BOTOX® Prescribed for Preventitive Migraine Headache Treatments
BOTOX® is the only FDA approved preventive treatment that works to prevent headaches and migraines before they begin. This treatment is for people who think they may be suffering from chronic migraines. This is defined as living with 15 or more headache days a month and eight of those days being associated with a migraine, with each headache lasting four or more hours.
BOTOX® is part of a group of drugs known as biologics-biologic medicines, meaning they are made from living things. BOTOX® is a purified protein that is made from a type of bacteria called Clostridium botulinum type A. This treatment is an acetycholine release inhibitor and a neuromuscular blocking agent, providing skeletal muscle relaxation.
The BOTOX® treatment is every 12 weeks in seven key areas of the face, head, and neck using a small needle. It is the first and only FDA approved treatment for chronic migraines, and at least 100,000 people have been treated with BOTOX® since its approval in 2010. The injections are done in-office by a member of our Pain Management team, and only take about fifteen minutes per treatment.
Studies have shown that by completing this treatment, BOTOX® should help prevent on average eight to nine headache days and migraine/probable migraine days a month. It takes a minimum of two 12-week treatments, to determine how well BOTOX may be working for each individual.
If you are suffering from chronic headaches and migraines ask your referring physician to schedule an appointment with ECPC Pain Specialists. At your appointment, our specialists will discuss your general health, pain levels, and past treatment options to determine if BOTOX® is the next step in helping you relieve your chronic migraine pain.
Sources:
www.botoxchronicmigraine.com
www.mayoclinic.org
