Botox

I received Botox for my migraines about 3 weeks ago, and it still hasn't kicked in. The literature says it can take a month or two to kick in. Has anyone been Botoxed? Has it been successful? How long did it take to work?

It cost a FORTUNE by the way, but if it works, I can quit taking all the other drugs that cost a fortune, even with insurance and it would be well worth it. Supposedly one of these days Botox will be an approved treatment by the FDA and insurance will cover it, but for now, WOW!

I was accepted into a Botox trial, but it was a "blind" trial and I live in Anchorage and would have to have flown to Seattle every month. You only get the shots every 3 months in the trial, so even though the trial was "free" it just wasn't financially feasible for me, plus there was no guarantee I would be getting the Botox.

Anyway, any thought or comments would be appreciated.

I got botox shots at the back of the head for chronic daily headaches. It definately helped quite a bit and took around 3 weeks or so too fully take effect. The second time i had botox done was 3 months later and then they are able to increase the dosage and i had mixed effects to it but I have read quite a lot of good things about it. I hope its doing you some good.

Hi!  I did receive botox on 4 different occassions in 2000 by my neurologist.  The 1st 2 treatments were pretty successful, it took about 2 1/2 weeks to feel the results and they lasted for almost 2 months.  My headaches did not go away, but they were lessened enough that I could feel like a functional person.  Then, like everything else, it stopped working.  We thought it was a fluke, that's why we repeated in a 4th time.  Every time was 3 months apart.  So much for that!  I have been trialed on over 50 different prevention medications and every acute medication you can imagine.  I have done physical therapy and even accupuncture.  My next step, the second week of May, is to travel to Missouri to a specialty clinic to discuss surgical options and any other options out there.  I wish you the best with botox, it really is a great treatment for most people.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

kelly - don't know much about it but it seems promising. my neck gets so tight and i know that is def one of my triggers. let us know how it goes. i will ask my sis who is a doc if she has any thoughts. good luck.

my neuro and pdoc are trying to convince me to try botox. the only thing that is holding me back in the cost! and i worry that it won't work or worse it will but i will have to continue this.

what exactly do they do? where are the shots given? does it hurt?

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Please be nice to me, I'm a blood donor (conquering my fear of needles one pint at a time).

Dx: BPII (and everything that comes along with it), BPD? (pdoc trying to figure that out), Chronic Migraines (that means 2-4/week)

Current Rx: Lamictal, Lyrica, Depakote ER, Seroquel (prn), Xanax (prn), Vicoprofen (prn), NuvaRing

Past Rx: Prozac, Paxil/CR, Lexapro, Cymbalta, Ambien, Wellbutrin XL, Effexor/XR, Topamax, Neurontin, Trazadone, Klonopin, array of triptans (allergic)

JenMcD,

I have had botox a few times and it worked pretty well the first 2 times and then stopped.  As far as where they did it, I was injected all over my forehead, my temples, the back of my neck and down to the shoulder muscles.  It hurt a small amount, but not nearly as bad as my migraines and was a quick pain.  I hope that helps, good luck with it and I hope it works for you!