Botox recommended for chronic migraine

Allergan’s Botox has been recommended in final draft guidance as an option for the NHS to prevent headaches in certain adults who experience chronic migraine.

NICE advises the injection can be used in patients whose condition has not responded to three prior preventative medications and whose conditions has been appropriately managed.

Professor Carole Longson, Director of the Health Technology Evaluation Centre at NICE, said Botox is a “preventative therapy” for those with “extremely debilitating” chronic migraines.

In February, NICE failed to recommend the injection after questioning the evidence supplied by Allergan.

However, after additional information and analysis were supplied by Allergan, NICE’s independent Appraisal Committee deemed the treatment to be a good use of NHS resources.

The draft guidance adds that injections of the popular cosmetic treatment should be stopped if headaches have not improved enough after two cycles, or if the amount of “headache days” falls to fewer than 15 per month, over three consecutive months.

Chronic migraines are believed to affect around 1.6% of adults. They are defined as headaches on at least 15 days per month, of which at least 8 are with migraine.

The draft guidance is now open for consultation with final guidance expected in June.