43648
document
Acupuncture versus venlafaxine for the management of vasomotor symptoms in patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer : a randomized controlled trial . PURPOSE Vasomotor symptoms are common adverse effects of antiestrogen hormone treatment in conventional breast cancer care . Hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated in patients with breast cancer . Venlafaxine ( Effexor ) , the therapy of choice for these symptoms , has numerous adverse effects . Recent studies suggest acupuncture may be effective in reducing vasomotor symptoms in menopausal women . This randomized controlled trial tested whether acupuncture reduces vasomotor symptoms and produces fewer adverse effects than venlafaxine . PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty patients were randomly assigned to receive 12 weeks of acupuncture ( n = 25 ) or venlafaxine ( n = 25 ) treatment . Health outcomes were measured for up to 1 year post-treatment . RESULTS Both groups exhibited significant decreases in hot flashes , depressive symptoms , and other quality-of-life symptoms , including significant improvements in mental health from pre- to post-treatment . These changes were similar in both groups , indicating that acupuncture was as effective as venlafaxine . By 2 weeks post-treatment , the venlafaxine group experienced significant increases in hot flashes , whereas hot flashes in the acupuncture group remained at low levels . The venlafaxine group experienced 18 incidences of adverse effects ( eg , nausea , dry mouth , dizziness , anxiety ) , whereas the acupuncture group experienced no negative adverse effects . Acupuncture had the additional benefit of increased sex drive in some women , and most reported an improvement in their energy , clarity of thought , and sense of well-being . CONCLUSION Acupuncture appears to be equivalent to drug therapy in these patients . It is a safe , effective and durable treatment for vasomotor symptoms secondary to long-term antiestrogen hormone use in patients with breast cancer .
43649
Intervention_Physical
Acupuncture
43650
Intervention_Pharmacological
venlafaxine
43651
Intervention_Pharmacological
antiestrogen hormone treatment
43652
Intervention_Pharmacological
Hormone replacement therapy
43653
Intervention_Pharmacological
Venlafaxine
43654
Intervention_Physical
acupuncture
43655
Intervention_Physical
acupuncture
43656
Intervention_Pharmacological
venlafaxine
43657
Intervention_Control
acupuncture
43658
Intervention_Pharmacological
venlafaxine
43659
Intervention_Physical
acupuncture
43660
Intervention_Pharmacological
venlafaxine
43661
Intervention_Pharmacological
venlafaxine
43662
Intervention_Physical
acupuncture
43663
Intervention_Pharmacological
venlafaxine
43664
Intervention_Physical
acupuncture
43665
Intervention_Physical
Acupuncture
43666
Intervention_Physical
Acupuncture
43667
Intervention_Pharmacological
antiestrogen hormone
43668
Outcome_Physical
vasomotor symptoms
43669
Outcome_Physical
Vasomotor symptoms
43670
Outcome_Physical
vasomotor symptoms
43671
Outcome_Physical
vasomotor symptoms
43672
Outcome_Physical
Health outcomes
43673
Outcome_Physical
hot flashes
43674
Outcome_Physical
depressive symptoms
43675
Outcome_Physical
quality-of-life symptoms
43676
Outcome_Mental
mental health
43677
Outcome_Physical
hot flashes
43678
Outcome_Physical
nausea
43679
Outcome_Physical
dry mouth
43680
Outcome_Physical
dizziness
43681
Outcome_Physical
anxiety
43682
Outcome_Physical
sex drive
43683
Outcome_Mental
energy
43684
Outcome_Mental
clarity of thought
43685
Outcome_Mental
sense of well-being
43686
Participant_Condition
hormone receptor-positive breast cancer
43687
Participant_Condition
breast cancer
43688
Participant_Condition
menopausal
43689
Participant_Sample-size
Fifty
43690
Participant_Condition
breast cancer