for Jean and others with post-chemo neuropathy

[Lani]

this is for diabetic neuropathy--but worth a try perhaps. RB--any contraindications?






Alpha-Lipoic Acid Improves Symptomatic Diabetic Polyneuropathy


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Nov 15 - Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) given orally improves symptoms in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy, according to a report in the November issue of Diabetes Care.

A recent meta-analysis showed that daily intravenous treatment with ALA could reduce pain, paresthesia, and numbness in diabetic patients, the authors explain, but little work has been done to investigate the use of oral ALA.

Dr. Dan Ziegler from Heinrich Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany and colleagues compared three doses of oral ALA to placebo in 166 patients with symptomatic diabetic polyneuropathy.

Mean total symptom scores and stabbing/lancinating and burning pain subscores were significantly reduced after 5 weeks in all active treatment arms compared with the placebo arm, the authors report.

ALA treatment had no measurable effect on paresthesia and numbness, the results indicate.

Symptoms improved significantly as early as 1 week with the highest ALA dose (1800 mg daily) and within 2 weeks with the other doses (600 mg and 1200 mg daily), the researchers note, and there were no significant differences among the three ALA groups for changes in mean total symptom score at any time point.

The findings were similar when Neurology Symptoms and Change Score was used instead of mean total symptom score, the report indicates.

Nausea, vomiting, and vertigo were more common with ALA treatment than with placebo treatment, the investigators say.

"Whether the observed favorable short-term effect of ALA on neuropathic symptoms and deficits can be translated into slowing the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy in the long term is unknown," the authors write. "However, our finding that neuropathic deficits such as impaired sensory function were improved is encouraging, because these are major risk factors in the development of neuropathic foot ulcers."

"In the absence of a dose response and because the higher doses resulted in increased rates of gastrointestinal side effects, 600 mg once daily seems to be the most appropriate oral dose," the researchers add.

Diabetes Care 2006;29:2

[StephN]

I had read something about Alpha-Lipoic Acic some time back (like maybe 3+ years) and started taking it after I stopped the L-Glutamine for my neuropathy, which was caused by all the taxanes I took to kick out my mets.

Am not sure why, but now that I am over 4 years past stopping the chemos, my hands and feet are quite good. My neuropathy was never very bad, but it was noticeable. And I did have the joint flareups (mostly in hands and wrists), which are also now totally under control and I no longer take the pills for that. Those pains and swelling could also be related to the hormonal changes added to the mix of other possible causes. (No arthritic evidence in all the tests.)

But still take the Alpha-Lipoic acid at least 3 days per week as it has other benefits.

[Jean]

Lani,
Thanks Lani, have been taking alpha-lipoic acic but it did not help!

Jean

[Jean]

Thanks Lani,
I am taking alpha-lipoic acic but it did not help the neuropathy.
Three weeks I saw a neurologist who recommended Cymbalta,
which I began. The results were shocking, in less than a week
on a low dose I had some relief from the tingling and burning.
But the most interesting results was the relief from joint and muscle pain
caused by the Femara. By the second week my toes were improving
and now I am in the thrid week and the dr. believes by the time he
completes the full dose I will have additional improvement. So far
I am feeling 50% improvement with my toes and I am enjoying my
walks again. But the very best part is the relief from the joint and
muscle pain which I did not expect.

Wiggling my toes and smiling!

Jean

[Alice]

I have heard of vit B6 but not these others . Can they be gotten over the counter? Any relief would be greatful.

Alice

[heblaj01]

In addition to the prescription drug Cymbalta (originaly approved as an anti depression drug) which has been clinicaly tried for diabetic neuropathy & was found by Jean to be highly effective against her chemo induced neuropathy, the over the counter supplement Acetyl-L-carnitine has also been found to relieve neuropathic pain from both diabetic or chemo origin: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...9/ai_n15929286

Acetyl-L-carnitine for diabetic neuropathy



http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/q...&dopt=Abstract
Acetyl-L-carnitine prevents and reduces paclitaxel-induced painful peripheral neuropathy


Due to the numerous possible functions of Acetyl-L-carnitine reviewed in the
article below, it might be advisable to seek medical advice before self supplementing with this product.
http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:...n&ct=clnk&cd=2