I have a question regarding R-Lipoic acid.

My reading suggests that R-Lipoic acid may help small fiber neuropathy because it lowers blood sugar levels. That, in-turn, would help those with diabetic small fiber neuropathy.

However, for those with normal blood sugar levels AND idiopathic small fiber neuropathy, is it still helpful in both treating the burning and also rebuilding the small unmyelenated nerve fibers?

R-lipoic also lowers blood sugars in some people. Doesn't affect mine.

But it works in the mitochondria to help with cellular energy.
It is also classed as an antioxidant.

Here is the Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipoic_acid

I think it has much potential, and use it myself.

... thanks, and I will give it a try.

I've read in several places that R-lipoic works better in conjunction with both Acetyl L-Carnitine and Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B-5) supplementation. I started on R-lipoic alone, and it stopped most of the burning within days. A few months later I added ALC and there was further improvement. A few months after that, after reading about B-5, I added that as well, and that has helped even further with most of the needle jabs, cramping, and some of the hypersensitivity to pain.

Doc

.... many thanks!

I forgot to mention... my results with R-lipoic are not typical; it may require up to a month to get relief. There may be more on that in the Lipoic acid thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread130991.html

Doc

R-Lipoic acid always caused me to awaken at night with a fast heartbeat. I tried it three times and each time I had the same side effect.

I had a jittery effect in the beginning. I had to start at 50mg a day because of that reaction. It wasn't exactly an increased heart rate, just an unsettled feeling. I took it in the morning for that reason. R-lipoic is a mitochondrial enhancing supplement. Our mitochondria are the energy producers in our cells.

I used 50mg a day for a month, then increased to 100mg.
I am now trying 200mg a day, in divided doses. Perhaps in higher dose (using the RALA brand from Doctor's Best) I'll see some blood sugar improvements.

What time of day were you taking it? I take it in the morning, so I don't notice anything. My wife takes niacin for cholesterol (which works as well or better than prescription drugs w/o the many of the downsides) at night because in the morning she gets the flush much worse. At night she sleeps right through it.

I don't know if there are any time-release types of R-lipoic; that might help, or splitting the dose throughout the day as mrsD suggests.

I tried upping mine to 200 mg/day for a couple months, but didn't notice any difference at all, so I cut it back to 100 mg again. If it ever stops working or I get worse (my PN seems to be somewhat better right now) I wouldn't hesitate to up it again before going back to gabby....

Doc

Update on my 200mg a day ALA... Can't take it! I am so hyper and jived up.... I am going back to 100mg a day.