TY  - JOUR
TI  - Pharmacodynamic basis of gabapentin combined with Hegu-point catgut embedding for post-herpetic neuralgia
AU  - Li, Li-Ping
AU  - Song, Zong-Zhou
AU  - Zheng, Yang
AU  - Wu, Ting
AU  - Li, Fang-Wei
AU  - Huang, Yan
JO  - Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
VL  - 39
IS  - 6
SP  - 1611
EP  - 1617
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06
KW  - Gabapentin
KW  - Hegu-point catgut embedding
KW  - Neuro-inflammation
KW  - Pharmacodynamics
KW  - Post-herpetic neuralgia
DO  - 10.36721/PJPS.2026.39.5.152.1
AB  - Background: Post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common refractory complication of herpes zoster, characterized by persistent neuropathic pain that seriously impairs patients’ quality of life. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the clinical effects of gabapentin when administered in combination with Hegu-point catgut embedding in patients suffering from post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). Methods: A randomized, assessor-blinded study was conducted, wherein a total of 210 PHN patients were equally divided into two groups: (1) the control group receiving only gabapentin and (2) the combination group receiving gabapentin combined with weekly Hegu-point catgut embedding therapy. After 4 weeks of treatment, pain intensity, sleep quality, serum biomarkers, clinical efficacy and adverse events were evaluated. Results: After 4 weeks, both groups displayed a significant reduction in Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, with greater improvement reported in the combination group (P < 0.05). In addition, both groups showed a significant decrease in serum levels of substance P, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), while β-endorphin levels showed a significant increase. The changes were more pronounced in the combination group (P < 0.05). The combination group demonstrated a higher overall response rate (92.38% vs 80.00%) and fewer adverse events (12.38% vs 26.67%, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combination therapy provided superior short-term improvement in symptoms and biomarker modulation compared with gabapentin alone. Because only peripheral serum markers were assessed, mechanistic pathways could not be fully determined, and longer-term outcomes were not evaluated.
ER  -