Is Acupuncture Safe in Patients with Morphine Hypersensitivity?

Abstract

Acupuncture is a well recognised method of providing pain relief. The case of a known morphine-sensitive patient is reported, who apparently suffered a hypersensitivity reaction (nausea, headache and lethargy) to a single treatment with acupuncture, possibly due to the increased release of endogenous opioid peptides. It is suggested that acupuncture should either be avoided or administered with caution in patients known to be sensitive to morphine or opiate derivatives.