The study was designed to test the efficacy of acupuncture as compared with gabapentin. Study participants were randomized into one of four groups: 1) the true acupuncture group 2) a sham acupuncture group and 3) a gabapentin group; and 4) a placebo group.
Each group was measured at baseline and received 8 weeks of treatment.
Each participant experienced troublesome hot flashes at least twice a day. Baseline hot flash composites scores were determined based on daily diaries maintained by each participant. Scores were assessed at the end of the 8 week treatment cycle and again at 24 weeks.
The drop in baseline scores at eight weeks of the true acupuncture group was the most significant of all groups at 7.4 points. The other groups experienced reductions of 5.9 (sham), 5.2 (gabapentin) and 3.4 (placebo). The subsequent scores at 24 weeks showed that only acupuncture had a durable treatment effect. At 24 weeks the acupuncture groups reported even greater reductions. The true acupuncture group went from a reduction of 7.4 to 8.5 and the sham acupuncture group went from 5.9 to 6.1. The other two groups showed diminished improvement. The gabapentin group reported a 4.6 reduction and contrasted with the earlier 5.2 score and the placebo group reported 2.8 as compared with the earlier score of 3.4.
No significant adverse effects were reported, although minor effects were noted by 48% of the Gabapentin group, 29% of the placebo group, 19% of the true acupuncture group and 3% of the sham group. Adherence rates were 90% in the true acupuncture group versus 75% in the gabapentin group.
Researchers stress the importance of dosage in the study results. Study participants received 2 treatments per week for the first 2 weeks and then 1 treatment per week for the following 6 weeks. The lead researcher, Dr. Mao, noted that at 4 weeks they only saw about ½ the eventual benefit of the true acupuncture treatment. He advises that patients should give acupuncture at least six sessions before experiencing a therapeutic effect.
NYC Acupuncture Blog
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Contact Elizabeth Healy, L.Ac. @ 917.968.2854
