Botox Might be Effective in Treating Migraines: Study

Study shows that Botox injections are more effective in treating chronic migraine headaches than placebo injections.

A growing body of evidence supports the effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections in reducing the frequency of chronic migraine headaches. 

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A recent study has proven the efficacy of Botox injections in treating chronic migraine headaches in comparison to the placebo injections.

According to a New York Times report, earlier studies on botox for headaches have had mixed results, making the current findings crucial.

The research, published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, analysed data from 17 studies, including a total of 3646 patients, to test the effectiveness of Botox when compared to placebos for headache.

Botox injections resulted in an average 1.6 fewer attacks per month for those with more than 15 headaches a month.

An improvement in the quality of life of those patients in the botulinum toxin group after 3 months of observation was also noted.

The lead author of the study, Dr Eva Bruloy, a plastic surgeon at the University Hospital of Amiens-Picardie in France, shared that the variety of drugs available for the prophylactic treatment of chronic migraines have more severe and significant side effects than Botox.

For chronic migraine, Botox is a better prophylactic than the drugs.”

However, in comparison with placebo, the researchers observed that side-effects like muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids and neck pain were also considerably more with Botox.