Warning Signs After Acupuncture: When to Get Medical Care

Get emergency help first

In the U.S., call 911 (or your local emergency number) if, during or after acupuncture, you have:

• chest pain, pressure or tightness, or a pounding or irregular heartbeat
• sudden shortness of breath, or sharp chest or shoulder pain that gets worse with a deep breath
• fainting that does not clear quickly, or fainting if you are pregnant
• loss of speech, vision problems, or being unable to move an arm or leg

MedlinePlus lists chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, loss of speech, vision problems and inability to move a limb as reasons to call 911 for someone who has fainted. [1] It describes sharp chest or shoulder pain made worse by a deep breath and shortness of breath as symptoms of a collapsed lung. [2] Do not wait to see whether it settles. This page is information only and cannot diagnose anything.

Why these signs matter

Serious problems are rare but documented. NCCIH says that when acupuncture is not delivered properly it can cause serious effects, including infections, punctured organs and injury to the central nervous system. [3] A review of Chinese-language case reports found 479 cases of adverse events and 14 deaths. The most frequent were pneumothorax (collapsed lung), fainting, subarachnoid hemorrhage and infection. [4] A hospital pain clinic notes that lung puncture can only occur if needles are inserted over the chest. [5] Case reports are not rates. A meta-analysis of prospective studies estimated serious adverse events at about 1 per 10,000 patients, with wide uncertainty. [6]

One case report describes an older woman who had severe chest pain and fainting during treatment and was diagnosed with blood collecting around the heart. [7] It is unusual, but it shows why chest symptoms are treated as an emergency.

Usually mild and brief

A hospital pain clinic lists these as common and lasting only a few hours to a couple of days: temporary drowsiness, a temporary increase in pain, minor bleeding or bruising, nausea and headache. [5] In a prospective survey of acupuncture performed by doctors and physiotherapists, the most common minor events were bleeding, needling pain and aggravation of symptoms. [8] In a Japanese survey of 14,039 sessions, bleeding and bruising were the most common events, and no infections or serious events were reported. [9]

Same-day medical care

Contact your doctor or a clinic the same day, or use urgent care if you cannot reach one, for:

If you take a blood thinner, bleeding questions are best asked before treatment. The NHS says acupuncture may not be safe if you take blood-thinning medicine or are at increased risk of bleeding. [13] See bleeding and bruising after acupuncture.

Fainting during or just after a session

MedlinePlus says fainting is a brief loss of consciousness, and that people often feel weak, sweaty or nauseated beforehand. [1] A hospital pain clinic lists fainting as a rare effect, particularly at a first treatment. [5] If you feel faint, tell the practitioner and ask to lie down. Do not stand up quickly.

What to do next

• Tell the practitioner what happened, unless it is an emergency. Tell your own doctor too.
• Write down the date, the symptoms and what was done.
• Do not stop a prescribed medicine because of an acupuncture problem without speaking to your doctor. The NHS gives that same advice. [13]
• If a needle or a clinic's practice seems at fault, see reporting an acupuncture adverse event or complaint.

For fuller coverage of side effects see acupuncture side effects and precautions and the quick reference.