There is a recent study, conducted by Dr. Christine Kim, which may indicate Botox treatments can be effective treatment for some types of migraine headaches. There are several types of migraine headaches experienced by patients; two of the most common are imploding, or ocular, and exploding, or pressure. Dr. Kim, a dermatologist in California, and her group of researchers reviewed the effects on 18 patients who were already going to be treated with Botox for cosmetic reasons. The patients also suffered from migraines, with ten patients of the study group suffering specifically from ocular migraines. Several of the study group reported multiple types of migraines suffered at different times, but with chronic frequency. Within three months, after the cosmetic Botox treatment, thirteen of the patients in the migraine study group reported significant relief from their migraine headaches. Among the thirteen patients reporting relief were the ten that had complained specifically of ocular migraines.

The six patients who did not report any relief in their migraine headache symptoms were the patients who complained specifically of exploding, or pressure, migraines. While Botox is not being touted by the study as a cure-all for migraine headaches, the often used cosmetic treatment may be an alternative treatment for those patients suffering from ocular migraines who do not respond to primary treatment with standard medications. In addition to Dr. Kim’s study group, there have been other studies, some funded by the manufacturer of Botox, which have not presented significantly beneficial results among migraine sufferers. There is no specific mechanism that has been identified as the reason Botox may reduce headache frequency among sufferers of ocular migraines, but the study, which has been published in the Archives of Dermatology, may offer some hope for the future. It is hoped that this treatment can become more popular are more doctors take botox training to treat patients who suffer from migraine type headaches.