Undergoing BOTOX ® (Botulinum toxin type A) treatments is normally only thought of in relation to adults for cosmetic reasons to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead and around the mouth. However, when cosmetic BOTOX ® users began to convey improvement in their headaches, a link was discovered. Recent evidence has suggested that BOTOX ® can help to relieve the pain of headaches in adolescents.
BOTOX ® for Headaches
The use of BOTOX ® for headache relief in teens is seen as a last resort treatment. Is is used mainly for chronic headaches for adolescents that may have daily headaches or extremely painful migraines.?
The injections are administered in patterns in the muscles across the forehead, with as many as 60 injection sites. Because it takes time for nerve endings to make new connections and muscles to be restored, BOTOX ® injection treatments are repeated every three to four months when effective.
Although it is not fully understood how BOTOX ® treatments work for chronic headaches, it is believed to shut down the neurotransmitters that send signals to nerve endings, which causes muscle relaxation and temporary paralysis. Although some users become dependent on this treatment, as it is seen as a better alternative than daily headaches, the eventual goal is to break the communication cycle for pain so that treatment is no longer needed.
