100 Migraine drugs, A to Z: Abobotulinumtoxin A

AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) is a product that is very similar to OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox), but only Botox is approved by the FDA for the treatment of chronic migraines. Botox is the oldest of the four neurotoxins that are being used for various medical and cosmetic indications.

While AbobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport) is very similar to Botox and small clinical trials suggest that it is also effective for the treatment of migraine headaches, it is not exactly the same and should not be substituted for Botox. They differ because these are not synthetic molecules, but rather complex proteins that are produced by a slightly different strain of the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. They are also processed in a different manner. Allergan, manufacturer of onabotulinumtoxinA, or Botox holds the patent for the use of a neurotoxin to treat migraines, so other companies cannot promote their products for this indication. Other toxins are approved for cosmetic and certain other medical indications.

Other toxins are a little cheaper than Botox, but I almost exclusively inject Botox because I’ve been using it for over 25 years with excellent results and very few side effects, because it has been extensively tested in thousands of migraine patients, and because it is the toxin that is usually covered by insurance companies.