Adding acupuncture to a low dose of gabapentin is clinically useful for controlling the symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS), and has an additive therapeutic effect over gabapentin alone. Iranian investigators randomly allocated 46 RLS patients to receive either ten sessions of acupuncture (at bilateral Shenshu BL-23, Ganshu BL-18, Chengjin BL-56, Chenshan BL-57, Jinggu BL-64, Zusanli ST-36, Liangqiu ST-34, Shangqiu SP-5, Xuehai SP-10, Shanyijiao SP-6, Taixi KID-3, Yanglingquan GB-34 and Xuanzhong GB-39) plus gabapentin, or gabapentin alone over four weeks. Although both groups of patients showed significant improvements in symptom scores at the end of the treatment period and at eight week follow-up, the combination of acupuncture and gabapentin demonstrated additive therapeutic effects over gabapentin alone. Sleep disturbance was found to be significantly improved only in the acupuncture plus gabapentin group.
Evaluation of Acupuncture in the Treatment of Restless Legs Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Acupunct Meridian Stud. 2017 Oct;10(5):346-350.
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