Acupuncture reduces methadone dose and opioid cravings in patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy, finds study

According to the results of a randomized, controlled trial, acupuncture may facilitate reducing methadone maintenance dose and reduce drug cravings for patients undergoing treatment for opioid addiction. These findings are important because while MMT has been widely used to decrease the use of opioids, suppress withdrawal symptoms, and reduce criminal activities, it is also a long-term treatment associated with harsh side-effects that make ongoing treatment difficult for patients. The study is published inAnnals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from South China Research Center for Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Medical College of Acu-Moxi and Rehabilitation, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou randomly assigned xx participants to either acupuncture or sham acupuncture 3 times a week for 8 weeks to assess the efficacy of acupuncture on methadone dose reduction.

The researchers looked specifically for a reduction in methadone dose of 20% or more compared with baseline and a reduction in an opioid craving score. They found that the administration of acupuncture resulted in meaningful improvements in the amount of methadone reduction and the decrease in opioid craving score when compared with sham acupuncture. According to the authors, the findings support the consideration of acupuncture for methadone reduction for persons who are receiving MMT.

Reference:

Liming Lu, Chen Chen, Yiming Chen, Yu Dong, Rouhao Chen, Xiaojing Wei, Chenyang Tao, Effect of Acupuncture for Methadone Reduction: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Annals of Internal Medicine, https://doi.org/10.7326/M23-2721.