The three most common forms of headache – tension headache, migraine headache and cluster headache – have each been reported to respond extremely well to BOTOX®. It is thought that the botulinum toxin has an effect on the small nerves that carry pain from the head to the brain, known as C-fibres. This reduces the number of chemicals released from the nerve ending, inhibiting the pain pathway.
Treatment is advised to be given every 12 weeks to start, and 2 treatments are recommended to determine how well BOTOX® will work for you. The majority of migraine sufferers notice a response after the first or second course of treatment, and a minority will respond to the third set of injections if the first two sets fail. The effect of BOTOX® on nerves takes several days or a few weeks to start, although, for a few lucky patients, a dramatic relief of headaches will be experienced within a few hours to days.
Studies show that for up to 75-80% of sufferers, BOTOX® injections can prevent 8 or 9 headache and migraine days a month within 24 weeks of starting treatment. This high level of pain relief is truly life-changing and because of this, it is one of our favourite treatments at the clinic.