Headaches and Migraines

This treatment is relevant for patients with:

Migraine

Post-traumatic headache, for example after a concussion

Chronic headache

Trigeminal neuralgia

Headache from the neck to the back of the head

Horton's headache

Nerve pain on the skull

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What is botulinum toxin?

Vistabel®, Bocouture® and BOTOX® are a form of neuromodulators (Botulinum Toxin) that have been purified and diluted to be safe for cosmetic and medical use. Botulinum toxin is a muscle relaxant, and when administered, the toxin temporarily blocks neuronal activity, preventing full muscle contraction. When used as a treatment for chronic migraines, Botox is injected near pain fibers in the head or neck that are involved in headaches. In these places, it enters the nearby nerve endings and does not allow the release of chemicals necessary for pain signals to be sent to your brain.

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How does Botox work?
Botox prevents the release of signaling substances between nerve and muscle. With this, the nerve impulses to the muscles are blocked and the muscles are prevented from contracting. Botox can prevent the pain signal from reaching the brain and the pain signal from being processed differently in the brain and spinal cord, so that the pain feels less intense. The relieving effect on migraines and headaches is not due to the muscles on the skull being relaxed, but rather to the fact that the pain signal to the brain's headache center is blocked.

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How often do you have to be treated and how quickly do you feel the effect?
You must be treated approx. every 3 months. For some, the effect is already present a few days after the first treatment, while others have to have both two or three treatments before they feel there is an optimal effect, experience shows that with some it takes a little longer to get a satisfactory effect. You must be aware that it can take 3-14 days before you can start to feel the effect after a treatment.

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Is Botox safe?
Yes. Botox has become a common treatment for chronic migraines. It was approved by the FDA for adults with chronic migraine in 2010. Since then, more than 500,000 people with chronic migraine have safely received this effective treatment. Several clinical studies have proven that Botox is a safe and effective treatment for chronic migraines and headaches.

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Who can receive the treatment?

You must be diagnosed with a headache disorder. In addition, 2-3 preventive treatments must have been tried without effect or with side effects. There may be cases where patients cannot tolerate medicine in the form of tablets for various reasons. In those cases, it is difficult to offer other treatment and here Botox can be a good alternative.

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Even if you get Botox, you are welcome to take both pain relievers and seizure medication if needed within the recommended dosage. However, many find that the need for medication decreases after starting treatment with Botox.

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Who can treat chronic migraines with Botox?
Treatment of chronic migraine with Botox is a specialist task and should be undertaken by doctors or nurses who are trained in the treatment and have experience with headaches. This is because the treatment requires experience and knowledge in relation to the placement of the right points. In addition, one must be able to assess the effect and be able to rule out other causes for the headache.

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In the clinic, we have a neurologist with more than 20 years experience in headache treatment. Book a consultation to hear more about how we can help you.