The Emergence of Botox as A Headache Treatment

Botolinum toxin A has been around for about threeSeveral clinical tests have proven that the patients
decades, but its many benefits to the health ofwho were injected with the botox treatment for
patients taking it are just starting to surface.eye spasms and aesthetic purposes were spared
Medical doctors, especially in the United States,from the onset and occasional attacks of migraines.
started injecting what is more popularly known asSurveys covering botox patients also confirm the
botox to patients who suffer from an eye disordernotion. Those patients emphasized that after using
known as strabismus. Strabismus is characterized bybotox, they have not experienced severe and even
an abnormal misaligning of the eyes, leading tomild headaches, for at least six months.
crossed eyes.Specific injection points
In 1989, the US Food and Drug AdministrationHowever, doctors note that to be able to treat
approved the use of botox as a treatment for eyeheadache episodes, botox has to be injected in
muscle disorders like uncontrolled twitching. Thus, thespecific areas of the body. Particularly, studies and
use of botox in the medical profession became widereports of patients indicate that botox has to be
spread.injected in any of the following areas: the side and
But like many other drugs, the potential of botox hasthe back of the head, the forehead, the eyes and
expanded beyond its original purpose. In the recentthe muscles of the brow.
years, the drug has also been discovered to treatOther than the specified areas, botox injections are
the awkward excessive underarm sweating andnot found to lead to the prevention and cure of
more importantly, to get rid and prevent wrinkles inheadaches. Those who suffer migraines on a daily,
the face.weekly and regularized basis are singled out as the
Cosmetic treatmentprimary beneficiaries of the new botox purpose.
It is its use as cosmetic treatment that botox'sIt is logical that from the start of this new discovery,
popularity rapidly shot up. From the United States,botox would further become popular not just for
cosmetic surgeons and practitioners from across thebeauty-conscious people, but also for those who
globe started injecting botox to vanity-conscioushave grown tired of consulting to neurologists for the
patients who aim to prevent the onset of ageing intreatment of headaches.
their faces.Surpassing neurologists' prescriptions
Many ageing ladies, and several men as well, preferThe traditional headache treatments have almost
to use botox to preventive premature and timelybecome obsolete with the emergence of botox as a
ageing wrinkles. It is because unlike other forms ofheadache treatment. Thus, neurolgists' patients have
treatment, botox does not involve the use ofexpressed relief that they have been given
scalpels and surgical procedures.alternative treatments than the conventional drugs
The doctor would just need to inject the drug tofor headaches like the sumatriptan, or more
several specific areas of the face and the neck forcommonly known as Imitrex.
its effect to linger for at most six months. TheSide effects
satisfying result on earlier patients also has helpedAlmost all medicines and treatments have side
make the popularity of botox even more evident.effects, and of course, botox is of no exception.
Botox as headache treatmentHowever, the side effects linked to botox treatment
But did you know that recently, another used of theare limited to inability to move the brow muscles,
drug has been discovered accidentally? Yes, asidewhich to some patients is good because frown lines
from helping patients prevent and control ageingin the forehead can be alleviated.
wrinkles and eye muscle spasms, botox has beenOther than that, there is no other side effect linked
discovered as a potent drug to treat severeto botox intake.
headaches.Botox has truly become extremely useful in the
In the medical profession, headaches were largelymedical world. It is no wonder that the drug's
dealt by neurologists who specifically focus on thepopularity continuously rises up as years go by.
illness' diagnosis and cure. But until recently, plasticThose who are afraid of needles are now given
surgeons were accidentally linked to a longer-termmore reasons not to fear injections anymore.
treatment of headaches or migraines.