{
  "abstract": "Background\n\nWhether intensive electroacupuncture (EA) during early nicotine withdrawal improves symptom trajectories remains unclear.Objective\n\nTo compare intensive EA with low-density EA and varenicline for withdrawal symptoms and explore withdrawal-related sleep symptoms.Methods\n\nIn this single-center, three-arm, open-label randomized trial, 114 participants were allocated equally to intensive EA, low-density EA, or varenicline for 4 weeks. EA was administered daily or every other day during week 1, respectively, and three times weekly during weeks 2-4. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, weeks 1-4, and 1 and 3 months after treatment. The main outcome for the present analysis was the week-1 change in Minnesota Nicotine Withdrawal Scale (MNWS) total score. Withdrawal-related sleep symptoms were assessed exploratorily using a score derived from two MNWS sleep-related items. Analyses used analysis of covariance and generalized estimating equations, with exploratory analyses of time-averaged symptom burden and post-treatment changes.Results\n\nPer-protocol analyses included 110 participants. At week 1, intensive EA was associated with lower adjusted MNWS scores than varenicline (mean difference, -5.75; 95% CI, -6.95 to -4.55) and low-density EA (-5.88; 95% CI, -7.08 to -4.67). Exploratory analyses suggested improvements in craving and withdrawal-related sleep symptoms. The proportions with exhaled carbon monoxide ≤4 ppm at 3 months after treatment were 29.7%, 18.9%, and 13.9% in the intensive EA, varenicline, and low-density EA groups, respectively (overall p=0.234).Conclusion\n\nIntensive EA may alleviate withdrawal symptoms during early smoking cessation. Exploratory sleep findings require confirmation. The study did not establish a benefit for smoking abstinence, and longer follow-up is needed.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Acupuncture, Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.",
    "Department of Acupuncture, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.",
    "Department of Acupuncture, Jiangqiao Community Health Service Center, Jiading District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.",
    "Department of Acupuncture, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China."
  ],
  "article_type": "case report",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhen Lai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Weijia Gao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Xujing Yao",
      "orcid": "0009-0005-9902-2780"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Shijie Cao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Xinyu Xia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Natalie Ann Parry"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Yan Liang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bw6nrm2p3nx7m.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.2147/tcrm.s639287",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726633",
  "id": "bw6nrm2p3nx7m",
  "issns": [
    "1176-6336",
    "1178-203X"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974167",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Clinical Trial Report"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2707|Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224090679",
  "pdf_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13726633?pdf=render",
  "pmcid": "PMC13726633",
  "pmid": "42974167",
  "published": "2026-10-29",
  "publisher": "Dove Press",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bw6nrm2p3nx7m.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-04T15:20:47Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42974167",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42974167"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-05T12:22:56Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13726633",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.2147/tcrm.s639287"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2707|Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Effects of Intensive Electroacupuncture on Nicotine Withdrawal and Withdrawal-Related Sleep Symptoms in Patients with Nicotine Dependence: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial.",
  "title_text": "Effects of Intensive Electroacupuncture on Nicotine Withdrawal and Withdrawal-Related Sleep Symptoms in Patients with Nicotine Dependence: A Three-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial.",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-06T12:22:32Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/bw6nrm2p3nx7m",
  "venue": "Therapeutics and clinical risk management",
  "versions": []
}