Alpha Lipoic Acid and anti-Coagulants

[Eddie49]

I am on Apixaban, Statins and blood pressure tablets. I suffer with thoracic back pain which when it flares is awful, a mixture of muscle and nerve pain. I am only able to take paracetamol which is useless in my case. I have also been advised by the G.P. and pharmacist that I should try Amitriptyline, but from what I have read that can give problems to those of us who have AF. A friend told me that she has seen an article recommending Alpha Lipoic Acid. I looked this up and it seems that this can help greatly with nerve pain especially. The recommendation is to speak to the G.P. first, but, as nice as they are, I think I would be wasting my time there as they probably wouldn't have a clue. I would be grateful for any advice anyone may be able to give or if anyone has any experience with Alpha Lipoic Acid? Thanks. Mike.

[etheral]

Hi Mike, I After reading multiple medical journal articles this is what I've found. ALA is approved in the Netherlands for IV use for diabetic neuropathy. Drug interactions mainly concernpeople who are on anti-diabetic medication as taking ALA can lower blood sugar in combination with these drugs. It was claimed that this suppliment could aid in the treatment of afib, but no studies bore this out. It was also claimed to lower cholesterol. I could find no mention of any interaction with apixaban or effect on heart rate. All in all, I believe you would be taking an unknown risk for a drug only indicated for diabetic neropathy in high doses in one country. My sympathies,as I had suffered from long term neropathy due to botched spinal surgery. etheral

[Eddie49 in reply to etheral]

Thanks for your reply etheral. I feel the same regarding risk. Mike

[sleeksheep]

I take R-Alpha Lipoic Acid (R-ALA) for diabetic neuropathy with Benfotiamine ( derivative of thiamine -Vitamin B1 ). I also have nerve damage in my left foot from a rugby accident and found Benfotiamine is the better of the two for that.

Benfotiamine is on an empty stomach and R-ALA is with food so I usually remember one or the other.

R-ALA 100mg x 3 times a day

Benfotiamine 250mg x 2

I just kept varying rates untill I found it satisfactory , the main problem was foot cramp at night from the rugby injury - this has all but disappeared.

If you do decide on taking ALA at high rates (600mg) - *** things get a bit fishy !

[Eddie49 in reply to sleeksheep]

Thanks. I have read that 600mg was beneficial for nerve pain in some studies.

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

ALA is quite beneficial. Been taking it for years. It boosts, renews and recycles vitamins C and E ... and it also aids in forming and restoring one of the master antioxidants in the body, glutathione.

Overall ... it turbocharges antioxidants within the body to seek out and destroy free radicals that damage health.

[Eddie49 in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Thanks.

[Karendeena]

I would like to know too as I am in a similar position with thoracic back pain and muscle spasms which are horrendous. My only hope is an osteopath!

[Eddie49 in reply to Karendeena]

My experience with osteopaths, chiropractors and physios is that any benefit is always short term, and expensive. There are lots of good exercise videos on-line, but you have to keep your practice up. Good luck. Mike.