Efficacy and Safety of Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Radiotherapy-Related Neuropathic Pain

Exclusion Criteria

• •1. Current diagnosis of tumor recurrence or metastasis and evidence of tumor-associated pain;
• •2. Patients with non-radiotherapy induced neuropathic pain, e.g. postherpetic neuralgia, diabetes mellitus, HIV infection, spinal cord injury and other neurological disease;
• •3. Use of carbamazepine, gabapentin, pregabalin, TaVNS or transcranial magnetic stimulation within the last 30 days prior to study entry;
• •4. Other ongoing treatment for neuropathic pain, including antidepressants with norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibition, calcium channel α2-δ ligands and other anticonvulsant medications, and topical lidocaine;
• •5. Concomitant medication that may cause an adverse interaction with pregabalin, including sedative (e.g., benzodiazepines);
• •6. Significant renal impairment: plasma creatinine\>1.5mg/ml, creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min;
• •7. History of anaphylactic response to pregabalin;
• •8. Ulceration of the auricle skin; Diagnosis of mental illness, peptic ulcer,AV III degree block, heart rate\< 50/min, heart rate corrected QT interval \> 450ms;
• •9. Patients with cardiac pacemakers or implanted ECG monitoring equipment;
• •10. Evidence of severe systemic diseases;
• •11. Subjects with any other condition which, in the investigator's judgment might interfere the outcome of the study;
• •12. Refuse to provide written informed consent;
• •13. Cognitive function and language skills are insufficient to complete study questionnaires;
• •14. Pregnant or lactating women.