I saw that article on salt and also heard about it on the morning shows. It does make sense. And, as you say mrsD, don't use salt excessively but it is O.K. to use it. We certainly have been doing that for a long time now.

I find it in my health food store though MrsD and many here order it online, it is cheaper online. Most of us use Dr's Best Benfotiamine. It's the B vitamine, thiamine but made different. I think there is much talk about it in the supplements post.

My Mother was told she had shingles but I believe is PN in her back. She tried many things but her symptoms were as yours and when I started benfotiamine for my pn I also put her on it and she too has had amazing results.

I bought Life Extension Mega Benfotiamine 250mg - said I could take 1 - 4 so I just took four. So far the itch has not broken back through the bit of tegretal I had to take to stop it so I could go clean a house. I'm waiting to see. How much do you take if you don't mind me asking and thank you very much for responding to my post.

I have the Slow Mag - just two, twice a day like it says on the box? I hope it's cheaper at Walmart than at Rite Aide, where I just happened to find it today because I was going in that direction. Once again, thank you for responding to my post

I'll get this brand next time, thanks again!!

Start at one SlowMag twice a day. That is the basic dose.

You take Tegretol? That can cause hyponatremia...your doctor should know that.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0515/p2387.html

Cutting back on salt is not a good idea with this drug.
People who get hyponatremia are often taken off this treatment.

SlowMag brand is 9.99 at WalMart. If they are out of it, ask the pharmacy to order it for you. Typically it is on the OTC shelf.
There is a generic called Mag64...but it is almost the same price.
In general the highest prices are at GNC and RiteAid for EVERYTHING!

I read your link, quite scary and quite frankly, not easy to understand. Maybe I should have told my bipolar doc 'bout that hospital incident, wait - I did, I thought maybe it was just a panic attack, that's what I told her. If there was a tegretal issue, maybe she should have noticed. I've been on that stuff for 15 years now. I think I will get the labs from the hospital and give them to her - something else to run and do - feels like all I do is run run run for this and that, since this PN thing.

I did get my 'records' from the neurologist - kind of afraid to look at them - probably will say - Whiny, Crybaby patient with hardly anything wrong with her called again today complaining of leg cramps....

The lab should be able to fax them to your doctor. Call your
doctor and get the gal there to arrange for the lab report to go
to them.
You should be able to do this by phone.

Thank you again Mrs. D.

In my experience, the slomag/mag64, is in the pharmacy. call around to find the cheapest, it does vary a GREAT deal!