Acupuncture As a Potential Opioid-Sparing Pain Management Intervention for Patients Undergoing Cancer Treatment

Background: High-symptom burdens, including pain, are associated with high-dose chemotherapy. Objective: We conducted a pilot study to evaluate how acupuncture may affect symptom burden and use of pain medication. Design: This is a randomized sham acupuncture (SA) controlled trial. Setting: An academic cancer center. Patients: Patients were with multiple myeloma undergoing autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Intervention: Once daily acupuncture for 5 days after high-dose chemotherapy. Main Outcome Measures: M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), opioid use. Results: Compared with SA, true acupuncture reduced nausea, poor appetite, and drowsiness, and use of opioids in opioid-naive patients. Randomizations: Yes. Blinding: Investigators and study participants were blinded. Conclusion: Further study of acupuncture in a larger trial is warranted for its effect on reducing opioid use and symptom burdens during high-dose chemotherapy. Registration: NCT01811862.