If you are a clinician treating chronic pain then you are likely treating patients taking gabapentin on a daily basis.

Gabapentin ranks in the top 20 most prescribed medications in the US.

Because of this, it’s important to understand this drug as well as some of it’s heavier side effects.

One area of concern is that gabapentin can increase appetite. Some patients also report blood sugar spikes associated with taking pregabalin.

For a drug that is used largely for fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy this poses a unique challenge as obesity is often seen together with both diabetes and fibromyalgia and can make these diseases more difficult to manage.

Is it possible to enjoy the pain killing effects of gabapentin while avoiding the increased food intake and potential increases in blood sugar which may contribute to more pain in the long run?

One option is to take a complementary approach using both pharmaceuticals and botanicals.

Angelica dahurica is one of the most. frequently prescribed herbs in formulas for people taking gabapentin in East Asian nations.

It promotes lipolysis (fat dissolving) and inhibits fat synthesis by enhancing the lipolysis induced by epinephrine and ACTH, and inhibiting triglycerides synthesis from glucose induced by insulin

Angelica dahurica also appears to help reduce appetite

It has also been shown to increase wound healing by activating angiogenesis in diabetic patients.

It’s Anti diabetic effects by increasing insulin sensitivity and improving glucose tolerance .

In addition to helping with fat loss, it has pain killing effects of it’s own making it a safe and powerful aid in complementary care for patients taking gabapentin

References:

Vidhya, A., Muddala Vara Prasanna Rao, and P. Geetha. "A comparative study of pregabalin and gabapentin combinations in type 2 diabetic neuropathy patients." Drug Invention Today 11.11 (2019).

Penumalee, Sreelatha, Paul Z. Kissner, and Stephen D. Migdal. "Gabapentin-induced hypoglycemia in a long-term peritoneal dialysis patient." American Journal of Kidney Diseases 42.6 (2003): e24-1.

Kimura, Yoshiyuki, et al. "Effects of various coumarins from roots of Angelica dahurica on actions of adrenaline, ACTH and insulin in fat cells." Planta medica 45.07 (1982): 183-187.

胡洁, and 张宇. "几种药物对电针镇痛作用和鼠脑细胞游离钙浓度的影响." 针刺研究 19.1 (1994): 55-58.

Choi, In-Ho, Yun-kyung Song, and Hyung-Ho Lim. "Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of the aqueous extract of Angelica dahurica." The Journal of Korean Medicine 29.2 (2008): 32-40.

Li, Minhui. "Angelica dahurica (Fish. ex Hoffm.) Benth. et Hook. f. 白芷 (Baizhi, Chinese Angelica)." Dietary Chinese Herbs. Springer, Vienna, 2015. 69-74.

Zhang, Xiao-na, et al. "Angelica Dahurica ethanolic extract improves impaired wound healing by activating angiogenesis in diabetes." PLoS one 12.5 (2017): e0177862.

Park, Eun-Young, et al. "Angelica dahurica extracts improve glucose tolerance through the activation of GPR119." PLoS One 11.7 (2016): e0158796.