How Long Does Botox Take to Work if Used for Tension Headaches?

asked 7 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 352 times
Tags: comparison, duration, headache, medication, migraine, recommendation, tension, treatment

I hear Botox treatment can relieve tension headaches. How quickly does this treatment work and how does it compare to medication? Also, how long does it last? (http://www.fauquierent.net/headache.htm)

9 answers to How Long Does Botox Take to Work if Used for Tension Headaches?

Botox and relief of tension headaches

Botox has been noted to help some patients with migraines, and other patients with tension headaches, especially those who get relief from injecting the glabella of the forehead (between the eyebrows) get relief usually within a few days of the Botox being injected. They tend to konw when to schedule the next treatment even before seeing the wrinkles reforming, when they start to feel headaches recur around three to four months. see video

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Botox/Tension Headaches: Up to Two Weeks for Results

While some patients may experience immediate relief (within a day) with the use of Botox for tension headaches, full effects may not occur for up to two weeks.

Ava Shamban, MD
Santa Monica Dermatologic Surgeon

How Long Does Botox Take to Work if Used for Tension Headaches?

Botox, Dysport and Xeomin all tale several days to reach peak effects and last several months. This would be the same regardless of where the neurotoxin was injected.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Depends on what causes the headaches

If your tension headaches are caused by muscles, those muscles must be treated for the best results. Several of my patients get relief from their headaches when we inject their facial muscles - particularly in the forehead and glabella. These patients know for sure their botox is wearing off when they start getting headaches again. Other times it may be neck or jaw muscles that initiate the headache - so these would need to be relaxed, without losing enough power so that... more

Laura Skellchock, MD
Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox can work for tension headaches

Botox can work for tension headaches and the results can be apparent usually few days after treatment.

Anatoli Freiman, MD
Toronto Dermatologist

There is not guarantee the this treatment will work.

Certainly if you have not had benefit at the end of 10 days then it is very likely that your treatment is not working for you. Tension headaches do require a sufficient dose of BOTOX in the right muscle groups to be effective. So even if the initial treatment was not effective, it is still possible that additional treatment might be beneficial. I would encourage you to work with a neurologist with experience with this type of treatment.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Botox For Tension Headaches

Botox tends to work very well for tension headaches. It usually starts to work within a few days of your treatment, but I always tell my patients to wait a full two weeks before deciding on whether or not they have achieved the desired result. Initially you still may need to take Tylenol or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for your headaches, but the need for this should diminish as your Botox kicks in!

Sheri G. Feldman, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologist

BOTOX® usually starts to work within a few days for muscle tension headaches

Most of my patients who have muscle tension headaches start to improve within a few days after treatment with BOTOX®, and generally reach maximum improvement within a week or two. This is also true for migraine headches and some other forms of headache. Some patients improve in a stepwise manner, and with each treatment session [usually every 3-4 months] find that the frequency and intensity of their headaches is further reduced, with corresponding reductions in their consumption of... more

Kevin C. Smith, MD
Niagara Falls Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox and Tension Headaches

Botox injections can absolutely help with tension headaches and migraines. You need to visit an experienced physician for these injections though, as the injection sites can vary slightly in placement than those used for cosmetic purposes. Many of my patients say the Botox kicks in within a day or two, but normally Botox effects take 7-10 days for maximum results. Botox lasts for 3-4 months, but for people who get it for tension headaches, some like to come in right at the 90 day mark to... more