Botox injections recommended for chronic migraine

Allergan’s Botox (botulinum toxin type A) has been recommended in final NICE guidance as a treatment option for adults who experience chronic migraine.

The popular cosmetic injection has been recommended in adults whose condition has not responded to three other preventative medicines but has previously been appropriately managed.

Professor Carole Longson, Director of the Heath Technology Evaluation Centre at NICE, said the Institute was pleased to recommend Botox for the “extremely debilitating” condition.

The guidance recommends Botox may be used on the NHS as an option unless a patient’s headaches have not improved after two cycles of treatment. Also, if a person’s ‘headache days’ have reduced to fewer than 15 days a month over three months then treatment should stop.

A chronic migraine is defined as headaches on at least 15 days per month, of which at least 8 days are with a migraine. It’s believed that around 1.6% of adults are affected with the condition.

The guidance applies to NHS settings in England and Wales. In April last year, the Scottish Medicines Consortium advised against the use of the injection to treat the condition.