I've been looking in the oncology literature for treatments to counter chemo-induced neuropathy. Glutamine was one that came up.
I know I've seen references to it in other threads. Any thoughts on whether it seems to help with peripheral neuropathy from Lyme?
Also, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) was mentioned in another article as a possible anti-neuropathy supplement. Husband takes 1200 mg/day for liver support. The dosage mentioned in the article was 1800 mg/day.
Any experiences with either ALA and neuropathy, or dosing at the high end?
Thanks, as always,
Aviva
Posted by Judith16 (Member # 4424) on :
Check out the book 'Nutrients for Neuropathy" by John A. Senneff. I found this author's book before I was dx with Lyme when I was trying to found out why I had developing peripheral neuropathy spreading all over my body. I had joined the BB for The Neuropathy Association and found this guys books....very helpful to me.
I followed some of his suggestions and kept myself off Nerontin (sp?) because of the supplements I was taking....high dose ALA being one of them. One of the neurologists I saw at Scripps in La Jolla, CA....pre-Lyme dx....told me he liked ALA and also liked this authors books.
Hope this helps.
Judith
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Judith,
Thank you!!! I had no idea a book like this existed, but I'm off to amazon.com to find it.
Husband had gotten a Neurontin prescription before, but was reluctant to go that route. We'd much prefer a supplement.
Do you recall what dose of ALA you were using? How are you doing with your neuropathy now?
Take care, and thanks again, Aviva
Posted by Judith16 (Member # 4424) on :
I was dx in 2002 and I feel if I had not stumbled in to this one docs office I would be in a wheelchair by now. I was seeing this doctor for my thyroid, and he turned out to be a LLMD. I thank GOD for him everyday. He has since retired, but he got me started on the road to recovery.
I would say I am about 80-90% better depending on the day. I still have neuropathy in my feet the right worse then the left. I am still on abx for the Lyme and was just recently started on Mepron for babs.
After reading "Nutrients for Neuropathy" I was taking I think around 1200-1600mg of ALA a day. I also was taking fish oil and B vitamins. It took the edge off particularly when I started herxing on the abx....it got really bad.
How I knew it was all working... I had to come off it all for a breast biopsy and within a couple of days the neuropathy, particular the full body burning, got really bad. After the biopsy and I could go back on the supplements...within 3 days I was not burning all over..just in my toes but tolerable.
Judith
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
This is what I take daily: 4500 mgs. L-Glutamine 550 mgs. ALA 600 mgs. NAC
Klutzo
Posted by viva (Member # 8183) on :
Judith and Klutzo,
I'm taking down your information, and will run it by both LLMD and oncologist, to make sure there's nothing that would interfere with the chemotherapy drugs. It's a delicate and scary balance...
I did order the Nutrients for Neuropathy book last night, and am looking forward to reading it. It's so hard when you're dealing with a symptom onslaught from both the disease, as well as the meds...
Take care, and thanks, Aviva
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
Oops! I just noticed that Judith mentioned fish oil. I did not know it helped neuropathy, and had taken it for my lipid ratios. Thanks for the info, Judith!
I now take Neptune Krill Oil instead, 3 X daily. It works far better for normalizing my lipid ratios than any fish oils I've tried, with no belching afterwards. (I am part of the 1/3 of people whose lipids are made worse by fish oil, rather than better).
Krill oil also helped my husband's arthritis a lot, where fish oil did not. It is far better absorbed.
If you do prefer fish oil to krill oil, but cannot tolerate the belching, try Carlson's Lemon flavored....it tastes great, makes a good salad dressing, and does not cause belching.