I just started Country Life 100 mg capsules (best deal we found when we ordered, but that probably changes daily) this morning.

Actually, I should say, this morning "B". I have to laugh - now my pill regimens are split into "A" groups (on an empty stomach) followed by the "B" groups an hour later (with food). (Heavy sigh....)

I see also that a 60 day trial is recommended to determine efficacy (efficaciousness?). Coincidentally(?), this brand came in a 60 day supply (when I've noticed most supplements seem to come in 30 day supplies).

Keeping my fingers crossed (can't feel my toes to cross them!)

Doc

I read here that it could take up to 60 days to notice any effect from taking R-lipoic. Is it possible - even conceivable - that I could be noticing a difference in just a couple of days, or am I just having an unusually good day?

Doc

It is possible... especially if you are getting some glucose reduction, and that translates into your feet.

Many people come here posting that sugar, ice cream, heavy intake of high glycemic carbs, makes them worse.

I am going to do some testing on myself soon, since I have to take my sugars often before starting Glumetza, for my insulin resistance that is bleeding over into beginning diabetes. (I've controlled this for many years with diet, and seem to be losing that battle finally).

But I will test with lipoic actions too. I went off 2 weeks ago, and will test for 2 days, and then start taking it again before I start the Glumetza. My last fasting was 10 pts lower, using lipoic, but I don't know if that is the reason or something else that day did it. My testing strips just came today, finally after a long delay with the USPS.

I don't think there could be much. I've been tested for diabetes numerous times, including glucose tolerance - all negative, and two PN specializing neuros told me I'm not even "pre-diabetic" (cuz I specifically asked). Also, I'm on Dr. Tennant's diet, which is mostly protein, and the rest vegetables. I'm not eating sweets, fruits, or other sugars (except what's converted from the veggies on the diet, which excludes high-sugar veggies anyway).

Today is day 7 without burning.

Doc

That's great that your burning is lessening!

I had normal readings for years, while insulin resistant.
2 GTTs also normal.

The only abnormality was fasting INSULIN levels. In fact my fasting glucoses would be 70-80, while the INSULIN levels would be elevated.

Then BOOM... even with conservative diet (Zone similar), they suddenly went up. I don't have a corresponding foot issue though this time. My feet have been rather quiet. (except for that ankle which responds to Aleve).

It can all get very confusing sometimes and complicated.
I didn't do the lipoic test yet... I was concentrating on the many readings I took over the last few days.

I just bought 3 bottles of Source Naturals, 60 tabs, 100mg -
for $15.96 a bottle at iHerb. That's 26 cents a day, per dose.
the Acetyl L Carnitine 500mg was 14 cents a cap & CoQ10,
100 mg - is 19 cents ea.
Not highly expensive, but not as cheap as my Jarrow methyl B12/1,000mcg- at 7 cents a sub-lingual lozenge. .

Here is a new thread on r-lipoic.

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread159210.html

It goes into "stability" issues, and the two types of r-lipoic out there.

regular R-lipoic and RALA...which is a sodium salt of R-lipoic and supposedly better absorbed.

This can be very confusing... and you will see on that thread that I suspect Dr. Blaylock is confused as well. :rolleyes:

I started using ALA 100mg about four weeks ago. I notice that a couple of hours after taking it my urine smells but worse is that i get a bad taste in my mouth that leaves me paranoid all day about bad breath. Does the R-Lipoic do the same thing. I wanted to order Doctors best RLipoic but seeing as that is stronger than the normal ALA i am concerned that it'll be even worse. Anyone had any experience of this?

I've never taken regular ALA, but since I started RLA a year ago, I've never experienced anything like that. I have gotten a little heartburn on occasion, but mild and temporary.

Keep in mind that you'll only be taking approx. 1/6 the amount. It's not so much that it's "stronger"; it just doesn't have the part you can't use. If you're getting the stabilized form, I would think it would be even less of a problem; perhaps the reason you had the problem was that yours went bad or partially decomposed(?) (That's just a WAG).

Doc

100mg of regular alpha lipoic is so low a dose, it cannot
really work on PN. That would be 50mg to absorb under ideal conditions (empty stomach) --not likely. Therapeutic doses of ALA for PN are 600-1800mg a day!

I've never had any odors from Lipoic. But some vitamins in the Bcomplex will cause urine to smell differently.

B1, B2, and B6 will color the urine and B1 esp has a yeasty odor.
Benfotiamine (special B1) does not seem to share that characteristic.

There are many drugs that will cause dry mouth, and/or metallic taste, also.