A Preventive Treatment for Chronic Migraine
For people living with frequent migraines, the goal isn’t simply to treat the next headache—it’s to reduce the number of headache days and help you get back to your normal activities.
At ECPC Pain Specialists, we offer BOTOX® (onabotulinumtoxinA) as a preventive treatment for appropriately selected adults with chronic migraine.
What Is Chronic Migraine?
Migraine is more than a typical headache. Migraine attacks can cause throbbing or severe head pain along with symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light or sound.
Chronic migraine is generally characterized by headaches occurring on 15 or more days per month, with migraine features on at least some of those days.
Frequent headaches can interfere with work, sleep, relationships, exercise and everyday activities.
How Does BOTOX® Help With Migraine?
BOTOX® is a prescription medication that can be used as a preventive treatment for chronic migraine.
Rather than treating a migraine after it begins, BOTOX® is administered at scheduled intervals to help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches over time.
The medication works by temporarily reducing activity in targeted muscles and affecting nerve signaling involved in pain. BOTOX® has an established medical use for chronic migraine prevention.
What Happens During BOTOX® Treatment?
BOTOX® for chronic migraine involves a series of small injections in specific areas of the head and neck.
Your physician will determine the appropriate injection sites based on the established treatment protocol and your individual needs.
The injections are performed during an office visit, and most patients can return to their normal activities afterward, according to their physician’s instructions.
How Often Are Treatments Needed?
BOTOX® migraine treatment is typically administered on a recurring schedule rather than as a one-time treatment.
Your physician will discuss the recommended treatment schedule with you and monitor your response over time.
Is BOTOX® Right for Me?
BOTOX® is not appropriate for every type of headache or migraine. Your physician will first evaluate your symptoms and headache history to determine whether you meet the criteria for chronic migraine and whether BOTOX® may be an appropriate treatment option.
Keeping a headache diary can be helpful when preparing for your consultation. Tracking the number of headache days, migraine symptoms, medications and potential triggers can give your physician valuable information.
Are There Risks?
As with any medical treatment, BOTOX® has potential risks and side effects. These can include injection-site discomfort and temporary weakness of nearby muscles.
Rare but serious side effects can occur with botulinum toxin products.
Your physician will review the potential benefits, risks and alternatives with you before treatment.
Take the Next Step
If migraines are taking too much time away from your life, you don’t have to simply accept frequent headache days as your normal.
Contact ECPC Pain Specialists to schedule an evaluation and find out whether BOTOX® may be an appropriate preventive treatment for your chronic migraines.