I have a question. I have done a lot of reading regarding using supplements to help with PN. I know that certain vitamins/Minerals inhibit/aid in the absorption of others, so my question is how do you know what you can take together and what should be taken separately? Is there a better time of day and to take on empty/full stomach? I get so confused so I was wondering if there was a website or if someone could explain it to me? TIA

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

For some things there are no rules, for others, there are some, but they are few.

List what you take and I will try and help you figure it out.

I have a similar question I have NP and I began taking the methyl b12 1000 but just order the 5000 , I'm also taking benfotaimine 600gm a day and today I began taking complex b with folic acid and vitamin c(all in one by natures best) I was taking centrum womens but stopped. I have read most comments but im still unsure if I should take and how much I should take of zinc , biotin, coq10 , rlipoic , magnesium , fish oil, acetyl l carnitine and vitamin d I also read that acetyl l should be taken with ALA but I read rlipoic is better than Ala .I would really like some help since the numbness and tingling returned to my foot after a year and now I began feeling needles in my hands !! Thanks in advance

Thank you so much for your help! Currently I am taking Lovazza and Niaspan for something else along with a 325mg aspirin.

I also take Metanx which is a B complex (i think) I was going for B12 injections but the new doctor (mine retired) is an *** and won't give them to me. Even though I told him I was told by a specialist that once deficient always deficient.

Is this a good one or should I switch to over the counter? I know that you are all not doctors and therefore can not prescribe but the pain is overwhelming and I have been this way for almost 15 yrs. I have been to specialist and none have figured out the cause or done anything but push the pills,which I might add only made me very sick.

Sorry for the rant... anyway I have been doing a lot of reading about supplements that will help. I will be trying RLA and Serrapeptase and D, are there any others that might be helpful? Thanks

Most vitamins can be taken with food.

Exceptions.

1) Separate B12 oral should be on an empty stomach.

2) Lipoic acid is absorbed better on an empty stomach.

3) acetyl carnitine is best broken up into several doses and not taken all at once in one large dose.

4) Products in oils, are best taken with food.

5) calcium supplements are best taken in divided doses too.

I think you should get tested for Vit D and B12 to see where you are presently. This would then point to how much you need if you really need them. Zinc can be tested for too.
Zinc is unlikely to be low unless you take ACE inhibitors for blood pressure, or daily acid blocking drugs. Prednisone and birth control pills may lower zinc levels too. People eating meat, and seafood, do not get low in zinc as a rule.

Choice of which supplements to start on and concentrate on depend on your medical history. What is causing your PN?
Trauma/injury? at a young age? Type I diabetes? Hereditary? Supplements may not work on hereditary patients. Heavy use of therapeutic agents that damage nerves...chemo and other drugs? Lupus?

If you have a basic nutrient deficient PN from low B12, the other supplements are less important, than fixing the B12 first.
If you add too many together in the beginning you cannot see which of them are working and which are not.
Since magnesium is needed and commonly low, taking a good
product (not OXIDE type), at 1/2 the RDA is helpful. Many people in US are low in magnesium...not just diabetics and PNers.

The B-complex, C, and magnesium are useful for many people other than PNers. It all depends on what your diet is like, and your medical history, and drugs being taken, OTC and RX.

I was confused wether this answer was for me? If so I will try to get tested I began my neuropathy years ago but the tingling just started I don't take any meds either... How much lipoic acid and acetyl carnite should I takedaily?

This answer is generic...for everyone.

If you choose the R-lipoic stabilized, 100mg a day to start is
a good dose. You can raise it later if you tolerate it. Some of us
find it too stimulating in higher doses. This new form is so much more absorbed than the older forms, 100mg is a good dose for most people.

The acetyl carnitine would be 500mg a day to start, and work up to 2 grams a day divided doses, if necessary.

These are for mostly mitochondrial damage. If your PN is not of this type, they may not work. The lipoic acid will also improve glucose utilization, and provide some antioxidant effects. It is more globally acting than the carnitine. The acetyl carnitine has been used for chemo drug damage and HIV drug damage.
Both cause toxic neuropathies.

Thank you so much for your help! Currently I am taking Lovazza and Niaspan for something else along with a 325mg aspirin.

I also take Metanx which is a B complex (i think) I was going for B12 injections but the new doctor (mine retired) is an *** and won't give them to me. Even though I told him I was told by a specialist that once deficient always deficient.

Is this a good one or should I switch to over the counter? I know that you are all not doctors and therefore can not prescribe but the pain is overwhelming and I have been this way for almost 15 yrs. I have been to specialist and none have figured out the cause or done anything but push the pills,which I might add only made me very sick.

Sorry for the rant... anyway I have been doing a lot of reading about supplements that will help. I will be trying R Lipoic and Serrapeptase, are there any others that might be helpful? Thanks

The Metanx is good, but it needs to be taken on an empty stomach so the methylB12 in it can be absorbed properly.
No food for one hour.

The Lovaza is fish oil...take with food.

The R-lipoic acid (stabilized) is very water soluble, but still should be taken on an empty stomach for best results. This newest version is an improvement over others from the past.

I will have to warn you that 15yrs of vitamin deficiency may not be helped much. There may be damage that is not correctable.
If you are lucky and start to improve, it will be a long haul.

Do you know your A1C numbers, the long term diabetic predicting values? Do you know what started you problems?
An injury, illness, treatment of some kind, some vaccine reaction, etc? This information is helpful to help decide which supplements to concentrate on.

I am not Diabetic and the so called doctors are not interested in finding out the cause so it has been hit and miss for me. What I am looking for is releif from the agonizing pain There has been no injury to account for this or so I am told....

I have been told that my body is very inflamed and I have had a LEAP done and am apparently sensitive to many foods.