OnabotulinumtoxinA for Treatment of Chronic Migraine: Pooled Results From the Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Phases of the PREEMPT Clinical Program

This research investigates onabotulinumtoxinA, commonly known as BOTOX, for chronic migraine treatment. Chronic migraine is a common, debilitating condition that often remains untreated. The study pooled results from two major clinical trials. These trials included 1384 adults who received either onabotulinumtoxinA or a placebo. Participants were treated with injections every 12 weeks over 24 weeks. Results showed significant reductions in headache days for the onabotulinumtoxinA group. At 24 weeks, the mean decrease in headache days was 8.4 days for onabotulinumtoxinA. The placebo group experienced a decrease of 6.6 days. Other measures, like headache frequency and severity, also improved significantly. Adverse events were reported by 62% of patients on onabotulinumtoxinA. Most were mild or moderate in severity. Few participants discontinued treatment due to these events. Overall, onabotulinumtoxinA is effective and well tolerated for chronic migraine prevention. Clinical relevance: This research shows that onabotulinumtoxinA significantly improves chronic migraine symptoms and quality of life.