Insulin potentiation therapy –

IPT is a concept promoted by a small number of physicians that claim without significant clinical evidence that intravenous insulin increases the effect of medications therefore lower doses of these medications can be used.  It originally was used in cancer treatments but has been used in the treatment of pain also.  The name was coined by Stephen Ayre MD of Illinois in 1986.  The theory is that the cell pores “open up” and are more receptive to other medications.  It is a technique developed in Mexico City in the 1930s.  The clinical trials were forced to be halted in 2001 after the FDA was concluded it was being run improperly.  There are no other significant clinical studies supporting its use.  Safety issues involve the potential of insulin shock and underdosing a person with chemo or other drug due to an assumed enhanced effect. 

Painbytes assessment:  Two thumbs down- safety concerns and lack of evidence of efficacy.