What's the latest in vitamin regimens?
 

Every few years, I think I'll see if a vitamin regimen would be helpful and then don't do anything about it. Maybe this time I'll get on the program, because various symptoms are getting worse.
I don't have PN but CIDP -- not much pain, but big fuzziness in my feet, now my calves and most recently my fingers. Lots of muscle atrophy in legs and fingers. Bad balance -- but I go stand-up-paddle surfing every day, so it's not as bad it it could be, I suppose.
Don't take any meds specifically for my CIDP, though I do take synthroid for hypothy. issue; an antidepressant; antabuse, to keep me from drinking; and 5mg Adderall daily, just to keep me moving.
Last time I thought about supplements, this is what I was thinking about:
300 mg benfotamine b1
200 mg R-lipoc (is this the same as ALA?)
4000 mcg Methyl B-12
Fish oil

This sound right? Am I missing anything for a basic protocol?

Should I be looking at allithiamine instead of benfot. for my B1?
What about curcumin?

Previously, I'd thought about also taking Centrum Silver and Janos B complex, but the thought of adding more pills to my already over-pilled world is not a happy one.

Maybe I should just go with one of those Nerve Support Formulas that people talk about and supplement it fill out the roster.

Thoughts, anyone?

p.s. -- if i wanted to just start with two supplements, which two should it be?

Well at first glance that Antabuse (disufiram) can be very problematic. I'd suggest not using it.

Type into Google "disufiram neuropathy" and you'll find many sites explaining.

This one is pretty good:

Disulfiram neuropathy - MedLink
www.medlink.com/web_content/MLT000M5.asp
Disulfiram produces a dose- and length-dependent axonal sensorimotor ... Symptoms and signs of disulfiram neuropathy are typical of many other toxic axonal ...

Click on the bolded link.. this is a site that when you go there does not have an address on the page requested. So I had to copy the whole link of Google this way.

Your supplements look good. Make sure the R-lipoic is the Stablized form... as the older R- version is not well absorbed.
NaRALA is its abbreviation on the product. Doctor's Best makes an affordable one. This form is solubilized for fast absorption from the GI tract.

The Benfotiamine is critical for you since you took that Disulfiram. This drug interferes with aldehyde metabolism.
Benfotiamine and Thiamine help with this metabolic issue.

Well, that's it for Antabuse. Will stop taking it today and try to figure out some other way to keep from drinking. Thanks for the (scary) link.

Will look for the Doctor's Best NaRALA.

Are Benfotiamine and allithiamine interchangeable? here's a link to Allithiamine: http://www.amazon.com/Allithiamine-2...s=allithiamine .
Some say it's better for crossing the brain barrier.
what do you think?

And, finally, if you would -- out the above list, are there two (or three) vits that i should get on asap, before the others?

thanks!

One should really get tested for B12 and Vit D. Along with magnesium, these are the BIG three for re-establishing healing.
Alcohol is a diuretic and over time would really deplete magnesium. SlowMag or a chelate daily would help in this regard. Avoid the oxide form, as it remains in the bowel and does not get absorbed into the blood stream.

You would calculate how much Vit D to use from the test results.
1000IU D3 for every 10 points to raise up to about 50.

Many people in the US are quite low in all three of these nutrients, even if they don't drink.

If you are hypothyroid, you may not be converting betacarotene properly in the liver. This is dependant on T3 levels. So taking a Retinol form of A, extra may be helpful. No more than 8000 IUs a day. Many good multivits have some retinol in them. So read your labels if you use one. They have a mixture of retinol + betacarotene.

Most recovering drinkers do well on a balanced B-complex.
B-Right by Jarrow has a good formula to try. I'd still use the B12 separately however.

thanks a bunch. i ordered b1, R-ALA and b12. guess i'll start with them, on top of the four other meds i currently take.

haves anyone come up with a suave solution to the problem of opening up all those bottle caps every morning? right now, i just leave em open and exposed to the air, probably not good. thought about putting them into a bowl, but that's probably worse. in any event, i looked at pill despensers and none of them seems to do what i want. will keep looking.

thanks again!

A tablet dispenser may help. There are large ones...

Some stores have this type:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/7-Day-Jumbo-...item2c7c0f549a

I'm gonna get me one of those, thanks for the tip.

Meanwhile, after a swift Amazon delivery, here's what I'm now taking:

Benfotiamine 300 x 1
R-Lipoic Acid: 100 x 2
Kelp: 600 x 1
Methyl B12 5000 x 1

And:
low dose naltrexone -- starting a 1.5ml

I'm also spraying CBDs (cannabidiol) on my feet, which seems to liven them up a little bit.

How's all that look? Dosages seem right? And when I get into a routine, what should I probably add next, if anything?

Sounds good.

You might try the magnesium lotion many of us use.

Morton Epsom lotion.
This does 3 things:

Improves circulation to the affected applied area.
Reduces any muscle tension or cramping.
Reduces pain by blocking the NMDA pain receptors.

This is available at most WalMarts and Walgreens locally and also online at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Morton-Epsom-L...n+epsom+lotion

You can apply a quarter sized dollop a day... to intact skin.
You can rotate sites daily as one application MAY last more than one day. Too much will result in fatigue, over-relaxation, or lowering of high blood pressure if you take drugs for that. The drugs may become too strong and need adjustment. This shouldn't happen for normal people with no pressure problems.
Don't apply to the bottoms of the feet, as the skin is too thick there for absorption. Tops of the feet and ankles is where I apply mine.

If you have any swelling, this lotion may reduce that too.

A quarter sized dollop a day? But if I apply more -- is over relaxation of my feet necessarily a bad thing? (i don't have any high blood pressure issues).

Forgot to put this on my list:
Slow-Mag -- 1 pill daily.

Since starting this up, I've noticed that at times my arms and fingers itch like crazy. Think that'll go away with continued use?

Itching from just the magnesium? or all of those on the list.

Itching can be from dilating blood vessels... when blood flows into poor areas, there can be tingling or itching as the nerve endings wake up.

What is nice about the lotion is that some body areas may be constricted with blood flow so any magnesium in the blood doesn't get into those areas. Using it topically opens up those constricted areas and then healing can happen and toxins can exit. I use about a nickel sized dollop in each arm when I want systemic absorption. It really keeps my blood pressure down.
(inner wrists and inner arms where the skin is thinnest.)

You might be able to use more, but that would be up to you. Some people may absorb alot, and others less so. Those with poor kidney functions have to be careful with magnesium. But I don't think topical use is as dangerous as magnesium based enemas or high oral dosing.