Botox, which was earlier known for its usage as a cosmetic to alleviate wrinkles, will now be used to treat migraine.

On Friday, the UK drug regulators gave green signal to the US-based Allergan's drug Botox as a defensive treatment for chronic migraine. It was first approved for a use in the UK in 1994, with a permission to treat facial ripples.

This is indeed good news for Allergan, which has strived to extend the use of its drug.

Botox is derived from Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that produces toxins which cause paralysis.

The drug will be prescribed to adults suffering from headaches for at least 15 days each month, of which at least eight days are with migraine, including sensitivity to light, nausea and numbness, as told by Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency.

The approval was made after making a trail on more than 1,300 patients, which resulted in decrease in headaches in them and, therefore, the trial was a success. Patients were injected up to five courses of injections of Botox in specific head and neck muscles every 12 weeks. After 24 weeks, it was found that those who were given Botox suffered a few days with a migraine than those who received a placebo injection.

As compared with before the trial, nearly 70% of those treated with Botox had a 50% reduction in the number of migraines, by the end of a year.

It cannot be taken as a permanent cure but can be used as prevention, as stated by Lee Tomkins, director of Migraine Action. The use of Botox will definitely improve the quality of life of migraine patients.