1/29/2006

Botox: A Risky Weapon In The Battle Against Migraine

Examining the pros and cons of the different treatments available for migraine relief. What works, what doesn’t, what side effects each treatment has, etc.

For many, migraines can be one of the most debilitating and excruciatingly painful experiences in life. Sufferers aren’t able to complete tasks and have a hard time taking care of their responsibilities when having migraine attacks. There are many potential triggers for migraines and in the summertime migraine sufferers may see an increase in episodes with the brightness of the sunlight, the change in seasons, and other environmental factors. The throbbing pain can leave them desperate for relief, which poses the question: what is the best method for getting rid of a migraine headache – Botox injections or all natural supplements? Which one is better for you and will help you feel better, faster, and for longer?

Right now botulinum toxin A (trademarked as Botox, a neurotoxin that attaches itself to nerve endings and essentially causes paralysis in the muscle tissue) is all the rage in Hollywood. Anyone who's anyone is getting injected in the eyes, cheeks, and lips. Currently, research is being conducted to see if Botox can be used to alter more than just appearance. Plastic surgeon Dr. Richard Glogau, MD conducted a small study of some of his patients that shows some signs that their Botox treatments may have aided in reducing the patient's migraine attacks. A study of 24 of his patients showed that 75 percent saw migraine relief for 4 to 6 months after their injections. Dr. Zahid Bajwa, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, was a participant in another study on the effect on Botox on migraine sufferers. Patients received three treatments during a three month period, after which there was an average decrease in the number of migraines by over 50 percent.

There are several drawbacks, however, such as side effects like bruising around the point of injection, respiratory infection, nausea, flu like symptoms, and if you can believe it, headaches. In some rare cases Botox injections can even spread and cause temporary paralysis. The cost of having Botox injections could range anywhere from between $250 to $500. This would be a monthly expense, as anecdotal research found the effectiveness from Botox occurred in individuals who received the injections on a monthly basis.

For sufferers uninterested in needles, risks or in pricey procedures and upkeep, there is an even more effective all-natural remedy. Nexoprin™, an herbal migraine aid produced by Selmedica Healthcare, is a viable option for migraine suffers who prefer a potent all-natural approach. The combination of ingredients in Nexoprin™ is the result of multiple international studies, many of them quite recent. In fact, the ingredients are prescribed for migraine prevention in several European countries on a daily basis.

Nexoprin™ comes in two parts: a capsule and a sublingual application. The capsule works as a preventive to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks and studies have shown the ingredients begin working immediately and continue to work as long as a sufferer takes them, with no decreased effectiveness. Nexoprin™ sublingual is an oral application designed to stop the headache of an attack as soon as the sufferer senses it is coming. The capsule is taken twice a day, the sublingual is used on an as-needed basis. Patients have seen anywhere from 50 to 80 percent decrease in the number and severity of migraine attacks.

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