Articles Vol. 66 No. CĐ21-Viện Sức khỏe Nghề nghiệp BYT 09/01/2026

COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS IN IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE BETWEEN WARM ACUPUNCTURE COMBINED WITH GABAPENTIN AND GABAPENTIN ALONE IN PATIENTS WITH POSTHERPETIC NEURALGIA

Ly Chung Huy1,2,3,4, Nguyen Le Bao Quyen1,3, Nguyen Thai Duong1,2,3,4, Nguyen Phan Anh Tuan2,4, Do Thanh Sang1,2,3,4, Nguyen Thi Bay1,3
1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh city
2 Le Van Thinh Hospital
3 Đại học Y Dược thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh
4 Bệnh viện Lê Văn Thịnh
DOI: 10.52163/yhc.v66iCD21.4140
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Keywords
SF-36, warm acupuncture, Gabapentin, postherpetic neuralgia.
Abstract

Objectives: To compare the effects of warm acupuncture combined with Gabapentin versus Gabapentin alone on quality of life in people with postherpetic neuralgia, based on changes in the SF-36 score after 4 weeks of treatment.

Method: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at Le Van Thinh Hospital from July 2024 to April 2025. A total of 36 people with postherpetic neuralgia of Qi stagnation and Blood stasis pattern were randomly assigned to two groups: the intervention group (warm acupuncture + Gabapentin) and the control group (Gabapentin alone). The treatment lasted 4 weeks. Effectiveness was assessed by changes in SF-36 scores.

Results: After 4 weeks, both groups showed significant improvement in SF-36 scores compared to baseline (p < 0.001). The intervention group demonstrated greater improvement than the control group (increase of 34.85 vs. 23.82 points; p < 0.001), with significantly higher mean SF-36 scores after treatment (71.37 vs. 58.34 points; p = 0.011).

Conclusion: Warm acupuncture combined with Gabapentin improved quality of life more effectively than Gabapentin alone in people with postherpetic neuralgia after 4 weeks.

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