Botox for Migraines
Injections of botox, or botulinum toxin, are more often associated with treatments for anti ageing wrinkles and more recently in the media to help celebrities stop underarm damp patches and patients with hyperhidrosis (over sweating condition)
However, Botox has now been approved as a preventive treatment for chronic migraine by UK drug regulators; after having been approved by the FDA in the US.
This comes after a trial of more than 1,300 patients showed success in reducing the frequency of headaches. In clinical trials, patients were given up to five courses of injections of botox into specific head and neck muscles every 12 weeks. After 24 weeks, those treated with Botox had fewer days with a migraine than those who received a placebo injection. By one year, nearly 70% of those treated with Botox had a 50% reduction in the number of migraines compared with before the trial.
It is not exactly clear why it may work in chronic migraines but it is thought that, as well as being a muscle relaxant, it may work to block pain signals.
The MHRA (medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency) said only patients who suffer headaches for at least 2 weeks a month, half of which come with migraine symptoms, are eligible.
Chronic headaches / migraines knowingly affects about 1% of the UK population and it will come as a welcome relief to know their is another treatment to add to the list as most sufferers really struggle to find a treatment that is totally effective.
Migraine symptoms
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Severe headache
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Visual disturbances such as spots or flashing lights
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Sensitivity to light, noise, or smells
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Nausea and vomiting
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Tingling sensations, pins and needles, and weakness or numbness in the limbs
Treatment Information
The team at Cosmedics Skin Clinics have been aware of the link between botox and resolving headaches for a number of years, but have been cautious in offering this as a specific treatment until the presence of firm scientific evidence.
Dr Perry now says "the fact that botox can now be used safely with the knowledge it will help with headaches is a great step forward for both patients and doctors. Having the FDA approval will help an awful lot of migraine sufferers who really do find this a difficult area to come to terms with due to limitations of treatments available"
"I feel that we have to look at this holistically and say if a patient who has been through all the right channels and tried simpler and cheaper methods that dont work as well as having the diagnosis confirmed by a neurologist then I dont see why patients can't use qualified doctors to inject their botox. The only issue is they will have to pay as I am sure the NHS is unlikely to roll this out to everyone with a headache."
All the information above is for patient education and at present we don't specifically offer headache or migraine treatments and advise that you consult your GP for treatments and investigations into any headaches that concern you.
Useful Links
Wikipedia information on migraines
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