An interventional study of electroacupuncture and Sham electroacupuncture in Medication Overuse Headache and Electroacupuncture, sponsored by Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Recruiting at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 80 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-10.
Sponsored by Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Acupuncture is commonly used for the prevention of migraine and tension-type headaches, and has been found to be effective in reducing both the frequency and severity of these conditions. However, studies on acupuncture for medication overuse headache (MOH) are limited, and current research has not been able to determine whether its efficacy is due to the actual therapeutic effects of acupuncture or psychological benefits. To address this issue, the investigators have designed a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture for MOH. In addition, the investigators will explore the regulatory effects of electroacupuncture on central mechanisms in MOH and conduct multi-omics analysis.
This is a multicenter, stratified, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. 120 eligible participants will be randomly allocated into electroacupuncture (EA), sham electroacupuncture (SEA), in a 1:1 ratio, which was divided into two phases
Phase 1 :
1. The EA group will receive 30 electroacupuncture treatments over an 12-week period, while the SEA group will receive sham electroacupuncture treatments with non-penetrating needling.
The two control groups are matched to the MOH patient group by gender and age for recruitment when the planned MOH patient enrollment was nearly 80% complete, and 20 patients in each group will be included, for a total of 40 patients.
Health education will be provided to participants in each group. The primary outcomes will be the changes of headache days per month from baseline after 12 weeks of treatment; The secondary outcomes will be as follows: The change from baseline in the number of headache days per month was also evaluated after 4 weeks of treatment, 8 weeks of treatment, 24 weeks of follow-up, and 36 weeks of follow-up; The proportion of responders, Headache Days per month, average daily headache time, headache Severity, average daily moderate-to-severe headache days, average daily moderate-to-severe headache time, Days with acute medication, Doses taken monthly, Severity of Dependence Scale, Headache Impact Test, EQOL-5D-5L, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Patients'expectation of the acupuncture efficacy, The Patient Global Impression of Change, The patient blinding assessment, Brain MRI Data Analysis and Multi-omics Analysis; The central randomization and data collection will be conducted by an electronic data management system.
Phase 2:
participants who adhere to the study protocol and complete the Week 36 follow-up will be considered to have completed the study. If the results of the first-phase trial demonstrate that electroacupuncture is superior to the control group, and the participants' willingness is confirmed, those willing to proceed will undergo the second-phase follow-up.
The second phase of follow-up was conducted at 1, 2, and 3 years after the end of treatment.These included whether the participant was lost to follow-up, headache diary (including headache frequency and medication use), recurrence of MOH, new comorbidities, and assessments using SDS, HIT-6, HADS, PGIC, and EQ-5D-5L.
Exclusion Criteria for Patients with MOH:
Inclusion Criteria for Patients with episodic migraine(Control group 1):
Inclusion Criteria for Healthy Participants(Control group 2):
Nonrandomized patients with MOH:
●Participants who meet the MOH diagnostic criteria and fulfill the inclusion/exclusion criteria but decline randomization will be assigned to the non-randomized electroacupuncture group. These participants will receive electroacupuncture treatment directly, with no restrictions on the number of participants per center.
Participants will be treated by electroacupuncture. They will be treated 3 sessions a week for the first 6 weeks and 2 sessions a week (once every 2-3 days) for the next 6 weeks. The total course of treatment was 30 times for 12 weeks, each electroacupuncture treatment session for patients will be 30 minutes in duration. All the participants will be accepted usual care: Health education is provided in three aspects: lifestyle changes, behavioral therapies and MOH self-management. Basic treatment: Throughout the study period, patients could continue to use their previously overused symptomatic medications as usual. MOH patients are required not to change the type, single dose, or formulation of acute medications. However, they are allowed to increase or decrease the frequency or total amount of use based on their pain condition. Any use of new medications must be accurately documented.
Device: electroacupuncture
Participants will be treated by sham elecrtoacupuncture. They will be treated 3 sessions a week for the first 6 weeks and 2 sessions a week (once every 2-3 days) for the next 6 weeks. The total course of treatment was 30 times for 12 weeks, each electroacupuncture treatment session for patients will be 30 minutes in duration. All the participants will be accepted usual care: Health education is provided in three aspects: lifestyle changes, behavioral therapies and MOH self-management. Basic treatment: Throughout the study period, patients could continue to use their previously overused symptomatic medications as usual. MOH patients are required not to change the type, single dose, or formulation of acute medications. However, they are allowed to increase or decrease the frequency or total amount of use based on their pain condition. Any use of new medications must be accurately documented.
Device: Sham electroacupuncture
Control group consisted of episodic migraine , they were matched to the MOH patient group by gender and age. Participants will undergo a clinical interview once a month, complete the headache diary assessment, have counseling and health education, and rescue medication if necessary. Health education is provided in three aspects: lifestyle changes, behavioral therapies and episodic migraine self-management. Participants will undergo brain MRI scans at baseline and at the end of week 12. Additionally, EA treatment and other interventions or treatments were not allowed throughout the 12-week study period.
Control group 2 consisted of Healthy Volunteers , they were matched to the MOH patient group by gender and age. Participants will undergo brain MRI scans at baseline and at the end of week 12. Additionally, EA treatment and other interventions or treatments were not allowed throughout the 12-week study period.
The supine position, the local skin of the acupoints was routinely sterilized, and the selected acupoints were pasted with Acupuncture auxiliary device. The main acupuncture points are DU20, bilateral EX-HN5, ST8, GB20, GB20, LI4, LR3, ST40. Select compatible acupoints based on the patient's accompanying symptoms: 1.Discomfort in the neck: EX-B2 of Cervical 3-4; 2.Emotional anxiety, depression or sleep disorders: GV29, HT7; 3.Stomach or abdominal discomfort: CV12, ST25 and CV6. The disposable acupuncture needles and the electronic acupuncture treatment instrument SDZ-V nerve and muscle intimulator both manufactured by Suzhou Medical Appliance Factory Co., Ltd., China.The specifications of acupuncture needles are Φ0.30×25mm, Φ0.30×40mm, Φ0.30×50mm. The needles will be inserted into the skin of acupuncture points and manipulated manually by using the techniques such as lifting, thrusting, and twirling, until the internal compound sensation known as deqi.
The SEA group will use Hua Tuo brand disposable non-insertive sham control needles (Φ0.3mm×40mm) and the electronic acupuncture treatment instrument SDZ-V nerve and muscle intimulator both manufactured by Suzhou Medical Appliance Factory Co., Ltd., China. Sham points 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, and 7-8 are bilaterally located at the midpoints between the following pairs of acupoints: SP19 and EX-UE12, SP6 and LR5, EX-UE1 and HT1, and HT7 and SI8. sham LI4: Bilateral of midpoint between acupoint LI4 and LU9; sham LR3: Bilateral of midpoint between acupoint LR3 and ST44; sham ST40: Bilateral of midpoint between acupoint ST40 and GB35. Compatible acupoints: EX-B2 of Cervical 3-4 horizontal side by 0.5 cun; sham GV29: midpoint between acupoint GV29 and BL2. sham CV12: midpoint between acupoint CV12 and ST21; sham ST25: Bilateral of midpoint between acupoint ST25 and SP15; sham CV6: 3 cun lateral to the level of the CV6; The width of the interphalangeal joint of the patient's thumb was 1 "cun".
Change in the number of headache days
Change from baseline in headache days per month
Time frame: At the end of week 12 after randomization.
Change in the number of headache days
Change from baseline in headache days per month
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of responders
The proportion of patients with at least a 50% reduction from baseline in headache days per month and no overuse of acute pain medications
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in headache days per month
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in headache days per month from baseline
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in mean daily headache duration
The changes from baseline in mean daily headache duration
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in mean daily headache duration
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in mean daily headache duration from baseline
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in headache severity score per month
The changes from baseline in headache severity score per month. Headache severity is recorded daily on a 0-3 scale: 0 = No pain, 1 = Mild pain (does not interfere with activities), 2 = Moderate pain (interferes with some but not all activities), 3 = Severe pain (stops all activities) The monthly headache severity is calculated as the sum of the highest daily headache severity for each day in that month.
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in headache severity score per month
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in headache severity score per month from baseline. Headache severity is recorded daily on a 0-3 scale: 0 = No pain, 1 = Mild pain (does not interfere with activities), 2 = Moderate pain (interferes with some but not all activities), 3 = Severe pain (stops all activities) The monthly headache severity is calculated as the sum of the highest daily headache severity for each day in that month.
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in the number of moderate and severe headache days per month
The changes from baseline in the number of moderate and severe headache days per month
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in the number of moderate and severe headache days per month
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in the number of moderate and severe headache days per month
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in mean daily duration of moderate and severe headache
The changes from baseline in mean daily duration of moderate and severe headache
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in mean daily duration of moderate and severe headache
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in mean daily duration of moderate and severe headache
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in number of days per month with acute medication for headache
The changes from baseline in number of days per month with acute medication for headache
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in number of days per month with acute medication for headache
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in number of days per month with acute medication for headache
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in total number of doses taken per month for headache
The changes from baseline in total number of doses taken per month for headache
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in total number of doses taken per month for headache
The proportion of patients with at least 50% reduction in total number of doses taken per month for headache
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS)
The changes from baseline in the scores of Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). The original SDS consists of five items, each scored on a scale from 0 to 3. A score of 0 indicates "never or almost never," whereas a score of 3 indicates "always or almost always." The psychological dependence score is based on the first four items of the SDS, with a maximum possible score of 12, higher scores indicate a greater level of dependence. The fifth item concerns the treatment process and is not related to the baseline.
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
The changes from baseline in the scores of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The HADS is used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms experienced over the past week. It consists of 14 items divided into two subscales (7 items each for anxiety and depression), with each item scored from 0 (no symptom) to 3 (severe symptom). Each subscale has a maximum score of 21, and higher scores indicate more severe symptoms. A score of ≥8 is defined as the presence of depression or anxiety.
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in Headache Impact Test (HIT-6)
The changes from baseline in the scores of Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). The HIT-6 is a brief tool for assessing the impact of headaches in clinical research and practice. It covers multiple domains of health-related quality of life, including pain, social functioning, role functioning, vitality, cognitive functioning, and psychological distress. Each of the six items is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (6 = Never, 8 = Rarely, 10 = Sometimes, 11 = Very Often, 13 = Always). The total HIT-6 score is the sum of these six item scores and ranges from 36 to 78. Higher scores indicate a greater impact of headaches.
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
The changes in the scores of The Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). The PGIC is used to assess the participant's subjective evaluation of overall improvement. The scale consists of seven levels:1 = Very much improved, 2 = Much improved, 3 = Somewhat improved, 4 = No change, 5 = Somewhat worse 6 = Much worse, 7 = Very much worse. Lower scores indicate greater improvement.
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Change in five-level version of EQ-5D (EQOL-5D-5L)
The changes from baseline in the five-level version of EQ-5D (EQOL-5D-5L). The EQ-5D-5L comprises two parts: 1.EQ-5D Descriptive System: This system measures health status across five dimensions: Mobility, Self-care, Usual activities, Pain/discomfort, Anxiety/depression. Each dimension has five levels, rated from 1 to 5: 1 = No problems/difficulty/discomfort, 2 = Slight problems/difficulty/discomfort 3 = Moderate problems/difficulty/discomfort, 4 = Severe problems/difficulty/discomfort, 5 = Extreme problems/difficulty/discomfort 2.EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (VAS): This is a 20 cm vertical scale ranging from 0 to 100: 0 represents the "worst imaginable health", 100 represents the "best imaginable health". Higher scores on the VAS indicate better overall health status. This study uses the validated Chinese version of the EQ-5D-5L, which has demonstrated good reliability and validity.
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
Patients'expectation of the acupuncture efficacy
Participants are asked, "Do you think your medication overuse headache (MOH) improved after completing acupuncture treatment?" They select one of the following five responses: 1.Significantly improved, 2.Very much improved, 3.Some improvement, 4.No improvement at all, 5.Unclear. Lower-number responses (1 or 2) reflect greater perceived improvement compared with higher-number responses.
Time frame: At baseline
The patient blinding assessment
participants are informed that there are two acupuncture therapies: conventional electroacupuncture and micro-electroacupuncture. Both therapies are effective, and in both cases, participants may or may not feel electrical stimulation. They are then asked whether they would accept conventional electroacupuncture. The answer options are: Difficult to distinguish Yes No
Time frame: Within 5 minutes after the completion of any week 12 treatment session
The proportion of patients with < 15 headache days per month
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with headache free days per month
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The proportion of patients with cured Medication Overuse Headache(MOH)
MOH-cured patients are those who no longer meet the criteria for MOH, with the following three conditions present: i) no acute medication overuse and remission of episodic headache; ii) no acute medication overuse, although chronic headache (≥15 headache days/month) remains,; iii) episodic headache, despite persistent medication overuse
Time frame: At the end of week 4, week 8 and week 12 after randomization; at week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period,
The recurrence rate in patients with cured MOH
The recurrence rate is the proportion of individuals diagnosed with MOH at the end of follow-up among subjects who successfully abstinent
Time frame: At week 24, week 36 of the follow-up period
Brain MRI Data Analysis
Evaluate the changes in the descending pain modulatory system in participants at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment, including the gray matter structural covariance network, resting-state functional connectivity network, and deterministic tracking network of white matter fiber tracts. Randomly select 40 MOH patients (20 in the EA group and 20 in the SEA group) and 40 control group (20 in control group 1 and 20 in control group 2) for MRI scans. All participants from both the control group and the MOH patients are right-handed (i.e., habitually using their right hand for tasks such as writing, using chopsticks, and performing Fine motor skills), and the MRI scans must be conducted on the same model of machine.
Time frame: At baseline and week 12 after randomization
Single-Cell Omics Outcome Analysis
Single-Cell Omics and Phenotypic Changes in MOH Patients Versus healthy participants(control group 2). Blood samples are being collected from 6 MOH patients (3 from the EA group and 3 from the SEA group) and 3 healthy participants for single-cell transcriptome sequencing and analysis. All blood samples from both the control group and patients are collected at the same time of year.
Time frame: 1.EA group: At baseline and week 12 after randomization; 2.SEA group: at week 12 after randomization.
Proteomic Outcome Analysis
Proteomic and Phenotypic Changes in MOH Patients Versus healthy participants(control group 2) Blood samples are being collected from 30 MOH patients for proteomic testing and analysis. All blood samples from both the control group and patients are collected at the same time of year.
Time frame: At baseline and week 12 after randomization
Metabolomics Outcome Analysis
Metabolomics and Phenotypic Changes in MOH Patients Versus healthy participants(control group 2) Blood samples are being collected from 30 MOH patients for Metabolomics testing and analysis. All blood samples from both the control group and patients are collected at the same time of year.
Time frame: At baseline and week 12 after randomization
Change in mean daily headache duration
The changes from baseline in mean daily headache duration
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in mean daily duration of moderate and severe headache
The changes from baseline in mean daily duration of moderate and severe headache
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in total number of doses taken per month for headache
The changes from baseline in total number of doses taken per month for headache
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in number of days per month with acute medication for headache
The changes from baseline in number of days per month with acute medication for headache
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
The recurrence rate in patients with cured MOH
The recurrence rate is the proportion of individuals diagnosed with MOH at the end of follow-up among subjects who successfully abstinent
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS)
The changes from baseline in the scores of Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS) The original SDS consists of five items, each scored on a scale from 0 to 3. A score of 0 indicates "never or almost never," whereas a score of 3 indicates "always or almost always." The psychological dependence score is based on the first four items of the SDS, with a maximum possible score of 12, higher scores indicate a greater level of dependence. The fifth item concerns the treatment process and is not related to the baseline.
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
The changes from baseline in the scores of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) The HADS is used to assess anxiety and depression symptoms experienced over the past week. It consists of 14 items divided into two subscales (7 items each for anxiety and depression), with each item scored from 0 (no symptom) to 3 (severe symptom). Each subscale has a maximum score of 21, and higher scores indicate more severe symptoms. A score of ≥8 is defined as the presence of depression or anxiety.
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in Headache Impact Test (HIT-6)
The changes from baseline in the scores of Headache Impact Test (HIT-6). The HIT-6 is a brief tool for assessing the impact of headaches in clinical research and practice. It covers multiple domains of health-related quality of life, including pain, social functioning, role functioning, vitality, cognitive functioning, and psychological distress. Each of the six items is rated on a 5-point Likert scale (6 = Never, 8 = Rarely, 10 = Sometimes, 11 = Very Often, 13 = Always). The total HIT-6 score is the sum of these six item scores and ranges from 36 to 78. Higher scores indicate a greater impact of headaches.
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
The changes in the scores of The Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC). The PGIC is used to assess the participant's subjective evaluation of overall improvement. The scale consists of seven levels:1 = Very much improved, 2 = Much improved, 3 = Somewhat improved, 4 = No change, 5 = Somewhat worse 6 = Much worse, 7 = Very much worse. Lower scores indicate greater improvement.
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Change in five-level version of EQ-5D (EQOL-5D-5L)
The changes from baseline in the five-level version of EQ-5D (EQOL-5D-5L). The EQ-5D-5L comprises two parts: 1.EQ-5D Descriptive System: This system measures health status across five dimensions: Mobility, Self-care, Usual activities, Pain/discomfort, Anxiety/depression. Each dimension has five levels, rated from 1 to 5: 1 = No problems/difficulty/discomfort, 2 = Slight problems/difficulty/discomfort 3 = Moderate problems/difficulty/discomfort, 4 = Severe problems/difficulty/discomfort, 5 = Extreme problems/difficulty/discomfort 2.EQ-5D Visual Analog Scale (VAS): This is a 20 cm vertical scale ranging from 0 to 100: 0 represents the "worst imaginable health", 100 represents the "best imaginable health". Higher scores on the VAS indicate better overall health status. This study uses the validated Chinese version of the EQ-5D-5L, which has demonstrated good reliability and validity.
Time frame: At week 60, week 108 and week 156 of the follow-up period.
Plan to share: Yes — Individual participant data are available on reasonable request. You can send e-mail to us if you have any question
Supporting information: Study protocol, Sap
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Headache Disorders, Secondary→
Guang'anmen Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences