Migraine headaches
Botox-A injections can be effective at reducing migraine headaches including post-whiplash headaches but the medication is generally only covered by health insurance plans if you have more than 15 headache days per month. Your physician will need to complete a pre-authorization form at regular intervals. Keeping a headache diary will help us complete the form and maximize the chance that Botox-A will remain approved.
Helmcken Pain Clinic physicians are trained in the PREEMPT protocol for using Botox-A to treat chronic migraine headaches.
BC Pharmacare does not cover the medication cost of Botox-A injections for chronic migraine headaches (even with special authority). We encourage you to write to the Minister of Health to discuss this.
Other uses
Helmcken Pain Clinic physicians can use botox-A for cervical dystonia (torticollis), temporomandibular joint dysfunction, trigeminal neuralgia, non-specific thoracic outlet syndrome and piriformis syndrome. We do not perform injections for other areas of dystonia as these are best managed by a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist or Neurologist.
BC Pharmacare may cover the medication cost of Botox-A injections for dystonia if a special authority is submitted and if you otherwise qualify for medication coverage through Pharmacare.