Migraine is a neurological condition most often characterised by a severe headache. Migraine affects 1 in 10 people in New Zealand with women being affected three times more than men. Unfortunately, current preventative medications do not work for all patients.
BOTOX® (or botulinum toxin A) is a preventive treatment option for patients who suffer from chronic migraine (migraine symptoms on more than half the days of each month). Preventive treatments are taken regularly to prevent headaches and migraine attacks before they even start. BOTOX® may be recommended if you have already tried other migraine preventive treatments without benefit.
In clinical trials BOTOX® reduced the severity of headaches and the number of headache days. The actual mechanism of action for headache prevention is unknown. BOTOX® is presumed to work by blocking peripheral signals to the central nervous system.
BOTOX® is given by injection into specific areas where it causes muscles to relax. A fine needle is used to inject muscles in the forehead, temple area, back of the head, upper neck and shoulders. The injections take about 10 minutes.
The benefit may be seen as early as 4 weeks after initial treatment, however, it often takes two treatments before the full benefit is seen. If it is effective, BOTOX® can be repeated every 12 weeks.
Dr Heidi Pridmore offers BOTOX® for chronic migraine at Riddiford Neurology and can advise if the treatment is suitable for you.
