Electroacupuncture for Tapering Off Long-term Benzodiazepine Use

The University of Hong Kong144 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to examine the efficacy of electroacupuncture for tapering benzodiazepines in long-term users. All eligible subjects will be randomized in a ratio of 1:1 to (1) Electroacupuncture combined with gradual tapering; and (2) Placebo acupuncture combined with gradual tapering.

Recent randomized controlled studies support that acupuncture has beneficial effects for insomnia. Primary insomnia patients receiving electroacupuncture showed an increase in sleep diary-derived sleep efficiency from an average of 69.8% at baseline to 81.2% at 1-week post-treatment. A similar result was found in patients with residual insomnia associated with major depressive disorder. Acupuncture is efficacious in alleviating anxiety and insomnia symptoms; hence, it may help to reduce the impacts of withdrawal symptoms during benzodiazepine tapering. However, there has been no randomized controlled trial to examine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture on benzodiazepine discontinuation.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

144

Conditions

Benzodiazepine Dependence

Interventions

ElectroacupunctureDEVICE

Gradual Tapering Benzodiazepines will be tapered off over four weeks. The subjects will be told by a blinded researcher to reduce their daily dose by 25% in the 1st and 2nd week. For the remaining 50%, subjects will be asked to reduce the dose by 12.5% each time for 3-4 days in the 3rd and 4th week. Subjects who are unable to taper according to the suggested plan can reduce dose at a slower pace. Electroacupuncture The subjects will be treated with electroacupuncture at bilateral Sishencong (EX-HN1), Anmian, Shuaigu (GB8), Touwei (ST8), Taiyang (EX-HN5), Toulinqi (GB15), Neiguan (PC6), Shenmen (HT7), Sanyinjiao (SP6), Taichong (LV3), and unilateral Yintang (EX-HN3), Shenting (GV24), and Baihui (GV20). "De qi" is achieved if possible. The intensity of electric-stimulation will be adjusted up to a level the subject can tolerate without undue discomfort. The needles will be left for 30 min.

Placebo acupunctureDEVICE

Gradual Tapering The gradual tapering procedure will be the same as in the "Electroacupuncture combined with gradual tapering" group. Placebo acupuncture Placebo needles designed by Streitberger will be used. The placebo needles are inserted to the site 1 inch beside the acupoints of the electroacupuncture group in order to avoid acupressure effect. The needles are held by surgical tape or hair pin to imitate the procedure of acupuncture. The needles are connected to an electric-stimulator with zero frequency and amplitude. The number, duration and frequency of treatment session will be the same as in the "Electroacupuncture combined with gradual tapering" group.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * aged ≥ 18 years * taking benzodiazepines (World Health Organization Anatomical, Therapeutic and Chemical classification system codes N05BA, N05CD, N05CF, and M03BX07)) on more than 50% of days for at least 3 months and during their prospective 2-week record prior to baseline * willing to withdraw their benzodiazepine use during the study, Exclusion Criteria: * any relapse of psychiatric disorder in the past year that required intervention, * Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale depression or anxiety as a tool (subscore ≥ 8) which indicates subjects with possible depression or anxiety * have any unstable psychiatric conditions or serious physical illnesses which are judged by the investigator to render unsuitable or unsafe; * have valvular heart defects or bleeding disorders, taking anticoagulant drugs, or are fitted with any implanted electrical device such as pacemaker, defibrillator, or brain stimulation, * have received any acupuncture during the previous 6 months prior to baseline, * are pregnant, breast-feeding or of childbearing potential but not using adequate contraception, * have infection or abscess close to the site of selected acupoints and in the investigator's opinion inclusion is unsafe and * significant suicidal risk as rated by the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale item on suicide (a score ≥ 3)

Locations (3)

Department of Psychiatry, Kowloon Hospital

Hong Kong, China

RECRUITING

Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital

Hong Kong, China

RECRUITING

Department of Psychiatry, United Christian Hospital

Hong Kong, China

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

The proportion of participants who successfully discontinued benzodiazepines

Time frame: up to 12-week post-treatment

Secondary Outcomes

The percentage of equivalent dose of benzodiazepines reduced

Different type of benzodiazepines are tranformed into an equivalent dose of diazepam

Time frame: First week of treatment (week 1), second week of treatment (week 2), third week of treatment (week 3), fourth week of treatment (week 4), 2-week post-treatment (week 6) and 12-week post-treatment (week 16)

Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Symptom Questionnaire (BWSQ)

20-item, self-administered withdrawal symptom questionnaire

Insomnia Severity Index (ISI)

7-item 5-point Likert self-rating scale on the severity of insomnia and the distress

Time frame: second week of treatment (week 2), fourth week of treatment (week 4), 2-week post-treatment (week 6) and 12-week post-treatment (week 16)

Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

14-item self-administrated questionnaire, which will be used to assess the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms

Time frame: second week of treatment (week 2), fourth week of treatment (week 4), 2-week post-treatment (week 6) and 12-week post-treatment (week 16)

Central Contacts

Yee-Man Branda

CONTACT

+852 9727 7742 branda.ym.yu@polyu.edu.hk

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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