Observational studyThe journal of headache and pain2025
Real-world use of over-the-counter medications by patients with migraine in Japan: results from the OVERCOME (Japan) 2nd study.
Observational study in The journal of headache and pain, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Patient Preferences Toward CGRP-Targeting Preventive Migraine Treatments in Japan: Discrete Choice Experiment.Neurology and therapy · 2026Article
- Real-World Characteristics and Treatment Patterns of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Monoclonal Antibody Users: a Japanese Claims Database-Based Study.Pain and therapy · 2026Article
- Awareness, attitudes, and clinical practices related to medication-overuse headache among Italian pharmacists: results from a cross-sectional survey.The journal of headache and pain · 2026Article
- Diagnosis challenges and accessibility barriers to migraine management in Southeast Asia: results from the South-East Asia Local breAch on MigraiNe Treatment (SEALANT) study.The journal of headache and pain · 2026Article
- Chronic headache disorders as a threat to brain health among employees of a city office in the Tokyo metropolitan area.The journal of headache and pain · 2025Article
- Differences in Patient-Physician Satisfaction for Migraine Treatment Medications in Patients with and without Medication-Overuse Headache: A Cross-Sectional Real-World Survey.Neurology and therapy · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundPeople with migraine may prefer over-the-counter (OTC) drugs because of multiple reasons, but their overuse can cause medication overuse headaches. This analysis of the ObserVational survey of the Epidemiology, tReatment, and Care Of MigrainE (OVERCOME [Japan]) 2nd study describes the real-world use of OTC headache drugs and the challenges that potentially prevent people with migraine from accessing appropriate medical management in Japan.
methodsThis analysis of the cross-sectional, population-based, nationwide online survey included adults with migraine. Respondents reported their experiences with prescription and OTC drugs for migraine, migraine-specific drug awareness, and attitude towards migraine. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the number of monthly headache days (MHD) and the frequency of OTC drug use/month.
resultsThe 19,590 respondents with migraine (68.8% female; mean [SD] age 40.5 [13.1] years) had mean (SD) 3.5 (5.2) MHDs; 29.0% consulted doctors in the past year for migraine. OTC drug use in the past year was common (≥ 62.1%) regardless of doctor consultation or number of MHDs. Among respondents who answered that they would usually use prescribed drugs when they have a migraine attack, 35.2% reported that they would typically use OTC drugs too. The frequency of OTC drug use was the same or higher than that of prescribed drugs in 51.3% of the respondents who consulted doctors in the past year. Only 14.6% of respondents discussed OTC drugs with doctors during consultations in the past year. Migraine-specific drug access and awareness were limited even among frequent OTC drug users (≥ 10 days/month); 18.2% used triptans, but 65.5% never heard of it. Among 37.1% of respondents who had hesitated to visit a doctor, 'I could handle it myself with OTC medicine' was the most common reason for hesitation (34.9%).
conclusionOTC drug use is common among people with migraine; however, it is not frequently discussed with doctors. Many respondents, even those with frequent OTC drug use, did not have access or awareness of migraine-specific drugs. To prevent medication overuse for migraine, the use of OTC drugs should also be discussed and managed.
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