Alpha Lipoic to help with incontinence.

Hello @pml, Welcome to Connect. Thanks for starting this discussion. I was not aware that Alpha Lipoic Acid helps with incontinence. I've been taking Na-R-ALA (stabilized R-lipoic acid) along with other supplements to help my small fiber PN since around 2016. I also have to take Tamsulosine to help increase the urine flow which I was taking before 2016. While we wait for other members to share their experiences with other issues, here is an older article that mentions ALA and incontinence.

-- Future Trends in the Treatment of Urinary Incontinence: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1476068/

You might also find the following information from Mayo Clinic helpful:
-- How the right diet can help an overactive bladder: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/overactive-bladder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355715

You mentioned you can't see your doctor until October. Are you able to let the doctor know of your symptoms returning and the success of using ALA to help?

Hi John!
Thank you so much for your very helpful comments. I found them very interesting with some useful suggestions I hadn't considered. I had read the one on the Mayo Clinic since that is where I usually go first when I have medical concerns.

I am attempting to get in touch with my doctor and am on a waiting list. The University of Washington Medical Center, in Seattle WA, which is where I go, is very overwhelmed now that they are taking in-person appointments again. The 1200 mg. of Alpha Lipoic is my main issue. I'm concerned about how long I should take that amount. It is working quite well.
I see my primary care physician in two weeks for a wellness exam so I can probably find out from him.

I have found personally, that prayer works very well with medical problems. It did for my husband. His lung cancer literally disappeared with good doctors and prayers. I will say a prayer for you and your issues also.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

I forgot to mention that I've been taking 1200 mg of na-R-ALA daily since 2016 as part of my small fiber PN supplements with no ill effects. There is a lot of information available on Alpha Lipoic Acid. The only bad thing I've read is it sometimes takes awhile to get used to larger dosages like the 1200 mg because of digestive issues. It does help to take it with a little bit of food if you have stomach issues when taking it.

Good morning John and thank you for finding the article on incontinence. That is at the top of my list right now because I am scheduled for bladder surgery on July 21. This is one of the "Quality of life issues" that I have been working on for a while.

And welcome @pml. I am interested in your experience also. There is a newer medication that I have found helpful. Myrbetrig. My PCP wanted me to be off Oxybutynin which I had been taking for several years because current research found it to have negative effects on cognitive decline.

We did change the dosage to bedtime so that I could get a pretty good night's sleep. Do you have stress or urge incontinence?

Chris

Hi Chris!
The new medication, Myrbetrig sounds interesting. However, the reason I'm using Alpha Lipoic is that it works for me and very few medications do. I react even to Tylenol and all pain medications! I tried Alpha Lipoic quite by accident with no side effects which is unusual for me! It made the incontinence decrease somewhat where I could live with it until I see my doctor in Oct. I'm not sure what kind of incontinence I have. By the way, I mentioned in my initial comment that I had a reflux injection. That is incorrect. It was a deflux injection. That lasted for 9 years!

I hope your bladder surgery goes well! That would be great! Are you having it done at the Mayo Clinic? They really are the best. That's why I go to their website to get information about health issues. If I lived closer, I'd go to the Mayo Clinic. (I live in Edmonds WA.)
I wish you the best for your surgery! I will remember you in my prayers!

PML

Hi there, thanks for the clarification. So last night I read about the reflux injection. I am glad to know about it. How old were you when you received it?

Chris

Hi!
Actually, I mispoke when I said reflux injection. It was a deflux injection. You can find out about it by doing a search online. I was 67 when I got that injection. It took 2 injections to work. It was supposed to last only 3 years. However, God answered my prayers and it lasted 9 years!
PML

I finally saw my doctor for my incontinence. However, the medication that worked so well for me 9 years ago is no longer available. There are some new medications but the side effects are all quite bad; memory problems, severe allergic reactions, could go into a coma etc. Since I am so sensitive to medications I've decided not to take a chance on any of them. Plus I am in such good health now and feel great, that I don't want to ruin that at age 76. I did some research and discovered that vitamins C, K, E, calcium and magnesium all help with bladder problems. So I will start by eating more foods with those in them and possibly taking some supplements that have those in them also. Between that and prayer maybe it'll get to the point that it's easier to live with. It could be a lot worse. Plus I have a very supportive husband.

My pain doctor gave me an option for peripheral nerve pain of either Gabapentin or Alpha Lipoic Acid.
Since i had a very negative reaction to first drug, i opted for the second choice. That was in Jan 2020.
I can say that this drug reduced my nerve pain to zero.
It did take many months to get to zero but just the reduction in pain was evident after @ 4-6 weeks.

I have been incontinent since @ 1998 and I have not seen improvement to that issue from taking Alpha Lipoic Acid over the past 2 years. So, not sure that supplement would help others with incontinence or not
Margaret

Margaret, may ask how much alpha lipoic you had to take to get your peripheral nerve pain under control? Thank you, Johnmacc