Stephen Silberstein MD1,5, Ninan Mathew MD2,6, Joel Saper
MD3,7, Stephen Jenkins MD4,8, for the BOTOX Migraine Clinical Research
GroupArticle first published online: 25 DEC 2001
DOI: 10.1046/j.1526-4610.2000.00066.x
Objective.—To assess the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX; Allergan, Inc) in the prevention of migraine.
Background.—Current migraine preventive therapies are often unsatisfactory because of their limited efficacy, adverse effects, and drug interactions. Botulinum toxin type A injections often reduce the pain associated with conditions such as cervical dystonia, achalasia, rectal fissures, and myofascial pain syndrome. An open-label, noncontrolled study of botulinum toxin type A suggested benefits for patients with migraine.
Design and Methods.—This was a double-blind, vehicle-controlled study of 123 subjects with a history of two to eight moderate-to-severe migraine attacks per month, with or without aura. Participants were randomized to receive single administrations of vehicle or botulinum toxin type A, 25 U or 75 U, injected into multiple sites of pericranial muscles at the same visit. During a 1-month baseline period and for 3 months following injection, subjects kept daily diaries in which they recorded migraine frequency, migraine severity, and the occurrence of migraine-associated symptoms.
Results.—Compared with vehicle treatment, subjects in the 25-U botulinum toxin type A treatment group showed significantly fewer migraine attacks per month, a reduced maximum severity of migraines, a reduced number of days using acute migraine medications, and reduced incidence of migraine-associated vomiting. Both the 25-U and 75-U botulinum toxin type A groups were significantly better than the vehicle group on subject global assessment. Botulinum toxin A treatment was well tolerated, with only the 75-U treatment group exhibiting a significantly higher rate of treatment-related adverse events than vehicle.
Conclusions.—Pericranial injection of botulinum toxin type A, 25 U, was found to be a safe treatment that significantly reduced migraine frequency, migraine severity, acute medication usage, and associated vomiting.
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