| Ilena Rose 2005-07-28, 8:58 am |
|
http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/109/109217.htm
Acupuncture Eases Side Effects of AIDS Drugs
People Report Less Bloating, Cramping
By Charlene Laino
WebMD Medical News Reviewed By Michael Smith, MD
on Wednesday, July 27, 2005
July 27, 2005 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) -- Acupuncture may help relieve
bloating, cramping, and appetite loss among HIV-infected people taking
potent drug cocktails to keep the virus in check.
Since they feel better after acupuncture, people are more likely to
take their drugs properly, resulting in better disease control, says
researcher Elizabeth Sommers, MPH, research director of the AIDS Care
Project/Pathways to Wellness in Boston.
While powerful AIDS drugs are credited with helping HIV-infected
people live longer, the drugs often cause a host of digestive
problems, she tells WebMD.
"Anything we can do to minimize side effects and maximize adherence to
treatment is important," she says. "Acupuncture is one such way."
Sommers says that acupuncture is already used to curb digestive side
effects in people taking cancer drugs.
Targeted Acupuncture Helps More
The new study, presented here at a meeting of the International AIDS
Society, included 50 HIV-infected men and women taking HIV
medications. About half had been diagnosed with full-blown AIDS.
At the start of the study, all of the participants complained that the
drugs caused at least two digestive side effects: Nearly 80% had gas,
more than 40% had bloating, 50% had cramps, nearly 50% had appetite
loss, and 10% had actually lost weight.
The participants then received six weeks of acupuncture. For three
weeks the acupuncture included four sites commonly associated with
improvement of digestive symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and bowel
upset. For another three weeks they received acupuncture at four sites
nearby sites not noted for affecting digestive conditions.
The patients were unaware of which type of acupuncture they were
receiving at any given time.
But after just three weeks of acupuncture treatments, only 60% had two
or more digestive symptoms, Sommers says.
Both sets of acupuncture points improved digestive symptoms. However,
acupuncture at the sites targeting digestive symptoms was more
effective in controlling loss of appetite, abdominal cramps, and
bloating.
More People Take Their Drugs After Acupuncture
Among the 20% of people who said they weren't taking their AIDS
medications as directed at the start of the study, half reported
improvement after acupuncture treatment, she says.
None of the participants complained of side effects from the
acupuncture.
"We're very heartened by the results and are gearing up for a bigger
study," Sommers says.
Pedro Chequer, MD, director of the National AIDS Program in Brazil,
says he welcomes the research.
"It's worth a try," he tells WebMD. "Now we need the scientific proof
it works so we can offer it to our patients."
Hal Huff, ND, a naturopathic doctor at the Canadian college of
Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, says the results are similar to what
he sees in his own practice.
"We give acupuncture in conjunction with other treatments such as
dietary changes and nutritional supplements, so I can't say for
certain whether it's the acupuncture or the whole package that results
in improvement," Huff tells WebMD. "But people report fewer digestive
problems and improved compliance with their AIDS medications."
|