The Truth About Botox For Migraines

If you're a migraine sufferer, you'll know all too well the pain that can come with an attack. So you'll be pleased to know that according to the experts, there might be hope for you yet — and it all comes down to Botox (yes, really). 

As Alice Henshaw, owner and director of Harley Street Injectables in London, explained to Metro, Botox can actually help to prevent a migraine before it kicks in. "Botox is injected around pain fibres that are involved in headaches' to provide migraine relief," said Henshaw. It "enters the nerve endings around where it is injected and blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission," she continued, adding, "[t]his prevents activation of pain networks in the brain." 

And there are plenty of studies to back it up. As stated by Allure, if you have 15 or more migraines per month, Botox has been shown to decrease the frequency by half. And according to New York City neurologist and pain-management specialist Risa Ravitz, it's an effective solution for over 90% of patients.

Though pointing out that Botox is not actually a cure for migraines, Lee Tomkins, director of Migraine Action in the UK, told BBC that using Botox to manage migraine pain can seriously help to improve your quality of life if you suffer from migraines. "We have been following these studies really closely and the evidence is really pretty solid," she revealed. "These people spend half their lives in pain ... even if they get half the attacks, it can really improve their quality of life." 

The downside? It's only FDA-approved for chronic migraines, so you need to experience migraines over 15 times a month to be eligible (via American Migraine Foundation). Oh, and according to Harvard Health Review, you also need to get Botox every three months to see consistent results. Plus, you might need to stick the medication you already take ... but regardless, it sounds like it's definitely worth it.