Certainly if something is bothering, you --- take a good look at it and the situation.

ALA is not so important, that anyone HAS to take it. So if it gives you heartburn, stop it for a while. But don't throw it out yet.
Whatever is going on may change. If you have heartburn from other things, it is time to see a doctor. Heartburn can be lifestyle triggered. Or it can be a serious sign to see your doctor.
In my case I got Prilosec. But in reality by coincidence, the essential fatty acids cured it as I was low.

Intolerance to lipoic acid, might point to something else going on that needs looking into.

It is the same with foods that we are intolerant of, and also
DRUGs that cause all sorts of grief.

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

I probably will try giving up the R-Lipoic starting tomorrow and see if I can get this acid reflux situation under control.

I may try it again in the future just to see what happens.

I tried many times, didnt matter how or what I did, always caused me problems. If you figure out a method that helps, please post and let me know what it is. I tried all the suggestions on the other post.

I personally have had better luck with the ALA. I take 900mg (3 capsules) daily and if I stop, I definitely can feel what it has done for me. One 100mg capsule of R Lipoic would not even substitute for one 300mg of ALA, in my case. Everyone is different, even drugs don't work the same for everyone, and it certainly doesn't hurt to try. I've also found, in my case, that the gel caps available from PP seem to be easier on the acid reflux problem. They also come in 300mg caps (kind of large, but easy for me to swallow, as they are soft caps similar to vit E).

Groucho, if you don't mind me asking, how long have you been on 900mg of ALA and have you noticed any side effects?

Thanks.

I've been taking it for more than a year, but at 600mg for 3-4 months at the beginning. I noticed a small change & perhaps it wasn't quite enough to make a really noticeable difference, so I moved up to 800-900mg daily, depending on the size capsules that I had. I take them after eating to minimize indigestion/reflux, which is the only side effect I've had. As I mentioned before, I have less of that when I take PP's gel caps. They are on the large size, but I have no difficulty swallowing them with sufficient water. They are also only slightly more expensive than the regular capsules. I take 3-300mg all at once after breakfast. If they bother you, you can try taking one with each meal. I DO notice when I haven't taken them for a few days, but sometimes forget that I wasn't taking them & then when I've retaken them for a few days, things improve. LOL.

I plan to see my Neurologist in another month to switch me from Gabapentin to Nortriptylene. He said he didn't like ALA, but we were on our way out the door at that time & will try to remember to ask him why this time around. He's in his mid 30's & perhaps thinks the only relief comes with drugs & natural stuff is hype.

There is a study quoted on the Linus Pauling Institute monograph
about alpha lipoic acid:

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/othernuts/la/

That food hinders absorption of the racemic mixture ALA.

Many drugs are also best taken on any empty stomach, but even those patients are told to take them with food, if the drug bothers their stomach. The important thing is that if they help an individual, the drug or supplement should be taken the way that it works best for the individual, and not just simply give up just because they can't take it in the preferred way. I take all 3 capsules at once, so I don't have to remember daytime doses. It takes a few days for me to have noticeable effects, so no need to spread out doses.

Groucho, how odd that that doc. said he didn't like ALA. Some are so clueless. I feel sorry for patients that do not find good doctors. Reg. doctors need to find out how to really help with all treatments.

For the "brave" here is a complex article that evaluates the various studies.

http://examine.com/supplements/Alpha-Lipoic+Acid/

Note at the very top of the first page, is the warning to not confuse lipoic acid (ALA) with an Omega fatty acid alpha linolenic acid....however. the latter is called an Omega-6, and it is NOT, it is an Omega-3.

This leaves me with a trust issue as the the validity of the rest, but I'll put it up here anyway. In general it does not report glowing results with it.