Botox vs. painkiller: which eases muscle pain better?

NCT ID NCT06899438

First seen Jan 11, 2026 · Last updated Jun 19, 2026 · Updated 14 times

Summary

This completed study tested whether botulinum toxin type-A injections relieve pain from myofascial pain syndrome better than a standard local anesthetic (prilocaine). Thirty-eight adults with long-term muscle pain were randomly assigned to receive either botulinum toxin or prilocaine injections into their trigger points. Pain levels were measured before treatment and at 2 and 6 weeks after using standard pain scales.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for MYOFACIAL PAIN SYNDROMES are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

botulinum toxin type-A injection

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a longer-lasting pain relief option for people with myofascial pain syndrome.

What could go wrong

This is a small, completed trial with only 38 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Botulinum toxin injections can cause temporary muscle weakness or bruising.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

facial neuralgia myofascial pain syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.