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Migraine Surgery pp 149–173Cite as

Botulinum Toxin

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Abstract

The use of botulinum toxin as a treatment for migraine has an inconsistent and lingering history. Following years of rejection, the PREEMPT trials eventually found that it is useful as a prophylactic for chronic migraines. The surgical and neurological approaches employing botulinum, however, are fundamentally different. Furthermore, the surgical use is based on its peripheral mechanism, a localized muscle paralysis, whereas the neurological use is based on alleged central mechanisms and directly antinociceptive properties. The botulinum-induced deactivation of trigger sites can simulate the surgical procedure and should be used as a preoperative test. There is no standardized method to determine the individual selection of trigger sites; the approach presented herewith is a recommendation. Botulinum toxin is a safe and effective agent with rare, mild, and transient side effects.

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    Thomas Muehlberger

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Muehlberger, T. (2018). Botulinum Toxin. In: Migraine Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78117-4_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78117-4_10

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