| The anti-ageing properties of Botox have long been | | | | the trial, approximately 70% of those treated with |
| heralded as a miracle in attempts to turn back the | | | | Botox reported suffering from only half or even less |
| hands of time and keep well-worn faces looking | | | | the number of migraine days they had prior to taking |
| young. More recently, it was discovered that the | | | | part in the study. A significant improvement was also |
| treatment can also cure excessive sweating. Now it | | | | found in the quality of life scores in the group taking |
| seems that Botox may also be a helpful ally in the | | | | Botox compared to those taking only a placebo. |
| battle against chronic migraines, as demonstrated by | | | | On a press release on Allergan's website, Professor |
| its recent approval for treatment of the condition in | | | | Peter Goodsby of the UCL Institute of Neurology |
| the UK by the Medicines and Healthcare Products | | | | states, "Botox treatment has been shown to reduce |
| Regulatory Agency. | | | | the frequency of headaches/migraines, which can |
| Little is known about the cause of migraines, but the | | | | bring important benefits for patients. Patients with |
| effects are well documented and are known all too | | | | frequent chronic migraines have long required |
| well by sufferers of the condition. Throbbing pains on | | | | evidence-based approaches and this announcement |
| one side of the head for long durations are often | | | | offers them a new option." |
| accompanied by nausea and acute sensitivity to light. | | | | Meanwhile, Wendy Thomas, Chief Executive of The |
| Transcending gender, age and race, migraines are | | | | Migraine trust, commented, "chronic migraine is |
| more common than one might expect, and are | | | | currently under-researched, under-diagnosed and |
| estimated to affect 20% of women and 6% of men | | | | under-treated...We welcome new therapies, especially |
| at some point in their lifetimes. | | | | preventative medication for this potentially disabling |
| Treatments for the condition are available, but these | | | | condition." |
| are often ineffective. Furthermore, constant use of | | | | These developments and the treatment's clinical |
| painkillers can actually make the migraines worse. | | | | approval by the MHPRA offer new hope for all those |
| Botox - the new migraine cure? | | | | affected by the pain and misery of chronic migraines. |
| The good news for migraine sufferers is that recent | | | | In the US, where botox is currently used to treat |
| medical trials by Allergan, the California-based | | | | spasms and a range of other conditions, the federal |
| producer and patent holder of Botox, have shown | | | | Food and Drug Administration looks set to follow suit |
| conclusively that Botox can help in significantly | | | | later this month in approving its use for the |
| reducing the number and severity of Migraine attacks | | | | treatment of migraines. |
| experienced by sufferers. | | | | The migraine treating properties of Botox were first |
| The clinical trials were conducted over the course of | | | | discovered by chance when it was revealed that |
| a year on 1,384 adult patients who reported | | | | patients undergoing Botox surgery for anti-ageing |
| suffering from acute headaches on 15 or more days | | | | cosmetic reasons had been suffering from noticeably |
| a month prior to the trial, of which at least half could | | | | less headaches than they had previously. Clinical |
| be classed as migraines. | | | | research on the theory and application of this began |
| One group of patients received regular injections of | | | | as early as 1999. |
| Botox in their heads and necks, while the other group | | | | The real question however is, what will Botox be |
| was injected with a placebo. By the 56th week of | | | | used to cure next? |