Patients using methadone to treat opioid use disorder were divided into two groups. One group received acupuncture and the other received sham acupuncture. What where the differences between groups in regarding reduction of methadone dose and opioid cravings?
More patients who received acupuncture reduced their methadone dose 20% or more than with sham acupuncture (37 [62%] vs. 16 [29%]; risk difference, 32% [97.5% CI, 13% to 52%]; P < 0.001). In addition, Reduction of opioid craving was more effective with acupuncture than sham acupuncture with a mean difference of −11.7 mm VAS (CI, −18.7 to −4.8 mm; P < 0.001).
Liming Lu, Chen Chen, Yiming Chen, et al. Effect of Acupuncture for Methadone Reduction: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Ann Intern Med.2024;177:1039-1047. [Epub 9 July 2024]. doi:10.7326/M23-2721
Contributed by Kristine Nanagas, MD