Can Botox Be Good For Relieving Headaches?

Have you read about people using Botox for headaches? There are many arguments for and against using Botox to relieve people from headache pain. Read on to learn a bit more about this issue.

The botulin toxin a.k.a. Botox has been used for several years now. It's used to remove wrinkles and lines for a short period of time, several months, by simply injecting it in specific areas, such as forehead, temples, etc. Its results are immediate.

How does it work?

When Botox is injected into the muscle, it actually paralyzes it by preventing the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, the responsible for the muscles' contractions. Therefore, wrinkles disappear and the result is a younger, fresher look. And the best thing about Botox is that it's easy and fast to apply, one session is enough to get good results and it takes about an hour to be applied by the physician.

A recently discovered side effect has been the gradual alleviation of tension headaches that many patients were suffering. Those patients who underwent several sessions noticed how their headaches were disappearing and, although doctors were reluctant to accept it at first, then they came to the conclusion that since Botox relaxes and paralyzes muscles, the injections were relaxing the muscles of the neck and jaws.

The word spread quickly, and people have been asking for Botox injections to treat their headaches for a long time now. Although it was not initially intended for treating headaches, doctors are applying it to patients who need to treat their headaches.

Advantages and disadvantages of using Botox for headaches

Applying Botox for treating headaches can have some nasty effects if it's administered by a doctor with little experience in using Botox for headaches, such as droopy eyelids. On the other hand, unlike most headache medicine, Botox does not produce drowsiness or dizziness. Remember that the injection goes directly into the muscle, and it does not enter the blood stream.

Helpful Tips

Botox is FDA approved, but only a doctor can apply it, and if you want to use it for your headaches, you'll need to see your general physician before going to a plastic surgeon for a Botox injection. You need to find out the cause for your headaches first. Besides, Botox is not cheap, and you need to consider if your headaches are worthy an expensive Botox injection. But the good thing is, Botox has virtually no side effects, as its use for erasing wrinkles has proved for years.

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. To learn more about botox for headaches, please visit frequent head ache.