Lipoic acid can be bought at any health food store. It has many uses and no noted side effects. It is also used for those people with diabetic neuropathy - whose symptoms are very similar to BFS. I take the 50 mg. once per day. Supposidly the "R" version is better than the "S" whatever that means. As for the V-8, there is a low sodium version offered at most stores. A doctor advised me to take it. You can look up lipoic acid under a google search to find out more about it. Good luck - it has really worked well for me.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Benefits of Lipoic Acid: No Side Effects
- Thread starter RecklessN
- Start date
bluestarman
Well-known member
Good old Wal Mart has Alpha Lipoic Acid too in 200 mg caps, pretty inexpensively.
althaisthebest
Well-known member
What electrolyte supplement do you use? Thanks so much for the suggestions. So glad they are working for you! Lynn
I use elyte sports concentrate and I purchased in bulk off the web. It's used for marathon runners, cyclists and anyone that loses electrolytes during excessive sweating. It's got what gatorade has in it, a little stronger, just none of the calories. As far as buying lipoic acid at Walmart, I don't know if I'd take such a high dose initially. I just take the 50 mg. or 25 mg. twice a day. Doug, do you think we will ever get weather less than 90 degrees in Florida?! Thanks for all the encouragement on this site!
TwitchFuzzey
Well-known member
Maryanne, hi, I also live in FL and play tennis. I often play tennis in July and August (singles) I also lose some pounds during this time. Sometimes I think this is why it started. Loss of sweat and not replenishing. Also, I'm in Punta Gorda and it definitely kicked in after Hurricane Charley.
I am going to the health food store today and look for lipoic acid. I try to use the electrolyte replacement, but I'm not a daily user.
I use Electromix from the health food store.
Thanks for the input, and hopefully I get the same results. Val
I am going to the health food store today and look for lipoic acid. I try to use the electrolyte replacement, but I'm not a daily user.
I use Electromix from the health food store.
Thanks for the input, and hopefully I get the same results. Val
bluestarman
Well-known member
200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid is not a high dose. Most of the German studies on diabetic neuropathy were 800 mg a day and higher. I did some looking at that up front.
If anyone does try Alpha Lipoic Acid, I'd appreciate if you'd let me know what your results were. My paresthesia and most of my twitches are almost undetectable. I was also getting the stiffness in my left quadracep - it felt like a blood pressure cuff was on it. Very odd symptom (like almost all of the effects of BFS), but others have talked about it. That symptom is gone also - thank God. This is the best I've been in three years, so if if does work for others, I'd like to let more people know. Like I said, I only use a smaller dose (50 mg), but from what I've read, higher doses are taken and the health food store I went to today, only had it available in 600mg. So, thank you for researching the German study, the more information, the better. I am cautiously optomistic about the results and hope the effects of Lipoic Acid continue. So far, so good. Good luck Val!
bluestarman
Well-known member
I noted that when taking ALA (Alpha Lipoic Acid) at a 200 mg dosage (Wal Mart was my source), that if I took it without food it gave me volcanic heartburn. I have some trouble with reflux, so that could be just me, but you may want to try to take it with food. Wanted to let everyone know just in case. I haven't been taking it in awhile until I got some hearburn issues under control, and have developed twitches since cessation, so I will likely be a guinea pig here as well.
Sorry this is a bit long, but I thought it was worthwhile. This is talking about the "R" version of lipoic acid...
Diabetic Neuropathy and Alpha Lipoic Acid
Though many studies had been conducted overseas using ALA to treat diabetic patients, the Mayo Clinic recently conducted a study with a Russian medical center to test ALA’s ability to help specifically with diabetic neuropathy.
Half of the patients received five treatments a week consisting of 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid in intravenous form, while the others got a placebo. In just 2½ weeks, the alpha lipoic acid patients reported -- and the researchers noted in examinations -- dramatic improvements in symptoms, including a six-point drop in pain levels on a10-point scale. "But it didn't act only as a pain medication," says researcher and Mayo Clinic neurologist Peter Dyck, MD. "Alpha lipoic acid seems to actually change the metabolism of the nerve or blood supply to the nerve, and we noted some relief in symptoms."
His study, reported in the March issue of Diabetes Care, involved 120 patients with the most common form of diabetic neuropathy, which causes pain, numbness, and a burning sensation and often leads to foot problems.
Recently, Dr. Dan Ziegler and Dr. F. Arnold Gries at Heinrich Heine University in Dusselfdorf had more exciting news to report about lipoic acid. They found that treatment with lipoic acid actually stimulated the regeneration of nerve fibers in diabetics. In less than three weeks of treatments, patients taking 600mg of lipoic acid daily experienced a significant reduction in pain and numbness associated with neuropathy.
Diabetic Neuropathy and Alpha Lipoic Acid
Though many studies had been conducted overseas using ALA to treat diabetic patients, the Mayo Clinic recently conducted a study with a Russian medical center to test ALA’s ability to help specifically with diabetic neuropathy.
Half of the patients received five treatments a week consisting of 600 mg of alpha lipoic acid in intravenous form, while the others got a placebo. In just 2½ weeks, the alpha lipoic acid patients reported -- and the researchers noted in examinations -- dramatic improvements in symptoms, including a six-point drop in pain levels on a10-point scale. "But it didn't act only as a pain medication," says researcher and Mayo Clinic neurologist Peter Dyck, MD. "Alpha lipoic acid seems to actually change the metabolism of the nerve or blood supply to the nerve, and we noted some relief in symptoms."
His study, reported in the March issue of Diabetes Care, involved 120 patients with the most common form of diabetic neuropathy, which causes pain, numbness, and a burning sensation and often leads to foot problems.
Recently, Dr. Dan Ziegler and Dr. F. Arnold Gries at Heinrich Heine University in Dusselfdorf had more exciting news to report about lipoic acid. They found that treatment with lipoic acid actually stimulated the regeneration of nerve fibers in diabetics. In less than three weeks of treatments, patients taking 600mg of lipoic acid daily experienced a significant reduction in pain and numbness associated with neuropathy.
Ok--Here I go again trying something--it sounds harmless after my research--so i went to the health food store and got the 50mg variety--can't tell whether it was "R" or "S". Anyway--I took one and NO side effect after 5 hours--HA!! I am still twitching though....I'll keep you posted!
Pandora
PS I also am an exercise nut and work out EVERY day at least two hours--some days just hiking with my dogs...Anyway--I drink SMARTWATER
it is electrolyte enhanced-it seems to help a little with the twitches...at least when i don't drink it one day they seem worse--who knows!! My kids say it tastes beter than regular water anyway!
Pandora
PS I also am an exercise nut and work out EVERY day at least two hours--some days just hiking with my dogs...Anyway--I drink SMARTWATER
it is electrolyte enhanced-it seems to help a little with the twitches...at least when i don't drink it one day they seem worse--who knows!! My kids say it tastes beter than regular water anyway!
Ok--Here I go again trying something--it sounds harmless after my research--so i went to the health food store and got the 50mg variety--can't tell whether it was "R" or "S". Anyway--I took one and NO side effect after 5 hours--HA!! I am still twitching though....I'll keep you posted!
Pandora
PS I also am an exercise nut and work out EVERY day at least two hours--some days just hiking with my dogs...Anyway--I drink SMARTWATER
it is electrolyte enhanced-it seems to help a little with the twitches...at least when i don't drink it one day they seem worse--who knows!! My kids say it tastes beter than regular water anyway!
Pandora
PS I also am an exercise nut and work out EVERY day at least two hours--some days just hiking with my dogs...Anyway--I drink SMARTWATER
it is electrolyte enhanced-it seems to help a little with the twitches...at least when i don't drink it one day they seem worse--who knows!! My kids say it tastes beter than regular water anyway!
althaisthebest
Well-known member
I also went and got Alpha-Lipoic at 50mg today and I did find the R-version...I will take it once a day...I have electro-mix but I'm sporatic about using it and will try to be more regular..I also like the low-sodium V-8 and so that is easy to add....I take regular vitamins and a good deal of Calcium and Magnesium which has really helped the calf/foot cramps...I'll be very curious to see how this regime works for my twitches...I'll keep ya posted. I think Marianne said it took at least 2 weeks to see a difference. Lynn
I just went to take my lipoic acid today and realized it was the last one. There were 50 in the bottle, so I have been taking it longer than I realized. I, like everyone else on this website, have been willing to try everything except the prescription meds. So please be patient and give it a few weeks. I believe I saw a difference within the first week, but if you don't, stick with the lipoic acid and low sodium V-8. All the studies I am reading on it helping with diabetic neuopathy seem to legitimize that it may help with the neurologic symptoms associated with BFS.
althaisthebest
Well-known member
Thanks Maryanne, for your your encouragement ..i will give it some time...I bought 2 months worth so I will not be impatient....Lynn
althaisthebest
Well-known member
Maryanne...Tell me the brand name again of your alpha lipoic acid? Thanks Lynn
bluestarman
Well-known member
A Alpha Lipoic acid molecule can have two orientations or structures, called the S and R "entianomers." If you buy a generic (like Wal Mart's REXALL brand), you will likely get a mixture of 50/50 of each S and R orientations (called a racemic mixture). Sometimes, it is proven that one orientation of a pharmaceutical molecule is more effective in treating whatever, and the other half is either doing little to nothing or creates some or all of the negative side effects if any. Take the anti-depressant Lexapro for example. Lexapro is composed of only a certain orientation of the molecule that made up Celexa, that did all the work. A phamaceutical company figures out a way to remove the twin molecule that is not doing the work, and not only gets a renewed patent, but maybe a med that works better with fewer side effects and lower dosages. They can also price it much higher. Sometimes, where the mirror molecule does no harm, it is less expensive to buy the racemic mixture at twice the dose.
In the case of ALA, it should be noted that the liver produces this chemical too on its own, ostensibly adequate for all the body's normal internal needs. Small doses are likely to have nothing but a placebo effect, and is why the studies out there used 600 mg or more per dose. I've seen several studies where a lower dose did nothing at all, probably because the liver is way out-producing what the supplement adds.
ALA is a potent anti-oxidant, and also works to boost Vitamin C and E via regeneration. I take mine, but with food, as I found without food, I can get wicked heartburn from it.
In the case of ALA, it should be noted that the liver produces this chemical too on its own, ostensibly adequate for all the body's normal internal needs. Small doses are likely to have nothing but a placebo effect, and is why the studies out there used 600 mg or more per dose. I've seen several studies where a lower dose did nothing at all, probably because the liver is way out-producing what the supplement adds.
ALA is a potent anti-oxidant, and also works to boost Vitamin C and E via regeneration. I take mine, but with food, as I found without food, I can get wicked heartburn from it.
Users who are viewing this thread
Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)