I think this is Day 3 of my experimenting with increased and more frequent dosing. It is turning into something very promising so I want to fill in a little background just in case it is important. I don't think it is, but want it on record in case I'm wrong.

A little over two weeks ago I started a similar trial with ginger extract thinking to tap into its many properties, particularly its anti-inflammatory actions and a reported ability to block MSG. As it turned out, it seemed to cause me some of the same problems as the nasty additive. After several days of increasing dyskinesia I quit it at the one week mark. Spent a week doing better each day. Decided to up the ALC/ALA dose to help things along. The effect was good enough to get my attention.

Today was the first one where I maintained reasonable self-discipline. My usual pattern has been to start the day with a sinemet 10-100 plus a sinemet cr 50-200. Then twohours later 8 mg requip. Two hours aftr that a single cr 50-200. Two hours later two requip. Repeat until dinner and then struggle through to bedtime.

Today began at 4 AM with a 10-100 and a cr 50-200 and 100 mg ALA plus 1 g ALC;

*Three* hours later I took 8 mg requip plus ALA/ALC and decided I would try the three hour spacing today;

10 AM took ALA/ALC but forgot the cr 50-200!!

10:30 realized my mistake as sensed off coming. Took one cr plus one 10-100.

Off for awhile but back on about 11:30 (when I posted). Had a half hour of moderate dyskinesia. Took nothing more until...

4:15 !!! And even then didn't feel the need. So I took half a cr 50-200 plus ALA/ALC.

It is now 5:45 and I feel fine! Normally by now I would have maxxed out meds at (1) 10-100; (3) cr 50-200s; and 24 mg requip; and be planning to cheat another dose to get me to bed. Instead I am at (2) 10-100; 8 mg requip; and (2.5) cr 50-200s! And that extra 10-100 was a fluke.

I'm light by 16 mg of darned requip and 100 mg of cr sinemet! Who'd a' thunkit??

Sensing the first hint of off,I'm going to add another half a cr and ALC/ALA and see what happens.

I think I mentioned this before...

R-lipoic is more potent and bioactive than ALA....it is now available for affordable costs. 100mg is typically a high dose of R-lipoic.

We at the PN forum mostly use the new form, since ALA contains an isomer which is not active, and has one study showing affects on the thyroid lowering functions. (only one study on rats).

Went off as suspected. Took another whole cr. Came on after about an hour. Now about 10:30 and am in good shape. Going to bed while the getting is good.

Slept well. Up at 6:00 AM. Moderate foot cramp but less than usual. Took (1) 10-100 plus (1) cr 50-200 plus 100 mg ALA plus 1 gr ALC; on in 45 min, better than usual

Mrs D-
Can you recommend a source on the R-lipoic? Ihad a devil of a time findin it last I looked.

one fear i've had in using high dose ala is it might redistribute heavy metals into your brain because it does pass the bbb.

Here is the page for r-lipoic acid at iherb.
http://www.iherb.com/Search?kw=r-lipoic%20acid

When I started it, I found 50mg very stimulating...
I started with the 100mg Source Naturals tablets and broke them in half.
Then over about 3 months I increased to the 100mg.
I've used both the Country Life and Doctor's Best.
I use 100mg a day now, and think this is close to 600mg of ALA. I tried ALA
for my PN in the past, and it had no effect. The r-lipoic has resulted in
less "burning" for me.

I am basically using Doctor's Best for most of my unusual supplements now. I like them alot.

Hi,

I've slowly been introducing more supplements into my daily dosing in order to monitor reactions, changes in symptoms, etc. I took my first acetyl l-carnitine supplement on Saturday and went about my day...though I noticed I had more delayed on time than usual and during that time I felt more stiff and a little more uncoordinated in using my hands. At first I thought nothing of it, but I had the same thing happen on Sunday- I think it was the addition of this supplement; I felt rather under dopa'ed all day.

Lo and behold, I didn't take it this morning and had a steady flow with meds for a good eight hours. Anyone else ever experience this? Maybe I should take it at night or something...then I wonder if maybe we react to supplements differently based on subtype chemical subtleties. It seems to effect our response to meds.

Laura

I'm continuing to shuffle things around and am still encouraged. At present I am taking about the same as I was pre-experiment but spreading it through the day in combos of 100 mg ALA and 1 g ALC with (1) sinemet cr 3x daily.

Biggest benefit is that I am stretching the frequency of dosing from two hours at baseline to an accidental 4 hours this aftenoon when I just plain forgot. Otherwise I am running 2.5 to 3.0 hours.

Biggest negative is that there is increased bleeding of my gums, which is why I am keeping a handle on doseage.