A real-world study published in 'Clinical Neuropharmacology' illustrated that administering anti-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) monoclonal antibodies to individuals suffering from chronic migraine and medication overuse headache could lead to a reduction in the frequency of headache days when compared to the standard drug-based treatment approach.

The goal of the researchers was to assess how three anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies performed in terms of effectiveness when compared to conventional pharmacological therapies to relieve medication overuse headache and chronic migraine. This prospective, cross-sectional, randomized, open trial was conducted, employing real-world comparison groups in a sample of 100 consecutive individuals diagnosed with both chronic migraine and medication overuse headache.

The study comprised 88 participants, consisting of 23 men and 65 women, who were categorized into four groups: individuals treated with Erenumab (19.3%), Galcanezumab (29.6%), Fremanezumab (25%), and conventional medications/control group (26.1%). The participants' age varied between 18 and 78 years, with a mean of 44.1 ± 13.6 years. Over the 6-month follow-up period, all three groups illustrated a substantial decline in the number of headache days in comparison with the control group.

Due to the limited size of patients in each group and the open study design, absolute conclusions cannot be drawn. However, there is a potential for reduced headache days with the utilization of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in medication overuse headache and chronic migraine, as opposed to conventional drug-based treatment.