Treatment of Withdrawal Symptoms With NADA Acupuncture in Chronic Pain Patients

Assessment of NADA Acupuncture for Treatment of Withdrawal Symptoms During Gradual Opioid Withdrawal in Chronic Pain Patients

This project aims at examining the following hypotheses:

• Treatment with NADA and clonidine reduces intensity of withdrawal symptoms to a greater extent than treatment with clonidine.
• Opioid withdrawal improves pain, physical and mental functioning and reduces opioid consumption 3 months and 1 year after withdrawal.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Chronic pain patients treated with opioids over 3 months
• The patient's doctor or nurse assesses that there is an indication to opioid withdrawal and / or the patient wishes to withdraw.
• The patient is motivated for opioid withdrawal
• The patient has experienced withdrawal symptoms
• The patient must be able to understand, speak and write Danish
• The patient must be able to transport himself to the pain center

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children under 18 years old
• External ear infection
• Treatment with benzodiazepines.
• Active substance abuse and alcohol abuse.
• Contraindications for treatment with clonidine:
• Allergy
• Bradyarrhythmias caused by diseased sinus cube or AV block of 2nd or 3rd grade.
• lactose intolerance
• Heart failure
• High medullary damage
• Cardiac conduction disturbances
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding