Dr. Craig Amshel, M.D. of Absolute Surgical Specialists, is happy
to spread the word about FDA approval of Botox for the treatment of migraine headaches. Botox isn’t just about looking better, it’s
about feeling better, and to those that get migraines, feeling better is
paramount. Dr. Amshel looks forward to helping people improve their lives with
Botox, whether it’s for wrinkle removal, or finding some relief from the
crushing pain of migraine headaches.
There are about 3.2 million Americans that suffer from migraine
headaches. A migraine is a headache that persists for four to 72 hours and
involves sensitivity to noise, odors, and lights. Chronic migraines can be
severely disabling to the sufferer and have an adverse impact on work, family,
and social functioning. Sadly, many migraine suffers don’t respond well to
traditional treatments and medications.
Research on this particular subject has been going on for quite a
long time. The FDA has confirmed that Botox shots administered to the head and
neck can alleviate and possibly prevent future chronic migraine headaches. To
confirm this, the FDA undertook two experiments for 24 weeks each. After the
first trial, people who received Botox for migraine were noticed
to experience 7.8 fewer headache days and people who received just plain salt
water, reported 6.4 fewer days of headache. At the end of second trial, people
who received Botox for migraine reported 9.2 fewer days of headache as compared to
6.9 fewer days of the ones who received salt water.
According to the largest study performed to date, presented at the
45th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society (AHS), eighty
percent of patients in the study said that after treatment with
Botox, their head pain was less frequent, less intense, or both. Compared to
standard medications, which can cause a number of side effects, such
as upset stomach, drowsiness and weight gain, side effects from
Botox treatment are relatively
rare. About 95% of patients in the study reported no side effects.
Researchers are unsure as of yet why Botox relieves head pain. For its
other uses -- including alleviating wrinkles and treating certain medical
conditions – the purified protein relaxes the overactive muscle by blocking
nerve impulses that trigger contractions. For migraines, there is no muscle
component. Scientists believe Botox works by blocking the protein that carries
the message of pain to the brain.
Relief typically takes effect two to three weeks after Botox injections. The longer the
treatments continue, the better the pain relief. Study doctors said some
patients who had previously overused oral medications were able to stop taking
those medications entirely after being treated with Botox.
For more information on Botox for its many uses, or any
other way to help you put your best face forward, visit Dr. Craig Amshel at 139
S. Pebble Beach Blvd., Suite 200, Sun City Center, 33573, 813.633.0081 or in
Brandon.
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