EFFICACY OF ONABOTULINUM TOXIN IN THE TREATMENT OF CHRONIC MIGRAINE

Dr. Garima Dabas* and Dr. Sahil Gupta

ABSTRACT

Chronic migraine (CM) is a disabling headache characterized by characteristic throbbing quality, moderate to severe intensity, unilateral headache associated with photophobia, phonophobia, and gastrointestinal distress. Episodic migraine occurs less than 15 days per month, while chronic migraines occur more or equal to 15 days per month. Treatment includes acetaminophen, aspirin, and NSAIDs for mild attacks and triptans for severe attacks. Preventive daily treatment of migraine is recommended when migraine episodes exceed 6–8 days per month, or what is tolerable to the patient and includes beta-blockers, topiramate, amitriptyline, and divalproex sodium. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®) for the prophylactic treatment of CM in 2010 as onabotulinumtoxinA is effective in reducing the frequency and severity of chronic migraine. This article reports on the efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA in treatment of CM.

Keywords: Botulinum neurotoxin, chronic migraine, onabotulinum toxin A, chronic headache.