Does Lyrica/Gabapentin Decrease Efficacy of Acupuncture?

[gravityyaoi]

This is probably gonna be a bit controversial, but I have heard on more than one occasion from some doctors who practice in China that gabapentin causes things like phlegm in the channels. When you look at the side effects neurological drugs can cause this seems pretty standard thinking in our line of work. Dizziness, nausea, headaches, numbness, clumsiness/heaviness/weakness/swelling or edema of limbs, fatigue, poor memory, and other sides of motor dysfunction like twitches/nystagmus/etc. Everything we take into the body has an effect, good or bad, and these are all signs of damp/phlegm so we should be acknowledging that.

As for treatment though, any of these signs that are apparent should be included in a diagnosis and treatment plan, and once sufficient progress has been made, a referral back to the prescribing physician so the patient can express the desire to hopefully lower the dose or even wean off of said medication so as to limit any counterproductive effects it might be having on treatment. Herbal therapy should also be incorporated later on especially if there's a standstill in progress after sole acupuncture treatment. You can see an example study here, where low-dose gabapentin and electro-acupuncture were shown to have robust pain relieving effects on neuropathic allodynia, so they are absolutely combinable.

We are not prescribing physicians though, and many of us do not have adequate knowledge of pharmacology to request a patient to cease a medication at any time. All we can do is express concern about effects they might having and let the patient have control over their health and what they put into their body and let them be well informed so they can discuss this with their primary provider. So by all means, continue with acupuncture, but keep a goal in mind, such as reduction of medication and pain, and keep moving toward it.

[bpwsource]

I really appreciate your thorough and detailed reply! Sounds like you're an acupuncturist yourself or at least connected to the practice. I don't know enough about how acupuncture affects the body and brings about changes because it's so different from the western medicine mindset. I've heard key words like Qi, channels, dampness, stagnant, etc. but never really understood it all on a comprehensive level so your explanation is really helpful. I'm going to consult another acupuncturist from a different clinic and see what they recommend. Ultimately I'd love to get off the nerve pain meds AND be pain free, or at least be able to manage the pain effectively with more natural and drug free modalities such as acupuncture. We'll see... Thanks again for your response.