Headache After Botox: Causes and Treatments
What is Botox and how does it work?
Derived from Clostridium botulinum, Botox[1] is a neurotoxin that is medically used to treat specific muscular conditions. It’s also cosmetically used to remove facial lines and wrinkles[2] by temporarily paralyzing the underlying muscles.
When you go to the dermatologist for Botox treatments[3], you’re actually going for botulinum toxin therapy, which is also referred to as botulinum rejuvenation. Botox is a brand name for botulinum toxin type A.
Three of the most recognized brand names are:
At this time, there is no consensus regarding the cause of either the mild or severe headaches. Theories about the cause include:
- over-contraction of certain facial muscles
- technique error such as bumping the frontal bone of the forehead during injection
- possible impurity in a particular batch of Botox
Ironically, although some people experience a headache following a Botox treatment, Botox can also be used as a headache treatment: a
- taking an over-the-counter (OTC) headache remedy such as acetaminophen[11] (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- reducing the dose of Botox the next time you have a treatment to see if this prevents a post-treatment headache
- avoiding Botox treatments altogether
- trying Myobloc (rimabotulinumtoxinB) instead of Botox[12]
If you’re one of the 1 percent who experiences a severe headache and your headache doesn’t respond to OTC medication, see your doctor for a diagnosis as well as some treatment recommendations.