Researchers tested acupuncture against the Wyeth antidepressnt Effexor, a drug commonly used to relieve hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopause symptoms that can accompany breast cancer treatment, and found that acupuncture works as well, and the benefits last longer, without bad side effects.
“It was a more durable effect,” reported Dr. Eleanor Walker of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, who led the research team. After 12 weeks of treatment, symptoms were reduced for an additional 15 weeks for women who had undergone acupuncture, compared with just 2 weeks for those who had taken the drug.
Those taking Effexor reported side effects inlcuding nausea, headache, difficulty sleeping, dizziness, increased blood pressure, fatigue, and anxiety.
There were no bad side effects with acupuncture. In fact, the reserachers said that women reported increased energy, an overall sense of well-being, and sexual desire.
“It’s been tested directly against a drug that we use regularly, and it’s more effective. It has benefits, as opposed to any side effects,” Walker said, adding, “If you only have to give women treatment three to four times a year, as opposed to having to take a pill every day, that’s going to be more cost-effective for insurance companies and the patient.”
Walker said it is unclear exactly how acupuncture is working to reduce the menopausal symptoms, but experts say it may help the activity of the body’s natural pain-killing chemicals among other things.
