I Would like to get some info about dosage and difference between 1 kind as opposed to another

Old ALA (racemic mixture) 600mg to 1800mg a day.
This older more common form needs to be taken on an empty
stomach. 1/2 is the active R form and 1/2 is inactive and called S form.

The newer R-lipoic acid stablilzed (NaRALA) can be used 100mg daily instead of the higher doses of the older form.
Doctor's Best is one example of this new form.
Some people have posted here that they take 200mg a day of this. That would be a personal choice.
Not available commonly locally in stores, but easily on the net.
I get mine at Amazon.com but iherb.com also carries it.
http://www.iherb.com/Doctor-s-Best-B...-Veggie-Caps/4

The stabilized form is highly soluble and so is absorbed better, hence the lower doses necessary.

Although, it probably loses a lot in the translation from the Drs Office to the printed page. And I have already told it once or twice.....I have this story that I would like to tell.

First let me say that I totally concur with MrsD on her recommendation and that is what I follow.

The story is that I had been searching for some relief from peripheral neuropathy, small fiber type, for some time and finally was referred to one of the top neurologists in town. The first time I talked with him he asked if maybe I was taking alpha lipoic acid?? I said no and he said that I might want to think about it. In the second meeting (follow-up after all the tests, all negative) he acknowledged that there was no quick fix on the horizon, and realizing that I had chronic pain, brought up the Alpha Lipoic Acid topic again. This time it was in the form of "I really recommend you start taking this, I think it may help you, it has helped other patients of mine."

In fact, he pulled out his laptop and took the time to do a google search for alpha lipoic acid to show me the prices, etc. At that time he explained the difference between alpha lipoic acid and the stabalized R-lipoic acid, recommending it as a more efficient way to take it. Now, I had never had an MD recommend OTC vitamins before so this was unusual and I took the interaction to mean that I really should start taking this. I believe he may have referred to some preliminary evidence (i.e., research studies) as well.

These two interactions were the first time that I had even heard of Lipoic Acid and I was clearly sold on the need to purchase the R form and start taking it right away. Now (in my mind) the funny part. When I asked what dose I should take he said, "it doesn't matter." That was it, just a "it doesn't matter". I took a few quizzical seconds to digest this and then said something intelligent like, "Whaaat?" And he said it again, "it doesn't matter." I thought that was a hoot. In talking more with him, I believe he was saying that there was not enough evidence available to suggest what the effective dose might be, and more importantly than worrying about the dose, I should just start taking it.

As an aside, I started taking 2400 mg a day. I guess that means that I tend to overdo things in the absence of strict guidance. The next time I saw him it was his turn to be amused when I told him how much I was taking. He said something like, "Well, I guess you are giving it a real trial."

Anyway, it is within this context that I find MrsD's guidance to be most welcomed. Thanks MrsD!

2400mg is in the range for the old racemic form. Some of the oral studies in Europe went high like this. That is because not all of it is absorbed in that form.

But 24 of the Stabilized form a day? 200mg a day of that gives me the jitters!

Interesting story though... thanks for sharing.