When you say "carnitine," do you mean acetyl l-carnitine, or are you referring to another substance?

Thanks.

Both L-carnitine and acetyl L-carnitine. The move toward acetyl has been ongoing over the years, because it has been found to be a bit better absorbed.

But both or either are used to enhance muscle energy during exercise or bodybuilding.

It is also abbreviated ALCAR, but sometimes I just get tired of typing the longer name.

Dr S/ Mrs D,

I began taking Doctors Best R Alpha Lipoic Acid @ 100mg a couple of weeks ago then slowly titrated my way up to 200, 300 and now today at 600mg. I really did not notice any difference until today when I started taking 200mg 3 times daily spread out at a minimum of 4 hours apart. (Read you should somewhere or bad things can happen?)
So far I have noticed improvement in pain and burning in my feet. I know it is too soon to tell, maybe I am in the honeymoon phase or just having a good day, but this is the most hope I have had since this treachery started 8 months ago. I am going to have to ask my doctor to help me closely monitor my blood sugar to make sure it does not drop too low. But I am hopeful right now I will post again in a few days...

When lipoic acid is used as a chelator of heavy metals (mostly mercury), it is used this way every 4 hours.

This may be a clue to your cause of your PN. Not everyone is going to need this extremely high dose. AND you may not need it this high forever, so be flexible as time passes. Your body may change its needs with time.

Can you clarify the name? Is your product Doctor's Best R-lipoic acid stabilized? If so the word alpha is not in that particular product.

Mrs D,

Thanks for the reply! Yes you are right the Alph is not in the name:
Doctor's Best, Best Stabilized R-Lipoic Acid, 100 mg, 60 Veggie Caps

When you say this may be a clue to the cause of my PN, are you saying that this could possibly point the finger at some type of heavy metal poisoning? I know I was tested for copper, can't remeber what else off the top of my head. Maybe I should ask my neuro for a more comprehensive set of metal tests?

It might not hurt to get a heavy metal screening. PN can come from high levels of arsenic, mercury, cadmium and thallium.

While it is not as common as some of the other PN causes, it CAN happen.

If you are not diabetic, the blood sugar issue is less likely. The warning pertains to diabetics on medication for elevated blood sugar which may suddenly come down, then hence the drugs being used would be too strong.

Really high doses of lipoic acid will however, take up space on the transporter in the body that also moves biotin and B5. You could become low in either or both of those while taking high dose lipoic.

You do have to keep blood sugar level. I have very good and normal levels when tested in labs and home. But with the help of my integrative MD, I have changed my diet. Sugar, simple carbs, fluctuating blood sugar levels are all not good for the nerves.

Not just for the nerves, but the brain and body of course.

R Lipoic Acid seems to still be helping, but still have good days and bad days.
I was also trying acupuncture at the same time, so may have been a melding of the two that made my feet felt so good.
Acupuncture is very expensive, and if it lasted for more that a few days, I would consider mortgaging the farm and continuing with it. But, it definitely gave me my gait back.
May have to try it again???

It seems that most everyone here is posting about diabetes or pre-diabetes. I have had my idiopathic small fiber peripher neuropathy for 10 yrs. after"per doctors" post infectious " I had explosive diarrhea several times, ached all over, neck hurt, had a jab of pain up inside sinuses way up high inside nose, waves and waves of pricks sensations over entire body head to toe. Sinuses secretions have thickened - abnormal sensations all over face and body. Nothing helps. Any advise?? I had a spinal tap one year after I first got sick and the CSF showed WBC at 9 and doctors like it below 5. Now why after one yr. at the time wouldn't they treat it if WBC in CSF was elevated at 9?? One doctor said I have a brain lesion right on the part of the brain that controls the autonomic nervous system. I saw 5-6 neurologists and only one noticed it. Anything for someone that is not a diabetic??

I have a few questions....

What antibiotics were you on back then? Some antibiotics cause PN.

Also did you have your B12 measured? If so what are your results? "normal"is not enough since doctors don't have the new ranges. You should be at 400pg/ml US units at least and maybe more.

Do you use statin drugs?

Low B12 and impaired glucose utilization, are the most common forms of PN. But there over 100 causes. Many come from damage to the mitochondria in the cells. When this happens, the cells cannot process energy properly.