Author (year) Jadad score No. of subjects (acup/control) Mean age (male%) Inclusion criteria Intervention type Treatment frequency (duration) Treated acupoints Type of Outcome measure Results Adverse events Washburn et al. (1993), [43 ] USA 1 100 (55/45) (1) Standard treatment group: 40.5 (63%) Self-reported with history of intravenous use of heroin confirmed by physical examination for signs of recent needle use AA Daily Sympathetic Nonspecific points (1) Attendance rate (1)
(1) Slight bleeding Wells et al. (1995), [44 ] USA 3 60/(31/29) (1) Specific group: — (54.8%) Only subjects for whom opiates were determined to be the primary drug and who met federal requirements for entry into methadone treatment AA Phase I: 5 days per week Sympathetic Nonspecific points (1) Attendance and retention rate (1) NS NR Zhang et al. (2000), [45 ] China 1 181 (121/60) (1) Specific group: 27.1 (—) (1) DSM III for opiate dependence HANS (The frequency was 2/100 HZ; the intensities were 12–16 mA on arms and 16–26 mA on legs) Phase I: 4 times per day Hegu (LI4) Electrodes were placed at the acupoints without any electrical stimulation (1) Heart rate All 8 indices improved significantly (
) NR Montazeri et al. (2002), [46 ] Iran 2 40 (20/20) (1) Specific group: 32 (100%) Self-reported with history of heroin or opium addiction less than 6 months Body acupuncture with manual stimulation Once per day for 3 days Hegu (LI4) ROD by naloxone CINA The acupuncture group had smaller increase in CINA score compared to control group (
) No adverse events Wu et al. (2003), [47 ] China 1 120 (30/30/30/30) (1) Acupuncture group: — (—%) (1) CCMD II-R and DSM III-R for: opiate dependence Body acupuncture with manual stimulation Phase I: Twice a day (3 days) Sishencong (EX-HN1) (1) Opium plus buprenorphine therapies (1) Opiate withdrawal scale (1) Acupuncture group showed significant improvement in withdrawal syndrome after the 6th day (
)
) Mild dry mouth Wen et al. (2005), [48 ] China 2 220 (111/109) (1) Acupuncture group: (1) DSM IV for opiate dependence Body acupuncture with manual stimulation Once a day (10 days) Hegu (LI4) Oral administration of lofexidine hydrochloride (1) Withdrawal symptom (1) Acupuncture group showed significant improvements in withdrawal syndrome before and after treatment (
)
) NR Margolin et al. (2005), [49 ] USA 1 40 (20/20) (1) Five-needle NADA protocol group: 43.1 (65%) HIV-positive methadone-maintained patients AA 5 days per week Sympathetic Month 1: (1) Retention rate (1) NS NR Zeng et al. (2005), [50 ] China 1 70 (35/35) (1) Treatment group: (1) DSM III-R for opiate dependence Body acupuncture with manual stimulation Once a day (10 days) Baihui (GV20) Methadone 10-day decrescendo therapy Scores of daily withdrawal symptoms Acupuncture group showed significant improvement in withdrawal symptoms on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th days (
or
) NR Mu et al. (2005), [51 ] China 2 120 (30/30/30/30) (1) Acupuncture group I: (1) ICD-10 for opiate dependence Body acupuncture with electrical stimulation (The frequency was 5 Hz; the intensity was 5 mA) 3 times a week (10 weeks) (1) Acupuncture group I: Jiaji (EX-B2) (1) Simulation group: ST36, SP6 without electrical stimulation (1) Withdrawal symptom In the treatment of 4, 8, 10 weeks, acupuncture groups I and II showed significantly decreased withdrawal syndrome, HAMA, and SDS (
) NR Bearn et al. (2009), [52 ] UK 3 83 (48/34) (1) Acupuncture group: 36.2 (73%) DSM IV for opiate dependence AA Once a day on weekdays Five points in the ear cartilage ridge area (acupoints not mentioned) Application of oil to the ear followed by the attachment of 5 metal clips (1) Withdrawal symptoms (1) NS NR
