Botox for migraines: waste, high cost, and low adherence

Finding the right treatment can be a real headache for migraine patients.

For those who finally try it, it doesn’t look like Botox® is much help either. 

Patients who try Botox have not responded to other conventional migraine therapies. They have struggled to find relief from acute, debilitating headaches. This study looked at 2,500 patients who were new to Botox therapy. Treatment consists of injections given in the face, head and neck by a doctor in a health care setting. 

Waste: Because of vial sizes and dosing, there is substantial drug waste. Drug waste and provider administration accounts for one-third of the drug’s $6,300 annual cost. Low adherence: Less than half of the patients completed the recommended four courses of quarterly treatments. This indicates treatment failure. High cost: The study found that Botox did not decrease total cost of care for patients with migraines. It was associated with a three-fold increase in total migraine-related costs.

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