Botox Migraine Therapy in New Delhi

Botox migraine therapy uses onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) — the same botulinum toxin used cosmetically, but at a medical dose and injection pattern designed to prevent headaches, not smooth wrinkles. In 2010 it became the first medication approved specifically to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine, and it remains a cornerstone treatment worldwide.

Chronic migraine is defined as headache on 15 or more days per month, with each headache lasting at least four hours. At least eight of those days should have migraine features — throbbing pain, nausea, light or sound sensitivity, or aura. Botox migraine therapy is not recommended for episodic migraine (fewer than 15 headache days per month); the more frequent your headaches, the better most patients respond.

During a migraine attack, certain nerves in the head and neck become overactive and release chemicals that carry pain signals toward the brain. Botox migraine therapy works by entering nerve endings near the injection site and blocking the release of these pain-signalling chemicals. This calms overactive nerve pathways and may reduce how often migraines occur, how severe they are, and how long they last — before an attack even starts.

Treatment follows the PREEMPT protocol: 155 units of onabotulinumtoxinA divided into 31 small injections (5 units per site) across seven muscle areas — frontalis, corrugator, procerus, occipitalis, temporalis, trapezius and cervical paraspinal muscles. Injections use a fine needle and feel like brief pinpricks. The appointment typically takes about 20 minutes. Sessions are repeated every 12 weeks; many patients notice improvement within two to four weeks, with greater benefit after the second and third cycles. Clinical studies show roughly a 50% reduction in headache days after two treatments.

Candidates are usually adults aged 18 and older who meet chronic migraine criteria and have tried at least two oral preventive medications without adequate relief. Botox is generally well tolerated — common side effects include mild neck stiffness, bruising at injection sites or temporary eyelid drooping, which resolve on their own. Serious complications are rare when performed by a trained neurologist.

Dr. Sudheer Pandey provides Botox migraine therapy at MGS Hospital & Shree Aggarsain International Hospital in New Delhi. Each visit includes assessment of headache frequency, review of your current medications, PREEMPT-protocol injections, and planning for the next cycle. Botox is often combined with lifestyle measures, acute treatments and oral preventives for a complete migraine management plan.