Acupuncture as effective as venlafaxine for management of hot flashes [View All]

[Celebration]

http://www.hemonctoday.com/article.aspx?rid=59656

To determine if a nonpharmacologic treatment, specifically acupuncture, could reduce vasomotor symptoms, researchers conducted a randomized controlled study. They assigned women to 12 weeks of therapy with acupuncture (n=25) or venlafaxine (n=25).

The two treatment arms had similar outcomes with decreases in hot flashes, depressive symptoms and other menopausal quality of life symptoms. Improvement was noted in mental health from pre- to post-treatment as well. Changes over time were similar with both groups experiencing improvement at post-treatment followed by a return toward baseline values.

At post-treatment, both groups had a 50% decrease in hot flashes; however, at two-weeks post-treatment, hot flashes increased in the venlafaxine group but remained low in the acupuncture group.

Eighteen incidences of adverse effects, including nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping and dizziness, were reported with venlafaxine; whereas, no adverse effects were reported with acupuncture.

“Given the results of this small randomized study, we feel that integrative therapies have a role in improving the quality of life of cancer patients and should be explored further as an option for treatment of cancer-related adverse effects,” the researchers said.