Botox for Migraine Prevention User Reviews (Page 2)

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2016

"I had Botox injections for migraines almost a month ago and am still wearing a neck brace. For the first seven days, I had excruciating head pain, migraines, and neck pain. I felt like my neck was on fire. I called my doctor's office, Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute (MHNI), and was told that it is a common side effect and should fade after 5-10 days. The pain was unbearable. My physical therapist is the one who told me my neck muscles are not contracting, which is causing all the other smaller muscles to be strained from trying to support my head. It's absolutely terrible. After almost a month and still no relief. Never again! Still wearing a neck brace daily. MHNI says it's a rare but possible side effect. Have to wait for it to wear off."

• Anonymous
• June 18, 2011

"I've had migraines for 26 years. I've tried every migraine medication with no success. They either didn't work, or the side effects were intolerable. This migraine has lasted 1 year. I received Botox injections and woke up the next morning with no pain. Finally, relief with relatively few side effects. I would recommend this to anyone who has minimal relief from typical migraine medications."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 21, 2015

"When I did the first treatment, I didn't feel much. The doctor said he was going to use just half the dose to see if that would work for me. It didn't help much. Then, when I came back in 3 months, he gave me the whole dose, and I would say it took like 2 weeks until I could finally feel the results. It was awesome! I never used my medication again and was extremely happy with the results. Today, I am going for my 3rd session. If you are desperate, maybe this could be a solution for you! Give it a try! If you are scared, you actually haven't felt the pain from a real migraine to be willing to do anything to not experience it again."

• Pam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2015

"I've just had my third Botox injection. I didn't notice a huge improvement after the first lot of injections, although there still was an improvement from having 3 to 4 migraines per week to maybe one or 2 per week. The second lot of injections caused 2 weeks of 5 migraines per week, but then the breakthrough happened. 2 months completely migraine-free. I cannot remember the last time I have gone for that long without a migraine. It must be at least 30 years. I'm quietly optimistic that I have finally got a migraine solution that works."

• Its...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2016

"I had the 31 recommended injections. In the first 24 hours, I developed extreme injection site pain. It felt like electrified acid had been injected into my head and neck. All the injection sites became extremely itchy, and my eyeballs were itchy. 48 hours later, my neck and shoulders locked into knots. At 72 hours (after the weekend), I returned to my doctor. The doctor said that it was all in my head, even though I couldn't turn my head to look over my shoulder. He prescribed Benadryl and Aleve. Benadryl helped the itchiness, but Aleve did nothing for the neck and shoulder pain. I've tried Motrin, heat, massage, and muscle relaxers... nothing has worked. At 10 days out, I can't hold my head up. The doctor is sending me to the ER."

• Ind...
• January 23, 2017

"Migraine sufferer for 12 years; used Botox for 1.5 years (32 shots in my forehead, scalp, neck, and shoulders) until the last injection in July 2016 caused Bell's Palsy, blurry vision, and loss of hearing all on the right side. It's been 7 months and the droopy face is better, but vision and hearing have not returned. The neurologist said it should return by 6 months or most likely be permanent. I had to pay $1200 a quarter to lose my sight and hearing! Never use Botox...not worth it."

• SXL...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 10, 2013

"I've been getting Botox for migraines for over a year. I used to have migraines all day, every day. This has cut them down to 2-3 times a week. Although I do have to take other medication to help with it, I'm still very grateful that my doctor had me do the treatments. It's every 3 months and I end up getting 37 injections and I believe 175-200 units. The only side effect is usually a week or two after my neck will be weak and I'll have trouble holding it up if I'm bent forward to pick something up. It goes away but kind of annoying at first. I would recommend this to anyone that is a chronic migraine sufferer like myself."

• Kim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2014

"After suffering from 15+ migraines that sometimes lasted 3 days, for over a year, my doctor decided I would be a good candidate for Botox. After my first treatment, I had about 10 migraines in total. Botox also helped against normal triggers that would cause my migraines. On days I wouldn't have a full-blown migraine prior to Botox, I had mild headaches consistently. This all died down after my first treatment. The needle itself does not hurt, but the actual injection of Botox does a little. If you have anxiety from needles, I would make sure you have an allotted time after the treatment to lay down. It definitely is worth the shots for a better quality of life."

• Anx...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 23, 2012

"Although this has greatly reduced my migraines in frequency and severity, the week after receiving it I go into extreme anxiety and weepiness that is crippling. It makes me nauseous and low. It subsides after about a week."

• Anonymous
• March 10, 2011

"Botox is the only medicine that has stopped my migraines for 4-5 months at a time. I've had migraines for over 40 years now, and I'm very happy that it is now approved by the FDA for migraine treatment."

• Deb...
• December 25, 2019

"I had the 32 Botox injections five days ago for migraines. It's probably too soon to tell if they will help. However, I want to mention that the injections were unbelievably painful. I've had cosmetic Botox injections in my face. Yes, they sting a bit. However, the migraine Botox injections were horrible. The doctor said many patients don't make it through the whole 32 injections. I have never experienced that type of pain from a shot. Is this normal?"

• Sab...
• May 3, 2016

"So my first experience was just on the cosmetic side, and it helped with my migraines beautifully! My forehead looked amazing, and my migraines had been reduced. However, I still felt the onset of them in my neck and shoulders. So, upon talking to my neurologist, he said since I benefited from the cosmetic one, I should try the actual one for migraines. It's been four days, and I'm so sore, and like other people have said, AVOID getting the neck injections!!! I can hardly hold my head up, and I wake with neck and shoulder pain. I'm bruised on my shoulders, and it's swollen. Now I'm just in overall pain. The neck weakness is horrible, it's weird to think holding your head up is hard."

• amy...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 9, 2013

"I've had migraines for 20 years. I tried all the different preventative meds, migraine meds, including several years of narcotics. My life went to hell about two years ago when I was abruptly taken off narcotics and was not warned of opiate dependency. So, a mother of 7 sons, not a smoker or drinker found myself in a world you only see in movies. I didn't even realize that I was addicted to pain pills, it was a normal prescription I got every month to deal with migraines. With the help of my husband and my cousin, I was able to get off of these pills. My body was full of poison, I did it, I detoxed! I started going to a pain clinic and was introduced to Botox. It changed my life. I do get sick after shots, but it is worth it to me."

• Jew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2016

"Never ever try Botox again! The first 3 weeks I couldn't hold my head up, my arms were weak, vision blurry, sore throat, droopy right eye. Very depressing to totally be incapacitated! It was a big deal to get through a shower and dress myself! Never again! Now at three weeks out, I'm lightheaded, still having a hard time keeping my head up. Have started back to headaches for the past week. They seem different in the sense I haven't had a visual aura, but the top of my head feels like it's going to pop off. The pain in my temple is the same. I've wasted an entire month! Been housebound!"

• Tar...
• December 12, 2015

"I had my first lot of Botox yesterday. 31 injections for chronic daily headaches and migraines. I was just wondering if how I'm feeling after seemed normal? My eyes feel very droopy, and it feels as though my vision has been affected. Also, I'm still having a lot of pain in my head (not a typical headache or migraine), more pain and numbness where the injections have been - especially my forehead. I also keep going very light-headed when I'm doing things and feeling very faint, so I haven't been able to do a lot. Can anyone please let me know if it's normal to get these types of reactions? Thank you."

• Vom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2014

"I've had classic migraines for 35 years. I've tried many medications. Many times I've had to go to the ER for acute relief. The past few years, they have reduced, but I still battle with them. I just had Botox injections for the first time, it has only been one week. The injections were not too bad, most I barely felt, but a few, ouch! This week I've had three sinus-type migraines, and I am not pleased. I had a lot of swelling on my forehead, and my eyelids swelled to the point I could see the skin in my daily vision. My neck got stiff, but not bad. I got the injections on my forehead and temples only. I am still suffering for over 28 hours with my third headache. Botox did not agree with me."

• Luv...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 16, 2016

"1st Botox shots 11/2015. Wasn't able to get another tx until 10 days ago. The 1st time it was great! Migraines down to about 2/mo. Loved it! This time the day after I woke with the back of my neck very painful. Worse was pain in the back of my head. Felt like hit with a 2x4. Very bad headache too. It was horrible. I get pain medication for other issues, and it did nothing. Head swollen, tight glasses. Some pain in my left shoulder down my arm. It lasted 5 days, in bed with a heating pad. 7th day worst pain gone but need hand under chin or on back of head to control head movement due to weak neck. Don't wake with neck pain, but it starts after moving a bit. If I'm on my feet, dizzy. Weak jaws when eating or drinking. Head turns only 2 inches to left or right side. Weak upper arms. Never again."

• Cyn...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 31, 2016

"In 2004, I began to have migraines, which grew progressively worse over time. After years of daily bouts with migraines that were at a 7 out of 10 on good days (not to mention that I couldn't take triptans because they gave me chest pains), my local VA began offering this new treatment called Botox, and I was approved for it. I'm not 'cured' by any means, but my life somewhat resembles a life now for a few hours a week. My good days are few, but I am grateful for what I can get. I still get horrible migraines, but I'll take several migraines per week vs. several per day. It reminds me not to waste my time when I have it; I try to get stuff done. So I say to anyone, give it a try. It may or may not work for you, but you should at least give it a go."

• She...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 4, 2016

"For the first time in 50 years, I have relief from migraines since using Botox. I have a life now. I can make plans. For the first 4-5 days after Botox, I hurt from the injections, my neck hurts, but then I feel great for almost 3 months. It's not 100% as I still get migraines, but they come less frequently and last for a shorter time. I would tell people that it's worth trying. A little bit of pain for 12 weeks, almost pain-free. I love it. It has changed my life."

• Gan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2019

"I am finished with Botox!!! The first round of 30 shots was hell afterwards! I had migraines/chronic neck pain/headaches for a month. Then I had three weeks of no migraines/headaches/neck pain. I thought I died and went to heaven. And then it all came back. Honestly, I was actually dreading the second round of Botox, but I knew I had to give it one more chance. The second round was worse!!! I wake up with what feels like a vice on my neck. Immediately, I had 23 days of migraines/severe headaches straight. There is no way to explain what it feels like to lay in bed with the lights off, no sound or very faint, and being in your head feeling so alone. Luckily, I have had no migraines for three weeks now, but horrible headaches and a very painful neck. Migraines are the most misunderstood, complicated illnesses, both for the person who has them and secondary to that is the understanding from friends and family members. It really wears me down when I have these every day."

• Sor...
• September 4, 2017

"I had Botox May 25, 2017, for migraines. Woke up the next day with severe neck pain. It's Sept 3, 2017, and my neck is still hurting. I can't look down, turn my neck, read, clean my own house. I'm spending most of the day in bed. My life is ruined due to Botox for migraines. I've had so many problems, and I never was told about this side effect. It is not worth the risk. I wish I had known about this. The pain is horrible!"

• sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 3, 2019

"I did not have a good result with Botox for migraines. It gave me more pain and headaches that lasted for the most part of one month. Pain in shoulders and neck, a tight feeling across the forehead like a band-aid being pulled very tight. Horrible extreme headache that would come and go. One morning, about 2 weeks later, I woke up alarmed because the pain in my forehead had radiated to my face. Very tight feeling and pulling across my cheekbones. I would never do this again - it did not help my headaches."

• MO ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2015

"Have had migraines for years, ave 8 - 14/mth. Received 3 vials of Botox 3 weeks ago in forehead, temples, base of skull, neck, trapezius, paraspinal muscles. My head was fine. The first week, my neck and back muscles were so sore, they hurt to the touch. It was as if the muscles not paralyzed were competing for the jobs of those that were. I have never felt such pain. Each morning, different muscles would be in pain. The diffuse, large muscle pain has improved somewhat now, 3 weeks out, but my neck muscles feel as if they cannot support my head. It causes me severe pain to bend forward to read, eat, try to pick things up. I am going to try PT this week. Also have had 7 migraines in 3 weeks since treatments. Very sad patient here!"

• TCB...
• June 18, 2016

"I was diagnosed with migraines at 19, and there has been a steady increase in frequency and severity as I aged. At 49, they became intractable, and I ended up on disability. Botox became the last option. It's been nothing short of a miracle. My cluster and ice pick headaches stopped, I've had only two throbbing migraines in 4 months, and my photosensitivity has improved. It took about 10 days for it to kick in the first time. The pokes of the injections are a very small price to pay for the benefit I've seen."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 30, 2019

"First round of Botox was life-changing for my migraines; I couldn’t be happier. That is until the second round of Botox. Since then I’ve had severe pain, pressure, and burning behind my eyes that doesn’t go away. I’m in pain every second that I’m awake. I have been to an ophthalmologist to check my vision and eye pressure, and everything is fine. I’ve had an MRI done, and everything is fine. My neurologist gave me steroids, but they didn’t help, not even a bit. He doesn’t believe it’s the Botox since severe eye pain is not a common side effect, and they are pushing towards a third round of Botox."