Alpha lipoic acid

My llmd gave me alpha lipoic acid to take if I wnt. He did so last month as I was getting off the abx ( which I am now back on) because I had ( have) some tingiling nerve issues ( from too much abx) in my leg and foot. I took it once and then didn't want to take it- made me feel weird somehow but I don't remember excactly. Plus I was just off the abx and wanted to see how much better the nerves got on their own. Now I am back on antibiotics so thinking of adding this supplement. Anyone take it? I guess it is also used in some lyme treatments. I am sorta nervous about weird side effects from it?

The bulk of my Lyme symptoms are related to my peripheral nervous system. I've been using Dr. B's guidelines to help me with supplement. choices. I researched every supplement I was considering and am very conscious of not wanting to promote yeast growth nor take anything that could be carcinogenic.

The addition of ALA was a choice I made early on. Here's the type of info I found:

http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/lipoic_acid_proven_to_clear_acetaldehyde_in_humans/

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/alphalipoic-acid

I am just concerned about side effects from it? I only took it once and felt weird but I can't remember specifically- just that at the time I didn't want to risk more side effects. Now I would like to take it but am nervous about side effects. Can anyone speak to that?

Is there a specific brand that is best?

I also took this early in my treatment - along with many other supplements - and didn't have any negative side effects. I understood that it was to help with liver function, and it didn't cause me any problems, though of course everyone is different.

I think I'm going to get some ALA - I used to use it, but stopped because i was just taking so many supplements.

I was also taking L-Carnitine and L-Acetyl -Cysteine - for nerves.

Do you think ALA is the better of the three?

I don't want to add all three back in again.

should ALA be taken on empty stomach? I think I read it's hard on the tummy.

Ijust took a dose because my nerve tingling is back form the abx. I actually can't swallow the big capsule so I emptied it into my other capsules with water and yes it burned my throat. I drank a lot of water right after to make sure it went down but yes my throat feels burning. Do I have to take it in the capsule then and not loose?

I would try the apple sauce to see if that helped, if not enough, then leave them in the capsules and use apple sauce to help get the capsules down.

I use capsules, but don't notice any burning in my throat or stomach.

It's an antioxidant. Just like Vitamin C is ascorbic acid, and another really good antioxidant - yet it's something that is very beneficial to our bodies - and doesn't 'burn'.

It's not the actual nerve that is damaged in most cases, but the myelin sheath that surrounds and protects the nerve that usually gets damaged during Lyme disease.

A *very* simplified explanation: the tingling and things that we feel are due to miscommunications between the nerve and the brain because things get in the way of the signal when the protective coating on the nerve is damaged.

Hi guys,

I saw this string on ALA. Look like others are using ALA, but didnt look like any IVs.

As part of my treatment yesterday I did an IV of ALA 150 mg.

An additional headache at first for about 10 minutes, but then the neurological symptoms backed off some, I was able to stop shaking and a little bit better cognitive capability. That was 4 PM yesterday. As the evening went my neuro symptoms were still better. Usual at night I am a mess.

Anyone else have this experience with an ALA IV? Thoughts?

I have read up on ALA, looks promising.

Thanks...

Thanks Traveler. Ill keep updates on how the IVs of ALA go.

I've heard a lot about patients getting glutathione IV's.

I'm curious as to why ALA is used vs glutathione.

Girlie said...
I'm curious as to why ALA is used vs glutathione.

According to what I've read, ALA is converted to glutithione in the liver.

ALA is a more cost effect way of getting the glutathione. It likely doesn't work as well as glutithione for those that are in desperate need of it though. Coffee enemas are also supposed to be really good at raising glutithione levels.

Glutithione only works if it's manufactured in the liver, or by IV or liposomal glutithione - oral supplements never make it past the stomach acid from what I've read.

I have heard that about mercury levels and ALA before, but have not done any research on it myself, so I can't really comment.