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Treatment of Tension‐type Headache With Botulinum Toxin Type A: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Study
Author(s) -
Rollnik Jens D.,
Tanneberger Oliver,
Schubert Margot,
Schneider Udo,
Dengler Reinhard
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-4610.2000.00044.x
Subject(s) - tenderness , placebo , medicine , myalgia , anesthesia , botulinum toxin , muscle tension , double blind , visual analogue scale , saline , intramuscular injection , surgery , physical therapy , pathology , alternative medicine
Objective.–To determine whether injections of botulinum toxin could be of therapeutic value in the treatment of tension‐type headache. Background.–Botulinum toxin A is very effective at reducing muscle tenderness and pain in many diseases. Increased muscle tension may contribute to tension‐type headache. Methods.–We performed a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study with 21 patients fulfilling the International Headache Society criteria for tension‐type headache. Participants were randomly assigned to treatment (pericranial injection of 10 × 20 mouse units botulinum toxin A) or placebo (injection of isotonic saline in the same manner). Results.–After 4, 8, and 12 weeks, no significant differences between placebo and treatment could be observed (with respect to visual analog scale, frequency and duration of headache attacks, consumption of analgesics, pressure pain threshold, total tenderness score, and quality‐of‐life parameters). Conclusions.–The findings of our study strongly support the hypothesis that peripheral mechanisms, such as increased muscle tenderness, only play a minor role in the pathogenesis of tension‐type headache.