The study, by the National Headache Foundation, a nonprofit organization that promotes public awareness about headaches, found that 32 percent of those who suffer from migraines have never consulted a doctor about their conditions, even though in the mid-1990's, the first over-the-counter drug was approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for the treatment of migraine.

In addition, a class of highly specific, prescription drugs known as triptans were also approved for treatment of migraines. According to the recent study, 57 percent of migraine sufferers still rely on over-the-counter medications of all kinds exclusively.

The study, the largest epidemiological study of migraines in the United States, surveyed about 30,000 Americans and compared their answers to those of a study 10 years ago. Over all, the current survey found the prevalence of migraines to be roughly the same now as it was 10 years ago, but it found that current sufferers were not taking advantage of new treatments.

''Migraine is definitely underdiagnosed and undertreated in the United States,'' said Suzanne Simons, executive director of the headache foundation, which is based in Chicago. ''Treatment patterns have not kept pace with treatment options.''