fatigue (episodic headache) or can be caused by pressure or inflammation in the brain and can usually occur for 15 days a month (chronic headache).
Secondary headaches are usually a symptom of a pre-existing medical condition that can affect the nervous system. Common illnesses that can cause secondary headaches are brain tumors, strokes, head trauma, seizures, sinus infections, and hypertension.
2. Migraines
A migraine is a type of primary tension headache that brings intense pain or dull ache on one side of the head. Severe headache pain that lasts for more than 15 days a month for at least 3 months is diagnosed as chronic migraine, while pain that occurs for less than 15 days is an episodic migraine.
There are typically four migraine phases and each stage has different signs and symptoms:
- Prodome or premonitory – Initial symptoms are mood changes, constipation, neck stiffness, and increased sensitivity to light or sound
- Aura – In the aura phase, you may experience visual disturbances and other sensory issues like blurred vision and trouble speaking.
- Migraine attack – You’ll begin to experience bursts of mild to severe headache pain and you may be prone to nausea and vomiting.
- Postdrome – After an attack, you may feel tired and exhausted and there may be lingering pain which can hinder your normal activities.
Migraines: Should You Get Botox or Not?
Botox is a great treatment option for migraine patients to whom traditional acute medications and pain-relief drugs have been unsuccessful. If you’re experiencing chronic migraine for more than 15 days each month, then you can consult with your doctor about getting the Botox injection. The therapy may not be as effective on patients who experience less than 15 headache days.
Talking with a headache specialist can help in finding the right management plan for your symptoms. Medications like anti-nausea medicines, pain relievers, nonsteroidal inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, and migraine-specific drugs like triptan may also help provide relief.
How Often Should You Get Botox to Prevent Migraine?
The frequency of your Botox treatments may depend on how often you experience migraine attacks. For first time patients, a doctor may start you on 2 treatments which are 12 weeks apart. In each session, a total of 31 units will be injected in 7 treatment areas in the head and the neck.
The results of the treatment are not immediate and it may take at least 4 weeks to start experiencing its effects. For preventive treatment of chronic migraine, your doctor may recommend getting Botox injections for 4 times a year. The treatment may be taken with a migraine medication to get better results for long-term pain-relief.
Get Botox and Other Wellness Treatments at aNu Aesthetics
When untreated, migraine headaches can be a source of long-term pain and discomfort, and can affect how you function at work or events. And while various medications are available for instant relief, Botox treatments present as a viable option for long-term ease and prevention of migraines.
What Should You Not Do After Botox For Migraines
Botox is useful to treat and prevent migraine. The full name is Botulinum toxin A.
It is also used to treat a range of conditions such as dystonia, excessive sweating, an overactive bladder, and is used cosmetically.
It is given by injection into specific areas where it causes those muscles to relax but also connects with the nerves in those muscles to help reduce pain.
Any benefit and side effects of Botox are temporary and will wear off completely by 12 weeks. If it is effective, you can usually have it again at 12 weeks.
Who is it for?
Botox is licensed and approved in the UK for people with chronic migraine (at least 15 days of headache a month, eight of which are migraine). Your neurologist or headache specialist will offer this treatment if you have already tried three migraine preventive treatments without them helping to improve your migraine. They will also want to check that you are not using painkillers and triptans too frequently.
What to expect at the clinic
You should bring along your headache diary to the clinic appointment. You should record how many days you have migraine and headache, as well as the number of days (not doses) you use a pain relief treatment.
Many people are understandably anxious about having the 31 injections on their head, neck and shoulders. However, most are surprised at how well they tolerate these very small, superficial injections. The injections are placed with a very fine needle in the forehead, temple area, back of the head, upper neck and shoulders.
Where Is Botox Injected For Migraines
With each doctor visit, Botox for migraine injections are divided across 7 specific head and neck muscle areas for a total of 31 injections. Each injection takes about 15 minutes and feels like a small pinch. Immediately after the treatment, most people can return to their daily activities.
How often do I get Botox injections for migraine?
In general, most people start with 2 treatments, 12 weeks apart, and then treatment is continued every 12 weeks. You will receive injections 4 times per year or as directed by your healthcare provider.
Some patients may feel headache results as soon as 4 weeks. Follow your doctor’s instructions exactly.
Bottom Line
- Botox is injected into 7 specific muscle areas around your head and neck to help prevent migraine headaches or migraine attacks before they start.
- 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. With each treatment you will typically receive a total of 31 injections across these sites.
- You will visit your doctor 4 times per year for your treatment, or as directed.
This is not all the information you need to know about Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) for safe and effective use for migraine. Review the full Botox product information here, and discuss this information and any questions you have with your doctor.