1. < Neuropathy

Alpha lipoic acid for Neuropathy

Posted by bjbates53 @bjbates53, Oct 8, 2022

I have had CIDP for 20 years and have done fairly well. But when I have a setback, my legs are very weak. In the past, I have found ALA caps to help me a lot. However, I have reflux and can't tolerate it. A pharmacist suggesting putting the capsule inside an empty capsule and see if that would help. It did not. I take it with food and lots of water. Still causes problems. Has anyone tried ALA as a tablet and had success with it? Any other suggestions would be welcome. I also take Cerefolin NAC.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

cherman | @cherman | Feb 20, 2023

I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg once or twice daily.

If you have used this treatment I’d like to hear from you.

REPLY
4 replies
crossette | @crossette | Feb 20, 2023
In reply to @eirrol "From eirrol — I recently found out about R -lipoic acid from Mayo Connect. My kidney..." + (show)
@eirrol

From eirrol — I recently found out about R -lipoic acid from Mayo Connect. My kidney doctor agrees that many people have been helped with their neuropathy using it and he has given his ok for me to try, but he says there have been rare cases of it harming the kidneys. So he wants me to have blood work after using it for about 3 weeks. Wish me luck. I will have you folks on Mayo Connect to thank, if it works. I ordered the Pure Encapsulation brand and the R - lipoic acid as mentioned on Mayo Connect, not the Alpha lipoic acid to try to avoid the heart burn. So expensive, but ordering through Amazon so at least will save the shipping charge. There are solutions out there , if we just keep trying.

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I have had neuropathy, mostly in my feet and a lesser amount in my legs and saddle area for 15 years due to an accident crushing my L3 disc. I have tried every drug and supplement out there and none of them have much effect. I hate taking the drugs and all make me slightly dizzy except cymbalta. The most effective combination of nutricetals I have come up with is 1000 mg fish oil capsules (I use Spring Valley Omega 3 - Walmart) with 600 mg alpha lipoic acid (Swanson vitamins) and 1000 mg Taurine (NOW Foods). All available at any vitamin store or website. This seems to take the edge off better than anything else. If anyone tries this please report back here with the results. The more people that post what works for them the better off we all are.

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mannyk | @mannyk | Feb 21, 2023
In reply to @eirrol "From eirrol — I recently found out about R -lipoic acid from Mayo Connect. My kidney..." + (show)
@eirrol

From eirrol — I recently found out about R -lipoic acid from Mayo Connect. My kidney doctor agrees that many people have been helped with their neuropathy using it and he has given his ok for me to try, but he says there have been rare cases of it harming the kidneys. So he wants me to have blood work after using it for about 3 weeks. Wish me luck. I will have you folks on Mayo Connect to thank, if it works. I ordered the Pure Encapsulation brand and the R - lipoic acid as mentioned on Mayo Connect, not the Alpha lipoic acid to try to avoid the heart burn. So expensive, but ordering through Amazon so at least will save the shipping charge. There are solutions out there , if we just keep trying.

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Best and cheapest place to buy R-ALA
M&S
Muscle & Strength, LLC
1180 First Street South Ext
Columbia, SC 29209
PH: 1-800-537-9910

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lbmorgan44 | @lbmorgan44 | Feb 21, 2023
In reply to @cherman "I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg..." + (show)
@cherman

I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg once or twice daily.

If you have used this treatment I’d like to hear from you.

Jump to this post

I have been diagnosed with SFN and began taking Alpha Lipoic Acid a couple of years ago. I take 200 mg 3 times a day with meals for a total daily dose of 600 mg. It reduces my symptoms to a point where they are just noticeable. Without it my symptoms are severe enough that I am unable to sleep. It works for me. Best of luck and I hope you find something that helps you.

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1 reply
Nazir Khan | @nukhan | Feb 21, 2023
In reply to @lbmorgan44 "I have been diagnosed with SFN and began taking Alpha Lipoic Acid a couple of years..." + (show)
@lbmorgan44

I have been diagnosed with SFN and began taking Alpha Lipoic Acid a couple of years ago. I take 200 mg 3 times a day with meals for a total daily dose of 600 mg. It reduces my symptoms to a point where they are just noticeable. Without it my symptoms are severe enough that I am unable to sleep. It works for me. Best of luck and I hope you find something that helps you.

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Good to know that Alpha Lipoic Acid is helping you. Did you also make any major diet changes during this period? Wish you and others suffering from this debilitating disease a permanent relief.

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lbmorgan44 | @lbmorgan44 | Feb 21, 2023
In reply to @cherman "I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg..." + (show)
@cherman

I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg once or twice daily.

If you have used this treatment I’d like to hear from you.

Jump to this post

Good Question.
There were no specific changes to my diet. That being said, the best way I can be helpful is to say that I watch my diet carefully as I have found that what I eat directly affects the amount of symptoms I have. There are foods that are more inflammatory for me than others and will spike my symptoms. For me salt, caffeine and cinnamon (yes, cinnamon) are the worst offenders.

My Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) symptoms are more sensitive to what I eat than the SFN symptoms. I will do anything it takes to avoid increasing my RLS symptoms! Paying attention to what I eat every day helps keep my symptoms from both SFN and RLS at lower levels.

What do I eat?
I eat a low inflammatory diet which means a lot of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens. I also eat chicken (boneless, skinless breast) and some fish and nuts and seeds.

I avoid all grains including rice and especially avoid refined sugars. I do not drink alcohol, coffee or tea (anything with caffeine) or any soft drinks.

I am unable to tolerate soy and am also gluten intolerant. Adding in low-cholesterol and low sodium gives you the full picture.

I think most people would find my diet repetitive, boring and tasteless, which is how I find it. But it works for me as I can manage my symptoms best by eating the way I do. I also feel healthier.

It has taken research, monitoring what I eat and self discipline, but its worth it.

Hope this is helpful. I am off to have blueberries and mixed nuts for breakfast. Yummiest meal of the day!

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Amanda Roe | @amandajro | Feb 21, 2023
In reply to @cherman "I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg..." + (show)
@cherman

I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg once or twice daily.

If you have used this treatment I’d like to hear from you.

Jump to this post

Hello @cherman. I wanted to bring you into an existing discussion on this topic so you will notice that I have moved your post here:
- Alpha lipoic acid for Neuropathy: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/alpha-lipoic-acid-2/

I see that @lbmorgan44 has joined you to share how they are using the supplement and @nukhan has also joined to learn more.

You might also benefit from some information that was shared earlier in this discussion by @johnbishop which you can find if you hit "View and Reply" in this notification and scroll up to John's post.

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johnmacc | @johnmacc | Feb 21, 2023
In reply to @lbmorgan44 "Good Question. There were no specific changes to my diet. That being said, the best way..." + (show)
@lbmorgan44

Good Question.
There were no specific changes to my diet. That being said, the best way I can be helpful is to say that I watch my diet carefully as I have found that what I eat directly affects the amount of symptoms I have. There are foods that are more inflammatory for me than others and will spike my symptoms. For me salt, caffeine and cinnamon (yes, cinnamon) are the worst offenders.

My Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) symptoms are more sensitive to what I eat than the SFN symptoms. I will do anything it takes to avoid increasing my RLS symptoms! Paying attention to what I eat every day helps keep my symptoms from both SFN and RLS at lower levels.

What do I eat?
I eat a low inflammatory diet which means a lot of fruits, vegetables and leafy greens. I also eat chicken (boneless, skinless breast) and some fish and nuts and seeds.

I avoid all grains including rice and especially avoid refined sugars. I do not drink alcohol, coffee or tea (anything with caffeine) or any soft drinks.

I am unable to tolerate soy and am also gluten intolerant. Adding in low-cholesterol and low sodium gives you the full picture.

I think most people would find my diet repetitive, boring and tasteless, which is how I find it. But it works for me as I can manage my symptoms best by eating the way I do. I also feel healthier.

It has taken research, monitoring what I eat and self discipline, but its worth it.

Hope this is helpful. I am off to have blueberries and mixed nuts for breakfast. Yummiest meal of the day!

Jump to this post

I find your diet quite excellent. Mine is similar and I only drink decaf organic green tea each morning. Only 4 mg of actual caffeine. I do also eat salmon and turkey. I avoid sugar like the devil. Last year I stopped drinking a beer at nite. I happen to love oven roasted chicken and nuts and berries 🍒. Good job. Johnmacc

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tessie63 | @tessie63 | Feb 22, 2023
In reply to @snagydude "They don't seem to do much for me. BUT there are so many forms of neuropathy..." + (show)
@snagydude

They don't seem to do much for me. BUT there are so many forms of neuropathy that b vitamins are a reasonable supplement. Just stay away from B 6 since it is somewhat suspect in promoting discomfort in some people. B vitamins are water soluble and are very short-lived in your body. I'm self-taught and I'm certain that a nutritionist could tell you more.

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I am on vitamin B12 250MCG. Is this a good one to be on? It is a sublingual.

REPLY
cherman | @cherman | Feb 22, 2023
In reply to @cherman "I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg..." + (show)
@cherman

I’ve found references to positive effects of taking R Lipoic Avid supplements. Suggested was 300-600 mg once or twice daily.

If you have used this treatment I’d like to hear from you.

Jump to this post

I am going to begin 600 mg ALA. hope it helps. I’ll report after a period.

REPLY
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