Botox may be commonly thought of as an effective way to reduce signs of aging, but it may soon be used for a different purpose. The neurotoxin was recently approved by the
Food and Drug Administration to be used as a treatment for patients who suffer from migraine headaches.

The treatment has been approved for chronic migraine suffers, meaning only those who experience frequent and extreme headaches are candidates. The approval by the FDA comes after the administration approved Botox as a remedy for muscle spasms in elbows, wrists and fingers.

Dr. Russell Katz, of the Division of Neurology Products in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research states, “this condition can greatly affect family, work, and social life, so it is important to have a variety of effective treatment options available."

The FDA recommends injections every three months around the head and neck to dull future headache symptoms. Though it is has only recently been repurposed, Botox injections are still one of the most commonly requested cosmetic procedures. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the procedure was the most popular treatment of any kind in 2009, with 2,555,068 patients undergoing the injections.