Acupuncture Helps Reduce Need For Sedative Medications In Neonates And Infants Undergoing Treatment In The Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective Case Series

Background: Neonates in intensive care frequently require impressively high doses of opioids and benzodiazepines to manage pain and provide sedation, and discontinuation of these agents often leads to symptoms of withdrawal and increased agitation. Acupuncture, known to attenuate symptoms of pain and withdrawal in adults, may be useful for managing withdrawal symptoms, pain, and agitation in neonates and infants.Objective: This prospective case series of 10 patients was designed as a preliminary pilot study to examine if acupuncture was beneficial and led to reduction of symptoms of withdrawal and agitation in neonates and infants.Methods: The patients with demonstrated symptoms of agitation and withdrawal were treated with an acupuncture protocol consisting of National Acupuncture Detoxification Association acupuncture points and body points (Yin Tang, ST 36, and PC 6.)Results: The patients tolerated acupuncture well and required a decreased amount of prn medication for treating agitation and withdrawal.Conclusions: Acupuncture may be a useful adjunct for managing agitation and withdrawal in neonates and infants in the intensive care unit, and may lead to a decreased need for sedative medications. Further studies, in the form of randomized, blinded controlled trials, are needed to explore acupuncture's efficacy in this setting.