Clinical Study On Treatment Protocol Optimization Of Postherpetic Neuralgia

Objective: This study is to observe the clinical effects and safety of four different treatment protocols for patients with postherpetic neuralgia. Among the four protocols to treat postherpetic neuralgia patients in this clinical study, we found the best one which has the most significant curative effect and few side-effects.Methods: The 124 postherpetic neuralgia patients are assigned into four groups at random. Group I, II, III, IV are treated with SiZhongJinGou Decoction (32 patients), three kinds of western medicines (Indomethacin, Dipyridamole and Carbamazepine) (27 patients),SiZhongJinGou Decoction combined with specific western medicines which are same as those in group II (35 patients), SiZhongJinGou Decoction combined with acupuncture (30 patients) respectively and the course of all treatments is 4 weeks. VAS score is applied to quantify and estimate the conditions of patients before and after treatment and side effects of the 4 treatment protocols are observed.Results: There is no statistically significant difference in time for pain relief and time for clinical cure between the four treatment protocols (P>0.05). Group III and IV has the higher effective rate in treatment among all four groups and the differences between group III, IV and the other two groups are statistically significant (P<0.05).Conclusion: Among the four treatment protocols, SiZhongJinGou Decoction combined with specific western medicines and SiZhongJinGou Decoction combined with acupuncture have better significant curative effect, and SiZhongJinGou Decoction combined with acupuncture is the optimum with the highest safety and fewest side effects.