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BOTOX® for Headaches & Migraines

Botox® (Botulinum Toxin Type A) was approved by the FDA in 1989 for treating strabismus and blepharospasm. In 2002, BOTOX was approved for cosmetic surgery, being used to reduce facial wrinkles above the nose. Many patients receiving BOTOX for cosmetic reasons reported fewer migraine headaches after receiving the drug.

Although BOTOX has previously been used as an "off-label" treatment for migraines, on October 15, 2010, the FDA approved BOTOX for treating migraine patients who experience the debilitating headaches 15 or more days per month.

  • To treat chronic migraines, BOTOX is administered approximately every 12 weeks as multiple injections around the head and neck to alleviate future headache symptoms.
BOTOX® is used for treating following conditions, all approved by the FDA:

  • Chronic migraine headaches
  • Cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis)
  • Hemifacial spasm
  • Limb spasticity as seen in such conditions as multiple sclerosis, cerebrovascular disease (strokes), infantile cerebral palsy, and hereditary spastic paraplegia
  • Writer's cramp and other dystonias
  • Hyperhydrosis (excessive sweating)
  • Strabismus
  • Blepharospasm
  • Jaw-closing (oromandibular dystonia)

BOTOX® is also used for "off-label" treatment of the following conditions:

  • Cervical muscle pain
  • Lumbar muscle pain
  • Parkinsonian treatment and tremor due to other conditions
  • Painful cramps
  • Fibromyositis

Botulinum toxin is a natural substance secreted by the bacterium that causes botulism. Botulism is a disorder in which the muscles become paralyzed. BOTOX® works by interfering with neuromuscular transmission, which results in the temporary relaxation of the targeted muscles. This is an effective treatment for various muscle spasms, facial spasms, and spasticity. This relief lasts anywhere from three to four months, and sometimes longer. In headaches, BOTOX® effectively relaxes muscles of the scalp and reduces both the frequency and the severity of the headache.

When treating migraine headaches, BOTOX® is injected into the muscles of the forehead (frontalis muscles), sides of the scalp (temporal muscles), the occipitalis muscles at the back of the head, and the cervical paraspinal muscles. Significant improvements begin in about one week and the effect of BOTOX® usually lasts anywhere from three to four months. Improvement appears to be cumulative in that results improve with the second and third treatments if the first treatment has only a mild effect. Side effects are minimal.

Physical Therapy

Physical medicine can be an effective treatment for headaches.

After an initial evaluation is performed by the therapist, a treatment plan to aid in the management and prevention of headaches will begin.

Approximately 12 sessions will be scheduled. Your course of treatment may include electrical stimulation, massage, ultrasound, stretching and hot and cold packs. Muscle tension and tightness can be a major contributing factor triggering the onset of a headache. The release of tension is achieved by treatment to the pressure points in the neck and base of the skull.

The physical therapists are healthcare professionals trained to provide you with the appropriate tools and information to improve your condition.

Email Us to Make an Appointment!
Send us an email with your preference of a morning or afternoon appointment, and include the best way to contact you for follow-up and confirmation.

This link will take you to migraine information site of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke which is a division of the National Institute of Health (NIH).

These links will take you to an interactive tutorial site by Medline. English | Spanish

This site is an informative page about migraine in women by American Headache Society.

This is discussion board by World Headache alliance (WHA). It has a public forum with posting and discussions from around the world.

Here you will find some potentially helpful tips about life style changes and trigger avoidance, etc. This is called Headache Hygiene. This site is part of the American Headache Society.