Many people have heard of Botox injections used to help minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines on the face for a younger looking face. But a lot of people don’t know that Botox injections can also be used to help bring relief to individuals who suffer from migraines. In 2010 the FDA approved OnabotulinumtoxinA, or Botox-A for short, used in patients suffering chronic migraines to bring them relief. Botox comes from the bacteria that produces botulism in the form of a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin and has been shown to help migraine sufferers who have headaches several days out of a month. Similar to anti-aging treatments, the Botox is injected into the affected area of the body, in this case the neck and specific areas of the head that are affected by migraine pain. These tiny doses of purified botulinum toxin are able to temporarily reduce the muscle contractions in the area of the injection for 3-4 months depending on the patient. The injection spreads into the nerve endings near the injection site, causing the chemicals responsible for pain transmission to be blocked from release. This will prevent the pain networks of the brain from activating, stopping the migraine before it can even start. Some patients may find that it takes a couple treatments before they really start to notice the benefits of Botox for migraine relief.

The cost will depend on each individual patient’s case as each situation is unique. Botox works on a cost per injection pricing system, so the cost will be based on the number of injections required as a starting point. From there, the cost will vary by provider and region. While many practitioners can provide Botox treatment for anti-aging purposes, it’s highly recommended to seek out treatment for migraines through a headache specialist or neurologist. You will want to ensure you use someone who has training and experience with using Botox to treat migraines. Costs will typically be in the hundreds of dollars, so it is best to talk through this treatment plan with your doctor or a headache specialist to understand the true costs for your individual needs. From there, reach out to your insurance company to find out about coverage level options to determine if any of the treatment can be covered so you know what the financial obligation can potentially be for you.

Botox injections for migraines are only recommended for individuals who suffer from chronic migraines, typically in the range of 15 headaches per month. For individuals who suffer from less than that, Botox is not recommended. It is also typically a last resort treatment, meaning that doctors will try to exhaust all other prescription and therapeutic methods of migraine relief prior to recommending Botox treatments. On that same note, Botox treatments can potentially be covered by medical insurance but again, if all other prescription and therapeutic treatment methods have been tried without success. As with any medical procedure, it is best to talk through your concerns about your migraines with your family doctor prior to seeking treatment for migraines. They can help you understand the benefits and determine if Botox is the right course of action for you. It will also be important for your doctor to have a record of any treatment you are receiving for migraines both under and outside of their care.

The success rate for using Botox as a treatment plan for migraines will be dependent on several factors. Each person’s situation and migraines are different, so while some people may respond well to Botox treatment, others may not. Botox doesn’t provide instant relief from migraines, with patients noticing a difference within the first 2 weeks after treatment. That being said, it can take a couple treatments, so several months, before patients see a vast improvement in the frequency, pain and duration of their migraines. Working with your doctor or a headache specialist will help set realistic expectations for you in terms of when you can experience relief and what your complete treatment plan will look like beyond the first Botox injection.

If you have other questions to ask our doctors at Suburban Health Associates, we welcome you to call us or schedule an appointment through our website! We serve patients from Naperville IL, Plainfield IL, Joliet IL, Crest Hill IL, and Aurora IL.