Botolinum toxin injection – famous for smoothing out wrinkles on the face-has been approved by the FDA to treat chronic migraines in adults. The FDA says Botolinum toxin injection have been shown to be effective in the prevention of migraines which are debilitating headaches that causes intense pulsating or throbbing pain and affect about 12% of the population. Dr. Rohit Gupta – the best Neurologist in Faridabad helps to let you know how Botolinum toxin injection help treats Chronic Migraine.
Chronic migraine is one of the most disabling forms of headache, “Patients with chronic migraine experience a headache more than 14 days of the month. This condition can greatly affect family, work, and social life, so it is important to have a variety of effective treatment options available.
Migraine is the commonest cause of headache, affecting about 10-15% of women and 5-8% of men. In many cases, migraine becomes chronic and leads to frequent headaches. Oral preventive therapies for migraine are available, but are ineffective in some and lead to adverse events in others. In these patients, Botolinum toxin injection has a great role to play. Botolinum toxin injection is injected into scalp and neck muscles (frontalis, temporalis, occipitalis, cervical, trapezius, etc) using a very thin needle. The procedure can be done in the office, with little discomfort to the patient, and is completed within 15-20 minutes.
What is botulinum toxin? Botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Seven different subtypes of botulinum toxin (A-G) are known. A highly dilute preparation of botulinum toxin type A Botolinum toxin injection was introduced in clinical practice in the 1970s and 1980s to treat squint and blepharospasm. Since then it has found uses in other areas of neurology including hemifacial spasm, writer’s cramp, cervical dystonia, post-stroke spasticity.
Botulinum toxin and headache In the mid-1990s a number of people reported improvement in headaches in patients receiving botulinum toxin for other reasons. Well-conducted clinical trials of botulinum toxin in various types of headache followed. Detailed analysis of the results suggested, however, that there might be a subgroup of patients with chronic migraines who could benefit, and further trials were undertaken.
Botolinum toxin injection in chronic migraine: the PREEMPT trials Two Phase 3 Research Evaluating Migraine Prophylaxis Therapy (PREEMPT) trials recruited 1384 patients with chronic migraine, and randomized them to treatment with Botolinum toxin injection or placebo. These patients were suffering on average 20 days of headache each month, of which 18 were moderate or severe. Those randomized to Botolinum toxin injection received fixed-site, fixed-dose injections every 12 weeks over 56 weeks. These injections covered seven specific areas of the head and neck, with a total dose of between 155-195 units. At six months, after two cycles of treatment, those treated with Botolinum toxin injection had on average eight fewer days of headache each month. After 12 months, 70% of those treated had ≤50% the number of headaches that they had done originally.
How does botulinum toxin work in chronic migraines? Unlike many of the other conditions in which it is used, it is not thought to work by relaxing overactive muscles. Botulinum toxin has been shown to reduce pain in a number of disease states, including cervical dystonia, neuropathic pain, lower back pain, spasticity, myofascial pain, and bladder pain. Botulinum toxin is believed to inhibit the release of peripheral nociceptive neurotransmitters, which may then have a knock-on effect on the central pain processing systems that generate migraine headaches.
Is Botolinum toxin injection right for me? Only patients with chronic migraines are eligible for treatment with Botolinum toxin injection. Chronic migraine is defined as headaches occurring on 15 or more days each month, at least half of which have migrainous features.
In general, all Botolinum toxin injection therapies are done on an outpatient basis. Patients can come after eating (fasting is not necessary). It is done without any anesthesia, in the office setting. The entire procedure is completed in less than 30 minutes and patients are free to return home immediately after the procedure. No leave from work is required and they can join work the next day.
Chronic migraines can greatly impact daily life due to the pain and other symptoms they cause. Dr. Rohit Gupta treating disorders like chronic migraine, hemifacial spasm, blepharospasm, post-stroke spasticity, cervical dystonia, cerebral palsy & writer cramp. Dr. Rohit Gupta offers a full spectrum of neurological care and the latest approaches to pain relief and migraine management, including Botolinum toxin injection therapy.
