Can acupuncture help you quit antidepressants?
NCT ID NCT07390981
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests whether intradermal acupuncture (tiny needles left under the skin for days) can help people with depression safely reduce or stop their SSRI medication. 114 adults planning to taper off SSRIs will be split into three groups: tapering alone, tapering with sham acupuncture, or tapering with real acupuncture. Researchers will track how much the dose drops and whether depression symptoms or side effects improve.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- intradermal acupuncture
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to help people taper off antidepressants with fewer side effects.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage trial with no phase designation, so results may not be conclusive. The sham acupuncture group helps test for placebo effects, which are strong in acupuncture studies.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
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