A migraine is a type of headache experienced by an individual that is moderate to severe and can cause throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head. Occasionally, people can get warning signs that a migraine is going to occur such as an aura, feeling dizzy and getting pins and needles although not everyone experiences these and some may have other symptoms.

Women experience migraines more than men do and although we don’t fully understand why they occur, it has been suggested that stress, hormonal changes, dehydration and environmental factors can contribute to causing migraines. 

What You Need to Know

So, what is Botox and how does it work? Botox is actually a brand name and contains botulinum toxin as its main ingredient, a natural chemical found in the ground. 

Whilst its well known for its ability to affect muscle movement, and therefore reduce the appearance of wrinkles, its lesser known for its more medical uses such as for those who have an incompetent bladder (by relaxing the muscles that hold the bladder so it can contain more urine before needing to go) and also, for those that suffer from strabismus (where one eye points in a different direction and the stronger muscle is treated to relax it which helps centre the eye.)

Botox targets muscles specifically, which know how to move because your brain tells them to (although we don’t actually have to “think” it). The communication between brain and muscles occurs by chemicals (neurotransmitters) jumping between specialised cells in the body called neurone (nerves) which have special receptors on them to receive the neurotransmitters, before passing it on to the next neurone. 

Botox works at the point of the receptors and blocks them so they can’t receive the neurotransmitters from the previous neurone meaning this communication stops in its track. By being able to adjust the amount of Botox added to the area, we can manipulate how many neurotransmitters pass through and therefore how much muscle movement we end up with (that’s what baby botox is- click here to find out more).

How Botox works for migraines is a little complicated, but it is thought to reduce the specific neurotransmitters that cause the pain associated with migraine. However, it is often found that when Botox is administered for cosmetic reasons to the forehead and frown area, many people find a reduction in headaches which are often caused by squatting and frowning without the need for specific migraine Botox administration. 

How Is Botox Administered for Migraines?

Botox injections for migraines often consist of approximately 30 injections to the head and neck area including the forehead, temples, back of the head, upper neck and shoulders and it well tolerates as the smallest needles are usually used and these areas are not as sensitive as many others. Botox usually lasts around 12 weeks before needing to be re-administered due to the fact the receptors on the neurones grow back within this time and it may take more than one treatment to get the dosage right for you.

Are There Any Side Affects To Having Botox For Migraines?

Due to the fact Botox targets muscle movements, there is a risk of having an eyelid or eyebrow droop (caused by the muscles that keep them up, being blocked from receiving the signal), along with neck and shoulder weakness (for the same reason).

Conclusion

Botox is a really great tool to help with the symptoms of a migraine, however, due to the nature of the condition, we strongly advise anyone who is considering this treatment to initially discuss it with their GP and look for a clinic where medical professionals carry out this procedure in a CQC registered premise.