Botox can now be used as a preventative treatment for headaches in chronic migraine following approval from the MHRA.
The botulinum toxin injection, which is usually associated with cosmetic surgery, received the licence extension after being shown to reduce the frequency of headaches in patients who experience headaches on at least 15 days per month, of which at least eight days are with migraine.
The news follows the results of the PREEMPT trial, which found patients receiving 31 Botox injections into seven specific head and neck muscles, with an additional eight injections to relieve specific pain, experienced significantly fewer days with headache than those treated with placebo.
Botox is also currently licensed for blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, cervical dystonia, excessive armpit sweating, cerebral palsy and upper limb spasticity.