If you suffer from chronic migraines, you may have heard of Botox as a potential treatment option. Botox is a type of neurotoxin that is injected into specific areas of the head and neck to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. But how many injections are needed for effective migraine prevention?The FDA has approved Botox for the treatment of chronic migraines, which are defined as headaches occurring 15 or more days per month. According to Andrew Blumenfeld, Director of the Southern California Headache Center, the guidelines recommend that Botox be given in a series of between 31 and 39 small injections.
These injections are typically administered every 12 weeks and are given in specific areas around the forehead, temples, back of head, neck, upper back, and shoulders. The number of injections you receive will depend on your individual migraine symptoms. If you experience pain in a particular location, you may need more injections there. Generally speaking, however, you can expect to receive about 30 injections on each side of your head for a total of 60 injections. Each injection contains a total of 155 units of Botox. It's important to note that Botox is not recommended for patients who experience less than 15 days of headache per month.
Additionally, the cost of Botox treatment is based on the cost of the appointment to receive doses from your healthcare provider. Your health insurance may cover all or most of the cost depending on your plan. When considering Botox as a treatment option for chronic migraines, it's important to find a healthcare provider who has been trained to administer it correctly. Laura Banks, a neurologist at the Natividad Medical Center, suggests asking potential doctors where they learned to administer Botox and how many times they have given it. Although there are some side effects associated with Botox injections for migraine prevention, such as stiff neck and muscle weakness, these are usually mild and rarely severe enough for people to stop treatment. In fact, many people report that their migraine frequency has drastically decreased after receiving Botox treatments. If you suffer from chronic migraines and have tried other preventive treatments without success, talk to your doctor about whether Botox might be right for you.
With the right number of injections administered correctly by an experienced healthcare provider, you may be able to reduce your migraine frequency and severity.
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