MONDAY, Oct. 18, 2010 (HealthDay News) -- Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) injection has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prevent chronic migraines among people who get the painful headaches more than 14 days per month.
Botox, made from a purified form of botulinum toxin, has long been approved as a cosmetic wrinkle remover. The drug is administered as multiple injections near the head and neck about once every three months to treat chronic migraines, the agency said in a news release.
Botox hasn't been proven to treat migraines that occur 14 or fewer days per month, and patients should discuss with a physician the appropriateness of the drug for their headaches, the agency said.
Common adverse reactions to Botox used for this purpose include neck pain and headache, the FDA said.
The drug carries a boxed warning that the botulinum toxin could travel from the injection site and cause dangerous symptoms that mimic those of botulism food poisoning, including difficulty swallowing and breathing.
Botox is manufactured by Allergan Inc, based in Irvine, Calif.
More information
To learn more about migraines, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
