Currently, I'm not taking Mag. I may add that back in as I go along. I'm using Slow-Mag and if I remember correctly I was taking two tablets a day, spaced apart and taken with food.

You might check the stickies at the top of this forum. The first one is where you need to look. Also, MrsD or dahlek is up on all this stuff. I wish it was easier to search the forums so I could find the post I made when I listed everything I was talking.

Also, check out roses site. She's the one that got me started on the B-12.
http://roseannster.googlepages.com/home

Also, posted by MrsD in the that same sticky forum:

Good for you, Rose...for putting your info on Google!

I found the cached archive for the previous sticky on the "drugs used for PN"

http://216.239.51.104/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&cd=21

Here is a copy of this list too:
1) OTC--vitamins/nutrient interventions
Quote:
Known to help:

B12 at least 1mg (1000mcg) per day (methylcobalamin preferred) but some do better on 5mg.

Thiamine (B1) at least 200mg/day..but some here have used 500mg/day in divided doses. This is inexpensive and benign. Especially useful if you drink, used to drink or have alcoholism genes in the family tree. If you use diuretics for blood pressure, you deplete thiamine so supplements are a must then.

Omega-3 fatty acids... fish oil especially at least 2grm per day, and more if you choose. Help to maintain the myelin of the nerves and support the nerve membranes/action during transmission. Works in conjunction with B12.

Alpha Lipoic acid... this can be found now in the R- version, and can be used in lower doses because the R is more effective. Most ALA therapies use high dose-- and this can be expensive. ALA also can affect blood sugar--lowers it-- so be careful if you are a diabetic on medication.

Acetyl-l-carnitine is also useful...but large doses of a gram a day or more may be needed. This is expensive as well.

Inositol is newly being looked at specifically for diabetic neuropathies. Diabetics lose alot of this B-relative thru the urine for some unknown reason, and supplementing with it restores lost functions. You need at least 1gram a day--but this is inexpensive --if purchased from iherb in powder form-- mixes tastelessly into juice. D-chiro-inositol is being trialed as a drug to patent for this purpose, presently.

Support nutrients:

P5P--pyridoxal-5-phospate is the active form of B6 and helps with nerve issues and supports B12 metabolism-- 50mg/day typical

Folic acid or the new methylfolate-- Ditto 800mcg/day typical

Magnesium--- for those with poor diets who do not get this valuable mineral from foods-- and who are depleted by certain drugs like hormones, diuretics, some antibiotics and hormone replacement therapies. 200-300mg of elemental magnesium per day typical.

Ancillary supplements:
Chromium to improve carbohydrate metabolism/insulin actions max 200mcg/day

Zinc and selenium to enhance thyroid hormone T4 conversion in tissues.
Zinc=up to 30mg/day selenium max 200mcg/day Some drugs deplete zinc, esp ACE inhibitors used for blood pressure

Antioxidants to quench free radical damage to nerves/fatty tissue--
green tea/yerba mate/ grapeseed extract/ Vits A C and E, curcumin

Bcomplex.... in general the other B's have separate functions, so using them is a good idea. B2 for example activates conversion of pyridoxine in the body if you do not use P5P.
2) Drugs used:
Quote:
Drugs for PN...

AEDs (anti-seizure drugs)
Tegretol/Trileptal both drugs are cousins and similar in action
Dilantin (phenytoin)
Topamax --hard to tolerate
Zonegran
Lamictal
Neurontin/Lyrica
Keppra
Gabatril


Prescription Vitamin preparations

Mentax (the newest and best--- methylfolate, P5P, and methylcobalamin)
Folgard RX


Antidepressants

Elavil (amitriptyline)-- a tricyclic
Pamelor (nortriptyline)-- a tricyclic
Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, Zoloft, Paxil --- SSRIs
Effexor, Cymbalta -- some norepinephrine reuptake actions
Desyrel (trazadone) mostly for sleep issues

Opiates
Oxycodone (Oxycontin,Percocet)
Morphine (Avinza, MsContin, Kadian)
Duragesic patches (fentanyl)
Vicodin, Lortab Norco (hydrocodone with tylenol)
Codeine (Tylenol with Codeine)
Methadone
Dilaudid (hydromorphone)

NonOpiates
Darvon/Darvocet
Talwin/Talacen
NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, naproxen, Celebrex, Indocin)
Tylenol
Ultram (tramadol)
AlkaSeltzer (with aspirin)

Anti-diabetic drugs for insulin resistance or type II diabetes

Metformin (Glucophage)
Actos
Avandia
Glypizide
Glyburide
Prandin

Benzodiazepines (AntiAnxiety/muscle relaxant)

Klonopin (clonazepam)
Xanax (alprazolam)
Ativan (lorazepam)
Valium (diazepam) Valium and Klonopin are the most commonly used for muscle issues/ and also have some anti-seizure effects

Topical agents

Lidoderm patches-- these are very nice if placed properly
Lidocaine ointment
Emla cream (now called LMX 5%)
compounded ointments with Ketamine/clonidine/ketoprofen/gabapentin etc
Biofreeze (this is very cooling, and also anti-inflammatory)
Capsacin cream (most people cannot tolerate the burning from this, but others like it)

Muscle relaxants (non benzo)

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)-- most commonly tried
Soma (carisoprol)-- abusable
Robaxin -- old timer not used much anymore
Norflex (orphenadrine)
Skelaxin-- very sedating, and often used for resistant patients who don't respond well
Baclofen (Lioresal)--mostly for spasticity issues

Dopamine agonists (for restless legs/movement disorder)

Mirapex
Sinemet
Requip

Misc:
Stadol nasal-- very abusable
levothyroxine--T4 (for thyroid replacement-- if low), liothyronine (T3)
antihistamines for skin burning (Benadryl/Claritin/Zyrtec/Atarax/Allegra) Benadryl and Claritin are OTC
Singulair (leukotriene B4 antagonist for allergic issues)