Acupuncture May Ease Hot Flashes from ADT

Acupuncture may be an effective treatment for hot flashes in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa), according to findings published online in Urology. Tomasz M. Beer, MD, of Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and colleagues studied 22 PCa patients who were on ADT and underwent acupuncture with electrostimulation biweekly for four weeks, then weekly for six weeks.

The primary endpoint was a reduction in hot flash score after four weeks of therapy. After four weeks, nine patients (41%) achieved the primary endpoint. The researchers noted that numerous placebo-controlled trials have shown a 25% response rate to placebo treatment for hot flashes.

From the August 01, 2010 Issue of Renal and Urology News