#235 Toxins for Health? Botulinum toxin for migraine
CLINICAL QUESTION
What is the efficacy of botulinum toxin for migraine prophylaxis?
BOTTOM LINE
Patients with chronic migraine who receive botulinum toxin (example Botox™) have 2 fewer migraine days per month compared to placebo (from 19 days to 11 days with treatment versus 13 days with placebo), with no benefit in episodic migraine. Adverse events include blepharoptosis, muscle weakness, neck/injection site pain and 3% stop treatment due to adverse events.
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EVIDENCE
Systematic review of 28 double-blind, randomized, controlled trials (RCTs); 4190 patients with chronic or episodic migraine; mean age 42, 85% female, baseline number of headache days/month 19.1 Follow-up 4 weeks (single treatment) to 9 months:
- Versus placebo:
- Number of headache days per month:
- Chronic migraine (based on 2 largest RCTs):2,3 from 19 days at baseline to 11 versus 13 (placebo), mean difference 1.9.
- Headache severity lower with treatment by ~3 points on 10-point scale.
- Other outcomes (migraine duration, migraine attacks per month, proportion with ≥50% reduction in migraine attacks or days): no difference.
- Subgroup analysis of episodic migraines: no difference in migraine frequency or number of attacks.
- Adverse events:
- Blepharoptosis: 7.5% versus 0.5% placebo, number needed to harm (NNH)=14.
- Muscle weakness: 13.4% versus 0.6% placebo, NNH=7.
- Neck or injection site pain: NNH=11 or 40, respectively.
- Stopping for adverse effects (4 RCTs): 3% versus 0.8%, NNH=45.
- Number of headache days per month:
- Number of headache days per month: no difference.
- Withdrawal due to adverse effects: 6.7% versus 27.1% topiramate/valproate, NNT=5.
- Chronic migraine defined as ≥15 headache days/month (with at least 8 migraine days).1
- Botulinum toxin does not reduce number of chronic tension-type headaches.5
- Adverse effects generally transient but can last a few months.6
- Botox™ RCT dose 155-195 total units, delivered as 5-unit (0.1 ml) injections at 31-39 sites.2,3
- Cost ~$800 every 3 months.
- Guidelines suggest use7 in chronic migraine after failure of 2-3 prophylactic agents.8
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Cost is very expensive, (but most drug plans will cover) but my population of patients with chronic migraine finds Botox to be a game changer. It’s interesting to note that placebo decreases episodes from ,,”chronic” to non chronic levels ie 19 to 13. I did try NS once as a placebo to one patient who could not afford Botox but unfortunately got no response.