Botox® For Migraines

Do you suffer from migraines? There are treatment options that can reduce the frequency of headaches and lessen their severity. You can learn more about migraine headaches, triggers, symptoms, and possible treatment recommendations on our Headache & Migraine Clinic page.

One of the options we offer is BOTOX® injections as a preventative treatment for migraines. One of our medical doctors can guide you through specific questions about your condition to see if the treatment is appropriate for you.

Let’s look at why BOTOX® is effective for patients with Chronic Migraine and what you should know about this treatment path.

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What is Chronic Migraine?

Chronic Migraine is defined as having headaches on fifteen or more days each month, with eight or more days of migraine-like headaches for three or more months.

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Does BOTOX® help migraine headaches?

Clients who experienced relief from their Chronic Migraine with this treatment found:

• They have fewer migraines or suffer less during those that still occur.
• They have less downtime and can enjoy more of the activities they used to miss.
• They tend to visit the hospital less often.
• They often can reduce the amount of medication they take.
• Their lowered medication intake reduces related side effects.

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Who can therapeutic BOTOX® help?

BOTOX® can be used to prevent migraine headaches in adults who suffer from Chronic Migraine, as defined above.

During your initial consultation, one of the medical doctors in the clinic will review your health history and any medications you are currently taking (both prescription and non-prescription.) Then, they’ll assess your condition to see if therapeutic BOTOX® could be an effective treatment option for you.

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Is it approved in Canada?

BOTOX® is the only treatment approved by Health Canada to prevent headaches in Chronic Migraine sufferers. It has been available in Canada for over 30 years.

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How does therapeutic BOTOX® help relieve migraines?

BOTOX® is used as a preventative treatment. It works by temporarily weakening overactive muscles and is thought to block pain signals from your body, indirectly blocking the development of a migraine.

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How does BOTOX® for migraine treatment work?

BOTOX® is injected into muscles in multiple areas of the head and neck that may be contributing to your headaches. All injections are done right here in the clinic by our licensed medical doctors.

Your doctor will determine the number of injections and injection sites for your specific condition. However, it is recommended that you receive your treatments 12 weeks apart.

You may notice the needle used to administer BOTOX® is very small, which most patients find reassuring. In addition, the treatment appointments are relatively quick, and you can go home as soon as your treatment is done.

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How long should I try it to see results?

For optimal results, be patient and expect to receive more than one treatment of therapeutic BOTOX®. It may take up to three treatments to accurately assess the effectiveness of treatment for your specific condition.

You can keep track of your headaches to monitor changes between appointments. You and your doctor will discuss your progress and next steps at each subsequent appointment.

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What should I do after my treatment?

Your doctor will provide you with post-care tips to keep you as comfortable as possible after your appointments. If you have concerns after your treatment, please contact your doctor with any questions you may have.

Your doctor will also review any potential side effects and what you should do if you experience any of these side effects post-treatment.

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How much will it cost me to try BOTOX® for migraines?

The provincial plan covers a portion of the cost of therapeutic BOTOX® for migraines, and the portion not covered is usually covered by extended health benefits. If you don’t have an extended benefits plan in place, there are individual policies you can explore for coverage.

Our staff can advise you further and help ensure you understand how you’ll be billed and what coverage you have.

NOTE:  As always, our licensed practitioners at Action Health are your best source of up-to-date and accurate information regarding this and any other treatment plan we recommend.

Please call our front desk at (403) 243-8114 to book a consultation with one of our medical doctors to see if therapeutic BOTOX® is an appropriate treatment option for you.