Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41103025›Full record

ArticleHeadache2026

Three years of remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) acute treatment for migraine shows consistent effectiveness and no tachyphylaxis phenomenon.

Stephanie J Nahas, Marius Birlea, Alit Stark-Inbar, Sharon Shmuely, Eden Mama, Alon Ironi, William B Young, Alan M Rapoport

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Headache, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Stephanie J NahasThomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-8846-8393
Marius BirleaUniversity of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-4663-2084
Alit Stark-InbarTheranica, Netanya, Israel.ORCID 0000-0001-6434-6447
Sharon ShmuelyTheranica, Netanya, Israel.
Eden MamaTheranica, Netanya, Israel.ORCID 0009-0000-5076-7427
Alon IroniTheranica, Netanya, Israel.ORCID 0000-0002-3992-4978
William B YoungThomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Alan M RapoportUniversity of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-6311-8562

Funding

Theranica Ltd.
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveThe current study aimed to evaluate the remote electrical neuromodulation (REN) wearable device over 3 years, assessing the potential for tachyphylaxis, consistent effectiveness, overall utilization patterns, and safety.

backgroundMigraine is a highly prevalent chronic neurological disease, especially during peak years of productivity, requiring ongoing management to prevent and reduce its disability. Traditional treatments often face challenges with long-term adherence due to waning efficacy, side effects, and medication interactions. REN offers a nonpharmacological approach for acute and preventive migraine treatment.

methodsThis prospective real-world cohort study analyzed data from 224 patients with migraine in the United States who consistently treated their migraine attacks with the REN wearable device for 3 years between December 2019 and September 2024. The primary endpoint was defined as lack of tachyphylaxis, aka an increase of no more than 2.5 intensity units on a scale of 100 units between 2 consecutive years, representing a nonclinically meaningful change in treatment intensity over 3 years. Secondary endpoints were consistent effectiveness in at least 50% of treatments and consistent utilization, compared over 3 years. The safety outcome assessed the proportion of users with device-related adverse events (dAEs) and the severity and seriousness of the dAEs.

resultsOver 3 years, there was no clinically meaningful change in treatment intensity, and the average (± standard deviation, SD) change between 2 consecutive years was no more than 2.5 intensity units (1.8 ± 5.5 between years 1 and 2, and 1.4 ± 5.3 between years 2 and 3; p = 0.120, McNemar test for two related dichotomous variables), indicating no tachyphylaxis. Effectiveness endpoints remained consistent over 3 years of treated attacks (generalized linear mixed model of repeated measures categorical data) with no significant differences over the 3 years: 72.1%-76.8% of users reporting pain relief (p = 0.846), 26.8%-28.7% pain freedom (p = 0.966), 65.3%-70.8% functional disability relief (p = 0.749), 31.4%-38.9% functional disability freedom (p = 0.680), 29.0%-37.0% freedom from photophobia (p = 0.590), 37.9%-49.4% freedom from phonophobia (p = 0.534), and 57.1%-66.7% freedom from nausea/vomiting (p = 0.753). Monthly utilization was consistent, ranging between 8.0 and 8.8 treatments per month, suggesting sustained adherence to therapy (p = 0.337, generalized linear model of repeated measures). Only two (0.9%) expected, nonserious dAEs were reported (mild or moderate localized skin reactions), neither leading to treatment discontinuation.

conclusionThis study demonstrates the long-term safety, consistent utilization, and acute treatment effectiveness, with no tachyphylaxis, in patients with migraine consistently treating with REN for 3 years. This suggests that REN offers an effective, well-tolerated, safe, and sustainable long-term treatment option for individuals with migraine.

Indexed as

Electric Stimulation TherapyMigraine DisordersOutcome Assessment, Health CareTachyphylaxisWearable Electronic DevicesAdultCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesTreatment OutcomeYoung Adultdrug‐freelong‐termmigraineremote electrical neuromodulationtachyphylaxis

Identifiers

PMID41103025
PMCPMC12916463

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.