Botox for Preventing Migraines??

Usually when people get plastic surgery it is for aesthetic purposes, such as fixing a crooked nose or erasing wrinkles from the face and neck. A new study, published in the February issue of Archives of Dermatology, suggests that the drug botox, which is normally used to temporarily diminish wrinkles, may also be helpful in preventing certain types of migraines. The dermatologists conducting the study wanted to test whether using Botox is smaller doses had the same effect as prior studies in reducing the number of migraines that people experienced. In those prior studies it was discovered that individuals who experienced ocular and imploding headaches responded well to Botox. Individuals who experienced the exploding type of migraines did not respond to the Botox treatment. Additionally, these studies were conducted by neurologists, and in this study, the research was conducted by dermatologists in a cosmetic setting.

The dermatologists examined eighteen patients who were considering having Botox done for cosmetic purposes and who also suffered from migraines. Ten of these patients experienced ocular or crushing migraines, while the other patients suffered from exploding or pressure building headaches. Some of the patients even complained of experiencing both types of migraines. After three months of Botox treatments, the dermatologists found that thirteen of the patients reported a reduction in migraine pain, including all ten of the ocular headache sufferers and three of the exploding headache sufferers. Specifically, for those living with ocular migraines saw a decrease in their headaches from seven per month to one per month. In the exploding headache group, the patients saw a decrease from approximately eleven per month to nine per month.

Although this and previous studies appear to indicate that Botox may be beneficial for migraine treatment, use of the drug is still not largely advocated by the medical establishment, and the American Academy of Neurology has advised against its use for these debilitating headaches. The dermatologists conducting this study, however, believe that additional research is necessary to determine if Botox could be an alternative treatment for certain migraine sufferers who do not experience relief with traditional therapies. They assert that this small study, coupled with the prior Botox studies, make a good argument for the use of Botox for ocular migraines. In fact, some doctors, who have a patient who has not responded to regular migraine treatment, refer them to a dermatologist for Botox. Although insurance does not cover the treatments, approximately fifty percent of patients report a reduction in the headaches. What would be really interesting to know is what a person’s face looks like after all of the injections to keep the migraines at bay…