Personalized Pulsed Radiofrequency of the Greater Occipital Nerve for Medication Overuse Headache

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Greater Occipital Nerve Pulsed Radiofrequency: GONPRF applied at C2 under ultrasound guidance in addition to standard care, starting at enrollment. Follow-up at 1, 3, and 6 months.

Standard care: Limitation of overused acute headache medications, lifestyle advice (nutrition, hydration, activity, sleep), and continuation of preventive medications. Participants who respond at 1 month continue standard care.

Study summary

This study evaluates a novel treatment approach for medication overuse headache (MOH) using greater occipital nerve pulsed radiofrequency (GONPRF).

Three treatment strategies are compared:

Standard Treatment: Limitation of overused acute headache medications, lifestyle counseling, and continuation of existing preventive medications.

Primary GONPRF: GONPRF administered in addition to standard treatment.

Modified GONPRF: GONPRF administered as a second-line intervention in individuals who do not respond adequately to standard treatment alone.

The study assesses whether GONPRF, when applied early or after an initial period of standard care, reduces monthly headache days more rapidly and effectively than standard treatment alone. Outcomes are evaluated over a 6-month follow-up period using headache diaries and scheduled clinical assessments.

This is a randomized controlled trial designed to systematically evaluate the clinical benefit of GONPRF in patients with medication overuse headache.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in Monthly Headache Days — Baseline to 3 months
  Number of headache days per month, defined as days with headache lasting ≥4 hours and/or requiring acute headache treatment, recorded using patient headache diaries. The primary analysis compares the change from baseline to 3 months.

Trial sites (1)

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