Botulinum toxin type A and divalproex sodium for prophylactic treatment of episodic or chronic migraine

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA; BOTOX: Allergan, Inc.) and divalproex sodium (DVPX; DEPAKOTE: Abbott Laboratories) as prophylaxis in reducing disability and impact associated with migraine.

Background: There is a need for effective, well-tolerated prophylactic treatment of migraine.

Design/methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, single-center prospective study. Fifty-nine patients received either BoNTA 100 U/placebo-DVPX bid or placebo-BoNTA/DVPX 250 mg bid. BoNTA/placebo injections were given at Day 0 and at Month 3. Patients were evaluated at Months 1, 3, 6, and 9.

Results: Both treatments showed significant improvements in migraine disability scores and reductions in headache days and headache index. A trend to decreased headache severity was observed with BoNTA. A greater percentage of DVPX patients reported adverse events possibly related to treatment (DVPX 75.8% vs BoNTA 50%, P = .04) and discontinued because of adverse events (DVPX 27.6% vs BoNTA 3.3%, P = .012).

Conclusions: Both BoNTA and DVPX significantly reduced disability associated with migraine; BoNTA had a favorable tolerability profile compared with DVPX.