Who would have thought that the popular Botox injection usually used for beauty purposes might also help you get rid of your insupportable migraines. According to results of a Phase III clinical trial of Allergan Inc., the drug’s manufacturer, patients given Botox periodically had significant improvements in treating chronic migraines.

Migraines affect an estimated 1.2 million to 3.6 million people in the United States, Allergan said.

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and is one of the most poisonous naturally substances. Besides its anti-wrinkling use, the substance is already approved for treating cervical dystonia, nerve and muscle spasms and excessive armpit sweating.

Now Allergan’s trial found another use for the drug. During the follow-up period, the participants were divided in two groups. People in first group were given a Botox injection every 12 weeks, while the others were given placebo injections. At the end of the trial, the number of headache crisis in people receiving Botox injections knew a significant decrease.

Scott Whitcup, MD, Allergan’s EVP in Research and Development expressed his enthusiasm regarding the findings saying that the company is “pleased” that Botox treatment proved benefic to patients “whose lives have been profoundly impacted by this severely debilitating condition.”

Following the announcement, Allergan shares were up $4.57 at $59.15 in afternoon New York Stock Exchange trading. The company is now looking to get the US Food and Drug Administration clearance, which could come by the first half of 2010.