| Objective：The aim of this clinical research is to determine theeffectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine (ShentongZhuyu Tang) combined with doxepin in the treatment ofpostherpetic neuralgia. In this experiment, Shentong Zhuyu Tangcombined with doxepin was prescribed in the treatment groupwhile only doxepin in the control group. Pain intensity (VAS score)was scored before and after treatment. The ability of work orhousekeeping work was evaluated by rating scales before andafter treatment. The effectiveness of Shentong Zhuyu Tang inpostherpetic neuralgia treatment could determined by the statisticanalysis, which will provide the theoretical basis for widely clinicaluse of this traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment ofpostherpetic neuralgia.Method：A total of62patients diagnosed as postherpetic neuralgia inthis randomized, parallel controlled study come from Outpatient Department of Wuhan Integrated TCM&Western MedicineHospital from March,2011to October,2012. All patients were overthe age of40and were randomized in the experimental or controlgroup by the proportion of1:1. The age, gender, duration,temperature, pulse, respiration rate, blood pressure and the VASscores before treatment in the treatment and control groups werecomparable and there were no significant differences (P>0.05) intwo groups.Treatment methods：The treatment in the treatment group was Shentong ZhuyuTang (one pack decocted with water to400mL,200mL,twice a day)plus doxepin tablet (25mg, three times a day). The control groupwas treated with doxepin tablet only(25mg, three times a day).Thetreatment course was1week and the total treatment duration was3weeks.Before and after treatment, the pain intensity was assessed bythe VAS scores and the clinical effectiveness was evaluated by thesymptom scores. The follow-up observation included the blood,urine and stool routine examinations, blood biochemicalexamination. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate the clinicalefficacy. Result:1.Comparison of clinical efficacy indicators: the VAS and symptomscores before the treatment had no significant differences in twogroups (P>0.05) but had significant differences pre-andpost-treatment(P<0.01). While the VAS and symptom scores in thetreatment group were lower than that in the control group(P<0.05)after the treatment.2.Comparison of curative effects: Out of31cases in treatmentgroup,2cases were cured (6.45%),17cases were significantlyeffective(54.84%),8cases were effective (25.81%),4cases wereineffective (12.90%).The total efficiency in the treatment group is87.09%. Out of31cases in control group,8cases markedlyeffective(25.81%),9cases effective(25.03%),14cases(45.16%)invalid and the total efficiency is54.84%.The clinicalefficacy difference between two groups was statisticallysignificant(P<0.05), which indicated that the efficacy in Chinesemedicine (Shentong Zhuyu Tang)treatment group is superior tothe control group in postherpetic neuralgia treatment.3.Comparison of the satisfaction evaluation：In the treatmentgroup,8cases were very satisfied,14cases satisfied. The verysatisfactory rate was25.81%and the total satisfactory rate was74.19%.In the control group,6cases were very satisfied,7casessatisfied. The very satisfactory rate was19.35%and the total satisfaction rate of41.94%. The very satisfactory rate has nostatistical significance (P>0.05) in two groups but there was ahigher total satisfactory rate in the treatment group(P <0.05).4Security evaluation：there were no obvious changes in laboratoryexaminations and electrocardiogram before and after treatment inboth groups, which suggested that ShenTong ZhuYu Tangcombined with doxepin had low side effects rates and is safe in theclinical administration.Conclusion：Shentong Zhuyu Tang Combined with doxepin is effective inthe treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, and the clinical curativeeffect is obviously superior to the single doxepin treatment.Shentong Zhuyu Tang Combined with doxepin could rapidlyrelieve the pain and have low side-effects rates. The drug is worthyof clinical application. |
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