Botox improves quality of life
The FDA approved Botox for the treatment of chronic migraine because of the two large double-blind and placebo controlled trials which involved close to 1,400 patients (in which we, at the NYHC also participated). These studies showed that Botox reduced the number of days with headaches and it also improved many other related aspects. A study just published in Neurology looked at the effect of Botox on the quality of life of patients that participated in these trials. It is possible to have a treatment that reduces the number and even the severity of migraines without improving patients’ quality of life because of its side effects. This is seen with some patients who take topiramate (Topamax) – their headaches may be much better but the quality of life is not because of memory impairment or fatigue, which makes them unable to function. The same is true with other medications, such as antidepressants. However, the quality of life of patients receiving Botox in these two studies was significantly better than in those receiving placebo injections. This is because their headaches improved dramatically and because Botox rarely caused any side effects. Unfortunately, many insurance companies will pay for Botox only after the patient fails to improve on 2 or 3 prophylactic medications, even though these medications are not approved by the FDA for chronic migraines.
I used Botox for 9 years and it was the best treatment I’ve ever had for migraine. It gave me my life back after over 30 years of migraine, and allowed me to go back to work. I wasn’t headache-free but compared to my chronic migraine, 1-3 less severe headaches a week were manageable. After about 6 years, it became increasingly less effective and I discontinued it. A year later, I tried it again – twice – but it didn’t work. My migraines are chronic again and I just consulted with a new doctor who told me that he wants me to try it again because it shouldn’t have stopped working, people don’t usually build a tolerance to it like they can to drugs. In your experience with Botox, have you had patients who had good results but stopped responding to it after several years?
These studies showed that Botox reduced the number of days with headaches and it also improved many other related aspects. A study just published in Neurology looked at the effect of Botox on the quality of life of patients that participated in these trials. This is because their headaches improved dramatically and because Botox rarely caused any side effects. Botox seems a preferable alternative to several preventative meds. Several patients with chronic cluster headaches also responded well.Hi! Your post rocks as well as being a legitimate amazing understand!??
I find that Botox works very well for episodic migraines – migraines that occur on less than 15 days a month. Several patients with chronic cluster headaches also responded well.
Thanks for sharing this. Botox seems a preferable alternative to several preventative meds. If the dosing interval becomes less frequent the more it is administered, I would rather pay out of pocket for this than run a potential 20% incidence of kidney stones w/ topamax, or have the cardiovascular side effects of a beta blocker. I was on a 60mg long acting propranolol in the past for migraine, but the exercise intolerance was a big negative and it was soon discontinued. Exercise is personally very helpful in warding off migraines, and the beta blocker took that away.
Is Botox stictly for use in chronic migraine/12-15 attacks per month?