mrs D et al –

Again, many thanks for taking my question(s) . . . I do appreciate it.

But, before I reply to your last posts, I want to apologize for this not-very-timely response. As per my previous quick/short response to you, I knew I would not be timely in getting back to your initial reply, however on top of my already busy schedule (which I won’t bore you with); I had a medical emergency with an immediate family member that just took any/all spare time. Thankfully, that appears to be behind me now, thus my response and hopefully much more timely replies in my immediate future.

As you will see below, I also didn’t want to rush my reply back to you, as this is very important to me and I wanted to understand what you wrote.

To help me, and maybe you too (since it appears you’re involved with many other threads a day) keep in sync with my many questions and your responses, I’ve decide to number them. With that being said:

1) You wrote:
“The main ingredient in Metanx is the methylcobalamin which should be taken on an empty stomach for best absorption. Does your pharmacy bottle have an empty stomach sticker?’
Well, I never did actually get a bottle of Metanx or Folax from my pharmacy (once I was told the price difference for the Metanx, I canceled my prescription) . . . and what do you mean "on an empty stomach": i.e., first thing in the morning, before I eat any breakfast, with all my other diabetes pills? . . . and then I usually don’t have something for breakfast 30 minutes later . . . is that OK/what you mean on a empty stomach? (or do you mean before lunch or dinner?)

2) I want to make sure I get your ‘prescription’ correct:

one Methyl B-12, 5000 mcg, per day on empty stomach (as per your link)

one P-5-P (Coenzyme B6), 50 mg, per day (with the above? and again, as per your link)

one Folate Metafolin Folic Acid, 800 mcg, per day (with the above? ad again, as per your link)

and taking this above, once a day, will equal 2 Mentax daily that was originally prescribed to me, correct?

3) assuming I take the above in the morning on an empty stomach with my other daily pills, do I need to be concerned that any in the above vitamins will react negatively with what I am already taking . .. specifically below:

for my diabetes type-2:
Metforman 1000 mg (and again before I go to bed)
Januvia 100mg
Glimepride 4 mg

For my cholesterol
Simvastatin 80mg

For my general health
Low does aspirin
Puritan Pride ‘One’ time release multivitamin

4) you should also know that before changing over to the Puritan Pride One multivitamin (puritan . com/multivitamins-067/puritans-pride-one-time-release-003661?NewPage=1), I was taking their mega-vitamin (puritan . com/multivitamins-067/mega-vita-min-time-release-004212?NewPage=1) . . . however, after reading what Metanx was, I was worried about taking it with my mega-vitamin (evn though my podiatrist said i had nothing to worry about), so I called Metanx and spoke to someone there, and he informed me that he was only concerned that my B-6 would be well over 100mg a day, and I should find a vitamin that contained 50 mgs or less of B-6 . . . thus my recent switch to Puritan Pride One – does this make sense to you? (if not, hopefully it’s at least more information for you to keep/store in you mental database)

5) I did take the time today to read many of the PN posts and the b-12 one – (another reason why I’m so late at getting back to, as I didn’t want to rush my reply and have the time to read these other posts) – thanks . . . there appears to be more good than bad news for many of your readers (which also makes me feel better)

6) In a later post, you mention the following that can also help me with my diabetic neuropathy, specifically:
1) Benfotiamine (a better form of thiamine B1)
2) Acetyl-l-carnitine to improve mitochondrial functions/energy production
3) R-lipoic acid (an improved form of alpha lipoic acid) which has studies for many years in diabetic neuropathy.
I think currently I’d like to go with the above ‘Mentax equivalent’ before adding any additional pills of any kind to my morning ‘cocktails’ . . .
And again, just sharing with you: my podiatrist does prescribe alpha lipoic acid (600mg daily), for PN, but only when you have pain (again, just sharing info with you, as I believe that knowledge is power)

7) I currently have no fear of colon cancer (a later post of yours referring to this when taking high folic acid) as I just had a colonoscopy after the first of the year, and all was ‘good’

OK, I think I’ve read everything you’ve replied to me about . . . and I have a general knowledge of what you are saying . . . and I am in sync with you. Please reply when you have time (and edit as necessary . . . I understand).

Oh, and one final question, is there a mechanism in place to contribute to the upkeep of this forum, since I know these things are not ‘free’ and I really do appreciate all the help you are giving me.