Botox for Migraines

OB/GYN News, Sept 1, 2001

Kubetin, Sally Koch

Evidence continues to mount that botulinum toxin A is an effective treatment for migraine headaches, Dr. Arnold Klein said at a surgery seminar sponsored by the Colorado Dermatology Center.

He cited a randomized, double-blind study of botulinum toxin A (Botox) as a preventive therapy for migraines. In that trial, 123 patients with a history of two to eight moderate to severe migraines per month received a single injection of 25 U or 75 U of Botox administered into multiple sites in the pericranial muscles. Controls received placebo injections.

During the 3-month follow-up period, patients who received either dose of Botox reported fewer migraine attacks, milder severity of attacks that did occur, and less use of migraine medications than in the baseline period. The lower dose of Botox was judged preferable because it was associated with fewer adverse effects, said Dr. Klein, who practices in Beverly Hills, Calif. The authors concluded that pericranial injection of Botox is a safe and effective way to reduce migraine frequency and serverity (Headache 40[6]:445-50, 2000).