Supplements for PN
 

Has anyone used supplements for PN, and if so what are they? I've been wondering about Nerve Support Formula . . has anyone used it with good results?

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

You really need to understand PN better before beginning some supplements.

Can you tell us about yourself... age, when this started, what tests you've had, what you do, your drug and medical history?

I'm 72 years old and I've had PN for 8 years now. It came on as a result of Taxol treatment for breast cancer.
I have tried Neurontin several times, and each time had a bad reaction to it. I refuse to try it again.
I take Celebrex for arthritis . . I guess it helps to relieve some of the pain in my feet from the PN. Though I have pain and tingling in my hands and feet, I have learned to live with this.
My biggest problem is the burning in the lower portion of my legs that started about a year ago. I feel as if my legs have sunburn, and when clothing touches them it feels as if I have on a heavy woolen blanket.
I've been wearing nothing but shorts for almost a year. Thank goodness I live in Florida and can get away with this for most of the year. But, there are days that I don't go out at all because I don't want to wear long pants and be uncomfortable.
I also have been taking 1200 mg of Alpha Lipoic Acid for a year now. It doesn't seem to help at all. But, I'm afraid to stop it because I'm wondering if the PN has progressed, and the ALA is really helping after all.
I've seen the ads for Nerve Support Formula which is a blend of some "B" vitamins and Folic Acid, etc. I have read a great deal about PN, and don't expect to be completely free of it ever. But, if I can do something about the burning in my legs, I would be happy . . .

There are studies to show acetyl carnitine helps with chemo induced PN.

It is best started when you have the chemo... but I'd try it anyway. It helps with mitochondria damage from the chemo drugs.

Start at 500mg a day and slowly raise by 500mg once a week to 2 grams. You may see some improvement at lower doses, but 2 grams a day is one dose used in the studies. Take in divided doses because this supplement is not well absorbed. Dividing it up may get more into your blood stream.

There is a better form of lipoic acid... called R-lipoic stabilized.
This only needs 100mg a day for most people.

This is one of many posts on lipoic acid here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ht=lipoic+acid
If you use the search function you can see many more.
This thread in particular is where we discover new information about the stabilized form. The "old" alpha lipoic is a mixture of R and S and the S form is not active. Hence you need high doses. And all lipoics should be taken on an empty stomach for best absorption. If you take with food you may reduce absorption up to 30%.

B12 should ideally be tested. You should get the numbers as labs here in US are outdated and reporting LOWs as normal.
Doctors don't know the difference and people with lows get missed and continue on with damage from low B12.

If you test below 400, then an inexpensive methylcobalamin daily may help. This can cost you about 10 cents a day.