A New Use for Botox?
Posted by
Amanda SchlagerSeptember 18, 2008 1:00 AM“Botox” is a popular quick fix for many men and women who wish to eliminate wrinkles. However, new studies show this bacteria-derived serum may also be used to treat and prevent migraines.
Richard Glogau, Professor of Dermatology at the University of California San Fransisco, conducted a study which tested the uses of Botox as a migraine treatment. This study of 24 patients found that 75 percent of participants experienced migraine relief for up to six months. In these cases, Botox was injected into muscles of the patients’ brows, eyes, forehead, side of the head, and the back of the neck.
Two similar studies were also conducted by Michigan State University and the University of California, Los Angeles.
Allergan Inc., the California company who produces Botox, is in Phase 3 of its own studies regarding its product’s effectiveness in migraine treatment. The goals of this study are to reduce the number of headache episodes in patients compared with those who are treated by a placebo. However, the Food and Drug Administration measures effectiveness according to the reduction in the number of headache days, a secondary goal that was reached in this study.
Botox injections are not currently covered by health insurance and are estimated to cost around 350 dollars per injection. Botox is also not currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of headaches –Botox injections for headaches are considered an “off-label use.” Off-label prescribing is a legal practice for physicians but manufacturers are not allowed to promote off-label uses.
Patients who are taking Botox, or who are considering using it as a treatment, should be informed of the risks. Botox is derived from Botulinum Toxin Type A, a form of one of the deadliest poisons known today. In raw toxin form, it kills by interrupting the communication between nerves and muscles, causing muscle relaxation or paralysis and leaving the victim susceptible to suffocation. Thus, a side effect that can occur is the loss of the ability to swallow, which causes a slow death from starvation or asphyxiation. If you or a loved one has suffered an adverse reaction to Botox, whether from an on- or off-label use, you should seek legal assistance to protect your rights.