Alternative medicine
By Mayo Clinic staffSeveral alternative medicine treatments may help people with autonomic neuropathy. However, because autonomic neuropathy is a serious condition, discuss any new treatments with your doctor to ensure that they won't interfere with treatments you're already receiving or cause you any harm.
Alpha-lipoic acid
Preliminary research suggests this antioxidant may be helpful in slowing or even reversing neuropathy that's causing blood pressure or heart rate problems. However, more study is needed.
Acupuncture
This therapy, which uses numerous thin needles placed on specific points in the body, was found to help treat slow stomach emptying. More studies are needed to confirm these findings.
- Freeman R. Autonomic peripheral neuropathy. Neurologic Clinics. 2007;25:277.
- Stevens MJ. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 29, 2010.
- Autonomic neuropathy. American Diabetes Association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/neuropathy/autonomic-neuropathy.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Masharani U, et al. Pancreatic hormones and diabetes mellitus. In: Gardner DG, et al. Greenspan's Basic and Clinical Endocrinology. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2007. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2633151. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Diabetic neuropathies: The nerve damage of diabetes. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/pubs/neuropathies/. Accessed Feb. 21, 2010.
- Boulton AJM, et al. Diabetic neuropathies: A statement from the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:956.
- Disorders of the autonomic nervous system. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2906166. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Vink AI. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy. Diabetes Care. 2003;26:1553.
- Autonomic nervous system. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec16/ch208/ch208a.html. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Ma J, et al. Diabetic gastroparesis: Diagnosis and management. Drugs. 2009;69:971.
- Bethanechol (prescribing information). Minneapolis, Minn.: Upsher-Smith Laboratories, Inc.; 2005. http://www.upsher-smith.com/PDFs/bethanechol.pdf. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Robinul and Robinul Forte (prescribing information). Atlanta, Ga.: Sciele Pharma, Inc.; 2006. http://www.shionogipharma.com/PI/Robinul%20PI.pdf. Accessed Feb. 22, 2010.
- Bansal V, et al. Diabetic neuropathy. Post Graduate Medical Journal. 2006;82:95.
- Sandroni P (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 1, 2010.
- Detrol (prescribing information). New York, N.Y.: Pharmacia and Upjohn; 2009. http://www.pfizer.com/files/products/uspi_detrol_la.pdf. Accessed March 8, 2010.
- Ditrol (prescribing information). Raritan, N.J.: Ortho McNeil Pharmaceuticals; 2008. http://www.ortho-mcneilpharmaceutical.com/sites/default/files/shared/pi/Lg%20Ditropan%20PI.pdf#zoom=100. Accessed March 8, 2010.

Find Mayo Clinic on