Botox Treatment

Botox injections may benefit some patients suffering from chronic migraine headaches.
The Wall Street Journal (1/4, D4, Landro, subscription required) reports in "Aches & Claims" that some patients who suffer from chronic migraine headaches may benefit from injections of botulinum toxin, which is also used by dermatologists to combat wrinkles. Recently, two large clinical studies encompassing 1,384 patients indicated that Botox (onabotulinumtoxin A) may reduce the number of days patients suffer from migraine headaches. The article also points out that Botox has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration this past fall as a treatment for patients with chronic migraine. Chronic migraine is defined as a condition in which headaches affect patients for at least 15 days a month for a period of four or more hours daily. The injections don't help all patients with chronic migraine, however, and they are expensive and not always covered by health insurance.