Are Botox Injections Painful for Migraines?

Botox injections are almost painless, but they may cause a slight sting or burning sensation. During the procedure, the doctor will inject multiple doses of Botox into specific points on the head and shoulders. Botox is injected around the pain fibers involved in headaches, blocking the release of chemicals that transmit pain signals to the brain. It is important to note that it may take some time for the effects to take place and that it can be quite painful.

I have a high tolerance for pain, but getting 30 to 40 injections every three months is no easy feat. It feels a bit like getting tattooed with a bee's sting, but once the needle comes out of the skin, the pain goes away.

Botox

(OnabotulinumtoxinA) is a brand-name prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine. Chronic migraine is defined as having headaches that last at least 4 hours 15 or more days each month.

Botox may cause mild or severe side effects, so it is important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any possible side effects before trying it. Droopy eyelids caused by Botox injections usually go away on their own within a few weeks, but if you notice any side effects from Botox injections that don't go away on their own, be sure to talk to your doctor. They can recommend treatments and adjust your medication plan as needed. It is also important to note that Botox is not approved to prevent headaches in children with chronic migraine and that it is not likely to help with wrinkles.

A different medication called Botox Cosmetic is used to help with wrinkles and contains the same active drug (OnabotulinumtoxinA) as Botox, but in lower doses. Botox works by preventing nerves from releasing acetylcholine, meaning that the nerves can't tell the muscles to spasm or contract. When used to prevent headaches, Botox blocks nerve signals that cause pain. In some cases, people who receive Botox injections to prevent headaches experience improvements in their condition within 2 to 4 weeks, but it may take two sets of injections and a full 6 months before you feel the maximum effects of Botox.

You may have symptoms that begin hours or days before a headache, such as sensory aura (changes in vision such as blind spots or flashes of light), tingling or ringing sensations, difficulty speaking, nausea and vomiting, higher sensitivity to light and sound, tiredness and irritability. During this time, you may have trouble doing your regular activities because of persistent pain. Botox injections are generally safe when used to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine, but may cause some mild side effects. For more information about possible side effects of Botox or Botox Cosmetic for wrinkles, talk to your doctor.