Botox For Headaches? New Research Says Yes

Doctors could prescribe the popular wrinkle treatment Botox Cosmetic as a headache treatment.  New research published in Archives of Dermatology shares new research about clinical studies of Botox used as a headache treatment, finding that certain patients experienced less frequent migraine attacks after using it: “patients who responded to Botox reported their migraines were reduced to fewer than 1 day a month from almost 7,” said Bloomberg news.

Manufacturer Allergan Inc has applied for FDA clearance to market Botox as a headache treatment.  But researchers say they cannot fully explain how Botox works to relieve headaches. One co-author of the study, Rami Burstein says, “it may block the signals in sensory nerves located on the outside of the head.”