Efficacy and Safety of Ningmitai Capsules in Patients with Chronic Epididymitis: A Prospective, Parallel Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Objectives. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ningmitai (NMT) capsules in patients with chronic epididymitis. Methods. This prospective randomized controlled trial included 112 patients diagnosed with chronic epididymitis. The patients were randomized (1 : 1 : 1) to receive levofloxacin (LVX), NMT, or NMT combined with LVX for 4 weeks. The patients were followed up at 2 and 4 weeks after initiation of treatment and were evaluated in terms of Chronic Epididymitis Symptom Index (CESI) scores, epididymal nodules, and safety parameters. The primary endpoints were the CESI scores at the end of 2 and 4 weeks of treatment. The secondary endpoints included the mean epididymal nodule diameter and the clinical efficacy rate. Safety was evaluated by hepatorenal function tests and adverse event reports during the trial. Results. After 2 weeks of treatment, the CESI score of the NMT group was significantly lower than that of the LVX group ( P < 0.05 ). In addition, the clinical efficacy rate of the NMT group was significantly higher than that of the LVX group (55% vs. 8.33%, P < 0.0001 ), indicating that NMT has a rapid effect on chronic epididymitis. After 4 weeks of treatment, there was no significant difference in CESI scores or clinical efficacy rates between the two monotherapy regimens ( P > 0.05 ); however, the mean diameter of epididymal nodules was significantly smaller in the NMT group than in the LVX group ( P < 0.0001 ). Moreover, after 4 weeks of treatment, the patients in the LVX + NMT group, which had a clinical efficacy rate of 97.22%, had lower CESI scores (both P < 0.01 ) and a smaller epididymal nodule diameter (vs. LVX, P < 0.0001 ; vs. NMT, P < 0.05 ) than those in the other two groups. No adverse events or abnormal hepatorenal function were found during the study. Conclusion. NMT significantly improved CESI scores and epididymal nodule diameter in patients with chronic epididymitis. The combination of NMT and LVX provides a much better effect than monotherapy, and this treatment regimen was well tolerated.

Ningmitai capsule promotes calculi expulsion after RIRS for 10–20-mm upper urinary stones: a multicenter, prospective, randomized controlled trial

“…NMT capsules have been widely used as a pharmacologic therapeutic method for CP/CPPS in the clinic. Some recently published RCTs have reported that NMT capsules can significantly improve pain symptoms and the quality of life of patients with CP/CPPS [35] and chronic epididymitis [36], and this is consistent with the findings from our study.…”

A Systematic review and Network Meta-analysis of pharmaceutical interventions used to manage chronic pain

“…33,34,35 However, the use of gabapentinoids is being challenged as it lacks favourable robust evidence for e cacy against pain syndromes other than bromyalgia, post herpetic neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy, and many clinicians have also highlighted the potential for misuse and developing dependence. 36,37,38 The use of BTX-A, Ketamine, Ningmitai and THC for the management of various chronic pain conditions is popular and well established [39][40][41][42][43] and our study shows the effective use of these as analgesics when compared to placebo. There is evidence to support the e cacy of BTX-A for the management of neuropathic pain although the sample sizes used in the studies were small and therefore the real-world applicability remains limited.…”