Botox Benefit for Migraine Is Modest

Botox or botulinum toxin A has been used to smooth out wrinkles for more than a decade. More recently Botox was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic migraine headaches. How well does it work?
A new analysis published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that people with chronic migraines experience a modest benefit. The investigators note that the subjects who have headaches almost every day had two fewer migraines per month after getting Botox injections. Those who have less frequent migraines don’t seem to benefit measurably. Side effects of Botox may include droopy eyelids, muscle weakness, neck pain and neck stiffness.
[JAMA, April 25, 2012]