Onabotulinumtoxin A for Migraine

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox; Allergan Inc) for headache prophylaxis in patients with adult chronic migraine who suffer headaches on 15 or more days per month, each lasting more than 4 hours.

    To treat chronic migraine, onabotulinumtoxinA is given approximately every 12 weeks as multiple injections around the head and neck. The recommended dose is 155 units (1 mL) divided across 7 head and neck muscles, administered at intervals of at least 12 weeks.

The most common adverse reactions reported by patients being treated with onabotulinumtoxinA for chronic migraine were neck pain (9%) and headache (5%).

Marketed as Botox and Botox Cosmetic, onabotulinumtoxinA has a boxed warning that the effects of the botulinum toxin may spread from the area of injection to other areas of the body, causing symptoms similar to those of botulism.Symptoms include swallowing and breathing difficulties that can be life-threatening.

 Source: FDA New Drug Web site (www.fda.gov)