Efficacy comparison of menopausal irritability between acupuncture and medication: a randomized controlled trial / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the differences in the clinical efficacy on menopausal irritability between acupuncture and medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty cases of menopausal irritability were randomized into an acupuncture group (31 cases) and a medication group (29 cases). In the acupuncture group, the warming needling manipulation was applied at the key acupoints such as Hegu (LI 4) and Taichong (LR 3), once a day, 10 treatments made one session. Totally, 2 sessions were required. In the medication group, 2.5 mg diazepam tablets were prescribed, three times a day, for 23 days totally. The clinical efficacy, the modified Kupperman score and self-rated health measurement scale (SRHMS) were compared before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS The total effective rate was 87. 1% (27/31) in the acupuncture group and 82.8% (24/29) in the medication group. The difference in the clinical efficacy was not significant between the two groups (P > 0.05). The modified Kupperman score and SRHMS score were both reduced obviously after treatment in the two groups, indicating the significant difference (all P < 0.05). The reduction of two scores in the acupuncture group was more obvious than those in the medication group (Kupperman 15.23 +/- 6.19 vs 18.45 +/- 5.37; SRHMS 116.29 +/- 38.24 vs 140.34 +/- 42.15, both P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The acupuncture and medication are effective in the treatment of menopausal irritability, but the efficacy of warming needling manipulation is better than that of diazepam tablets.</p>