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Alpha Lipoic Acid for Neuropathy

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4 star (3)		9%
3 star (1)		3%
1 star (3)		9%
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Danielle Renee (Ocean Shores, Wa) on 10/09/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I want to share how beautifully Alpha Lipoic Acid has worked for Diabetic Neuropathy pains. I take 300mgs three times a day and it has taken the burning and sharp shooting pains away, and my blood sugars and H1C are a lot lower. I consider it a miracle supplement.

Al (Alvena, Sk., Canada) on 09/14/2012:
4 out of 5 stars

I am amazed at how good this is working. After 13 days of taking alpha lipoic acid I have had my pain reduced enough to quit taking hydro morph contin and I actually have less pain and numbness now than when I started taking ALA even with being off the narcotic pain killers. I am picking up my benfotiamine and acetyl-l-Carnitine on Friday the 14th. If it helps even half as much as the ALA I will be back to work in a few weeks. We need to make chemo patients aware of this as much as possible. Al

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Al (Alvena, Saskatchewan, Canada) on 09/03/2012:
4 out of 5 stars

I developed peripheral neuropathy from an overdose of Oxalyplatin in chemotherapy for stage 3 colon cancer in February of 2010. It affected my upper palate, hands and legs up to my mid thigh. I have been on Gabapentin, 3600 mg/day, for an extended period of time and then found out it was increasing my blood sugar by 15.0 with a single 300 mg dose so was switched to Lyrica instead. I have also been on narcotic pain killers along with the others and at times nothing would touch the pain or numbness and when nerve testing was done the doctors could not believe that I could still walk as there was zero sensory and zero motor nerve conduction. I had to look where I was putting my feet as I could not feel where I was putting them. I have been very slowly and steadily healing in spite of being put into a diabetic condition by the Gabapentin.

I read about alpha Lipoic acid in an article about fat loss/muscle building with a relationship to insulin sensitivity and it listed five ingredients of which ALA was one. When I looked at ALA in the search engine and read that it would cure neuropathy and that it is used to reduce the side effects of Oxaliplatin in chemotherapy I picked some up and started using it on 1 September 2012. I immediately noticed an improvement in my feet( the only currently affected area). It was so dramatic of a change that I discontinued all other medications to see what it did by itself. I have spent a couple of sleepless nights due to pain and have started using my other medications again today. Other than Lyrica and Hydromorph contin I take grape seed extract, fenugreek, St. John's Wort, milk thistle, glucosamine and condroitin sulfate with MSM, vitamin D, B12, curcumin, Motrin, and Apo-Temazepam for a sleeping pill. After less than 4 hours since resuming my other medications with ALA my feet are about 75% better than they were three days ago.

Is there anything else that I should be taking to speed the healing/reduce the pain and numbness? Please reply directly to gustafsonal(at)hotmail.com. Thank you. Al

Charles555nc (Winston Salem, Nc, Usa) on 08/06/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

Alpha lipoic acid is a great supplement for neuropathy. However there should be precautions. Only take a max of 100mg alpha lipoic acid every 4 hours, or it will mobilize too much mercury for you to handle.

Alpha Lipoic acid also burns through methylation agents and Zinc. Methyl agents are methyl b12, methyl folate, other b vitamins... so you should supplement with those, periodically, at least 3 hours before and 3 hours after your next dose of ALA.

Normared (Knoxville, East Tennessee, Us) on 05/03/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

After a bad two-week long spell of sharp, needle-like pain in my feet I looked at this site for advice. At my next doctors appointment a few days later, I checked with him for his opinion, and based on that added ALA to my treatment (which was metanx pills he gave me last year). Within 24 hours of taking one 600 mg tablet of ALA the pains were down by at least 50% intensity, and now a week later they are almost completely gone. A few days ago, I also added a B complex, and plan on adding a B12 lozenge too.

My doctor - a foot doctor who specializes in neuropathy - had no problem with these 'additions', in fact he is the one who suggested B12 in a lozenge form, not a tablet. I'm now a strong believer in taking ALA B vitamins for those pains in my feet!

BTW: Bought my 600mg ALA tabs at GNC - they've got an amazing vanilla flavor and are a pleasure to take! I take 3 per day and a Bcomplex once a day.

David (Westford, Ma) on 04/29/2012:
5 out of 5 stars

I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in November, 2011. The excrutiating burning on the bottoms of my feet had gotten progressively worse and I really thought my days were numbered. The last thing I would ever want to do would be to go on disability but it seemed like that was where I was headed. I have done everything to help myself. Mind/body 8 week course to learn to live with chronic pain, accupuncture, diet, meditation, yoga and more. Three days after I started ALA I thought my pain had started to reduce.

Now 6 weeks later except for minor discomfort now and then I don't think about my feet 24/7 anymore. I actually drove myself to the Museum of Fine Arts and walked around last week for a couple of hours forgetting that a few weeks prior I never could have done that. I feel blessed to have found ALA if this is why I have gotten better. I have also stopped all statins as I tried just about every one of them. I also discontinued amlodipine as the swelling it causes of my feet I was sure was aggravating my pain. I now take 900mg. Per day and wonder if that is too much? I have read many research articles on ALA and they seem to agree that IV ALA does help neuropathy. There don't seem to be any conclusive studies on oral ALA. I am looking to try and find whether ALA can actually cure Neuropathy or if you need to keep taking it?

Robert Henry (Ten Mile, Tn Usa) on 08/19/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

My neuropathy is due to diabities and I take Alpha Liopoic Acid intravenously and by pill. A lady who has hep c was the person who got me on this regime. It helps.

Liz (Boston, Ma) on 06/25/2011:
5 out of 5 stars

Months ago, I added Alpha Lipoic Acid (100mg 3x per day) to my daily supplements for its antioxidant properties. After about a month, I noticed that the intense foot burning and pain I'd been experiencing for years was GONE! Yay!!

Just an FYI - the dosage I take is a low one (300mg/day). Those suffering with different types of neuropathy could go as high as 800mg/day.

Marie (Philadelphia, Pa) on 09/23/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

Hi, I have a pinched nerve also in my lower back and I have not been diagnosed with neuropathy, I do have symptoms like neuropathy. I did research on EC and other sites regarding alc and alpha lipoic acid is helping me also. I take 400mg a day.

Ellen (Arlington, Tx) on 09/22/2009:
5 out of 5 stars

Alpha Lipoic Acid for Neuropathy

I have a pinched nerve in my back which causes peripheral neuropathy. I have been using ALA for almost 2 weeks now and my symptoms have improved I take 300 mg (time released tablets) twice per day.

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