I have been taking 5000mcg b12 daily on empty stomach along with RLA for burning skin sensation throughout my entire body. I was thinking about adding in Benfotiamine. I dont know how much to take and when I should take it. Also I have only been taking the b12 for a month and the RLA for 10 days. Should I just keep taking the b12 and RLA or should I add in Benfotiamine with them. Also any other supplements that might help.
Thanks Drew

You can start at 300mg a day, and if it works, after about 3 months you can try dropping down toe 150mg

We are discussing nightshade vegetables on PN now. Some people get burning from them, esp potatoes which are high in
an alkaloid called solanine.

Other nightshades are tomatoes, (including sauces and paste)
and peppers, (green, red, yellow, chili, jalapenos,)
and some spices like curry, cumin, and paprika)

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=george&dbid=62

Go off all the foods listed for over a month and see if your burning changes. Sometimes it is this family of veggies.

I was thinking of starting with 600mg of benfotiamine and then lowering to 300mg so on. Is this okay?

Yes, you can.... not much toxicity reported on it.

I have been taking 2 Benfotiamine in the a.m., then 2 after lunch, as well as one around dinner time for a total of 5 (150 mg's) Benfotiamine. I also take l R-Lipoic 100mg's(empty stomach) as well as one B12 1MG.(empty stomach).

Do you think I am taking too much Benfotiamine? Also, I frequently take the R-Lopic Acid a couple of hours after breakfast. About 15 min. later, take the B12. Is this okay to take them close together and not intefere with one another.

I also take Oxycontin every 6 hrs. and sometimes this conflicts with the empty stomach of the B12 and R-Lipoic. Do you think this might cause a problem with absorption??

Thanks,

Gerry

Two hours after eating will still have food in the stomach for most
people. IF you have fiber of any kind or fat it will take up to 4 hrs to pass in some people. The Oxy will slow things down too.

If you get up in the night to go to the bathroom, you might take the B12 and lipoic at that time.

If you are getting good results with the benfotiamine, you could try cutting back to see if it holds. I think the enzymes may get saturated after a while, and you may not need that high dose for longer periods. It is mostly a matter of expense. Benfotiamine doesn't show much toxicity reports, so I think it is probably okay for now. But I am a firm believer that if you no longer need a certain dose, you can cut back some and see what happens.

B12 seems to be for life because of the factors that inhibit its
absorption. The benfotiamine is somewhat different. It works on certain enzymes that thiamine uses, and absorption or blockage doesn't seem to show up in the studies, so whatever dose works for you is what you stay with. I don't take 300mg anymore as 150mg seems to work as well for me. There are even some days I don't take it at all, since it has been years I've been using it.

with the supplements that I am taking which are 5000mcg b12, 100mg r lipoic acid and benfotiamine which I will start soon, Is it okay to drink a lot of water or will It get rid of too much b12 that I am taking as it is water soluble and actually go against what I am trying to do?

Mrs D...
Thankyou so far for your help...I understand that the methyl B is meant to go under you tongue but from what I read you can swallow it on an empty stomach is this right and also can you tell me what is a good magnesium and vit c powder.
Many thanks
Heather

Yes, water is always good.

B12 is only very minimally absorbed passively in the GI tract.
People who use it under the tongue, swallow the B12 dissolved in the saliva and it becomes oral after all.

But using the high doses 1mg or 5mg insures enough is absorbed ...about 1% to make it successful. We absorb normally from animal sourced foods (meat, eggs, dairy, seafood) from 2-4 micrograms a day if intrinsic factor is working in the stomach and if you have enough acid there.

From 1mg oral tablet you may absorb up to 10 micrograms a day, IF you take it on an empty stomach, so food and fiber will not sponge it up and block absorption. It has been shown that microgram doses of some drugs like thyroid hormone are also affected by the presence of food. So B12 should be taken when the stomach and intestine are empty, and for at least an hour before any meal or is consumed. The main studies on B12 absorption were done this way, but the supplement manufacturers don't really read the studies. B12 is one of the few vitamins that must be taken this way, because of its uniquely tiny dose size.

I guess I have a real problem with the absorption of B12 and the R-Lopic on empty stomach, as well as the Oxy slowing things down.

I take my Oxy about midnight (every 6 hrs.) and set my alarm for 6 a.m. to take my Oxy, along with my synthroid. (I don't go to bed until after midnight so seldom get up before the 6 a.m. alarm. (Also, use Ambien CR for sleep) If I take the B12 and R-Lopic at 6 am; sounds like Oxy will still be a problem. I usually am out of bed by 8 am.

Also, I was under the impression that a total of 600 mg's a day for Benfotiame was pretty much the average amount to be taken. I must say, I do feel a difference; especially more energetic. In September was in hospital for 2 weeks. I did not use benfotiamine during that time and also for about 2 weeks after coming home. Started the Benfotiamine again. Within a short time; the energy is back. I was surprised to learn the dosage should eventually be lessened.

Your info gives me a lot to consider.

Gerry