Headache after treatment with Botox may last from a few hours to a few days. According to a 2001 study, about 1 percent of patients may experience severe headaches that can last from two weeks to a month before slowly disappearing. Botox is widely known for its cosmetic use to smooth facial wrinkles in order to achieve a more youthful look. It is also used therapeutically to prevent chronic migraine and to relieve health conditions, such as blepharospasm (eyelid contraction), spasticity (abnormal muscle tension), and overactive bladder.
Botox-related headaches can usually be relieved with over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen). Because Tylenol and NSAIDs are not appropriate medicines for certain people, be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before taking them. For example, NSAIDs should be avoided in people with certain underlying health problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure, or a history of stomach bleeding. Headaches shouldn't get worse after Botox. However, some patients experience a mild, short-term headache in about 24 hours after receiving Botox injections.
It should be noted that for those who undergo Botox injections for chronic migraine, it may take a couple of days (sometimes up to two weeks) to notice any reduction in the frequency and severity of headache. Headaches that occur after treatment with Botox can be controlled. If headaches persist, they tend to decrease as the body metabolizes the drug naturally. If you have a headache after treatment, you can ease the discomfort with over-the-counter pain medication for a few days. If, after this time, you still feel uncomfortable, contact your Botox provider.
What can be done with this problem is that we can administer a lower dose on your next touch-up. The least amount of relaxation can be the trick to keeping headaches at bay. The results take effect in a matter of days and only last a couple of months, so you better be rich enough to stay that way. Botox may cause certain side effects, some of which are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary and last for a few days or weeks.
However, if the side effects last longer, bother you or worsen, be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist. While there are quite a few myths about Botox, treatment can have minimal side effects. For a very small group of patients, this side effect may include headaches. Botox-related headaches are extremely rare and are thought to be caused by excessive contraction of certain muscles of the face. Neck pain and headache are the most common side effects in people who have chronic migraines and who use Botox. However, the pain does not go away permanently.
After several months, the nerves sprout new painful fibers and headaches tend to recur. The Botox effect usually lasts about two and a half months. Because injections are repeated no earlier than every three months, some people need another treatment for headache during the last two weeks of a Botox cycle. Certain anesthetic medications used during surgery may interact with Botox and possibly make Botox less effective. You should only receive this type of Botox treatment from a doctor who is trained to give these injections for chronic migraines rather than for wrinkles or other cosmetic uses.
Botox is a versatile drug used to reduce wrinkles and facial folds, prevent chronic migraines, and treat overactive muscles, among other conditions. Botox does this by temporarily blocking the nerve impulses that stimulate those muscles, which prevents the muscles from tightening and causing wrinkles to appear. This side effect is mainly experienced after injecting Botox into the facial muscles to reduce wrinkles or prevent migraine. For example, a person taking Botox for chronic (prolonged) migraine is unlikely to have side effects related to bladder or ability to urinate.
Doctors believe that Botox works for migraines because it blocks chemicals called neurotransmitters that carry pain signals from the brain. You will have several injections of Botox around your head and neck once every 12 weeks to mitigate or prevent migraines. However, be aware that injection site reactions may occur when Botox is used to treat conditions other than those listed above. Although there is no confirmed case in which Botox spreads to other parts of the body, it is possible and could be fatal.
People who take Botox for the above conditions and who have diabetes or multiple sclerosis may be at increased risk of urinary retention. The very idea of a persistent headache can pose a challenge for the person who wants to reduce facial problems with Botox. Best known for its ability to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles, Botox has also been shown to help prevent chronic migraines in some people. When people who had migraines used Botox to treat their wrinkles, they would tell their doctors that their headaches were better.
