Pain relief in patients receiving periocular botulinum toxin A.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that patients with benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm experience relief of headache and eye pain after botulinum toxin injections.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review of 85 patients who had received botulinum toxin injections at the University of Minnesota for treatment of benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial spasm was conducted. A prospective telephone questionnaire was used to ascertain details regarding improvement of headache and eye pain.


RESULTS
Of the 85 patients (34 men, 51 women), 20 patients (23.5%) had headaches and 29 (34.1%) had eye pain. Ten of 20 (50.0%) headache-positive patients and 24 of 29 patients (82.8%) with eye pain had reduction in their pain after botulinum toxin injections.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study support the use of botulinum toxin for headache and eye pain relief in patients with benign essential blepharospasm and hemifacial pain. In addition, with the expanding uses of botulinum toxin, the results support its antinociceptive effects. Further investigation should continue in the mechanism of botulinum toxin's effects on pain.
Harrison
Andrew R
AR
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. harri060@umn.edu
Erickson
Jonathan P
JP
Anderson
Jill S
JS
Lee
Michael S
MS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001764:Blepharospasm / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D019569:Hemifacial Spasm / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010166:Palliative Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A