Wrinkle Treatment May Relieve Migraines
FDA Has Not Approved Toxin For Migraines
UPDATED: 9:09 a.m. CST December 7, 2001
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Migraine headaches affect 20 percent of women, but a cosmetic procedure may provide some relief to migraine sufferers.
"I called them cluster migraines, because they would come and last for ... up to nine days straight," migraine sufferer Linda McCandless said.
McCandless has suffered from migraines for years.
"It was accompanied by severe sensitivity to light, noise, nausea (and) vomiting," McCandless said.
McCandless recently started getting Botox injections for wrinkles. She said she noticed that the injections not only made her lines disappear, but her pain as well.
"I found getting those that there seems to be a decrease in the frequency and sensitivity of the headaches," McCandless said.
Botox is a toxin, and when injected, it blocks the chemical that makes muscles move, according to doctors.
Dr. Jemshed Khan with Hunkeler Eye Centers said the toxin's ability to relax muscles may be the key to why Botox works for migraines.
"A lot of migraines actually begin with muscle tension. By blocking muscle tension, you block the sequence that causes a migraine to occur," Khan said.
Khan said he also injects Botox into McCandless' neck, where she said her migraines often start.
Khan said Botox will give complete relief to about one-third of migraine sufferers.
Most insurance companies will not pay for treatment because the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved Botox for migraines.
Treatment costs between $300 and $600 per visit, and the effects last for about three months.
"I called them cluster migraines, because they would come and last for ... up to nine days straight," migraine sufferer Linda McCandless said.
McCandless has suffered from migraines for years.
"It was accompanied by severe sensitivity to light, noise, nausea (and) vomiting," McCandless said.
McCandless recently started getting Botox injections for wrinkles. She said she noticed that the injections not only made her lines disappear, but her pain as well.
"I found getting those that there seems to be a decrease in the frequency and sensitivity of the headaches," McCandless said.
Botox is a toxin, and when injected, it blocks the chemical that makes muscles move, according to doctors.
Dr. Jemshed Khan with Hunkeler Eye Centers said the toxin's ability to relax muscles may be the key to why Botox works for migraines.
"A lot of migraines actually begin with muscle tension. By blocking muscle tension, you block the sequence that causes a migraine to occur," Khan said.
Khan said he also injects Botox into McCandless' neck, where she said her migraines often start.
Khan said Botox will give complete relief to about one-third of migraine sufferers.
Most insurance companies will not pay for treatment because the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved Botox for migraines.
Treatment costs between $300 and $600 per visit, and the effects last for about three months.Copyright 2001 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
