My daughter 15 yrs old is suffering from Lyme and co infections for last 5 yrs. She has CNS manifestations with mobility problems. She is on Keppra XR, Doxy, Rifampin, Milk Thistle and was doing well till last week. We introduced Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) since last week and her symptoms have started becoming worse again ... can this be coz of ALA ? any experience , suggestions wud help
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I have read that it can cause body pain in some people. So I never tried it.
I'm sorry she is feeling worse!!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- You can read more about ALA here:
www.vrp.com - just pull down "articles" in the search engine.
I never felt any effects from ALA but, one thing about both Rx and supplements, lyme patients tend to have a wide range of reactions.
I don't know what dose you started at but maybe a lower dose will help. Just one a day - or one every other day and see how that goes. Lots of water helps, too. But, then, she may want to try something different if ALA just doesn't seem to agree with her.
NAC may work better for her. It also has many of the same properties as ALA. NAC is N-Acetyl-Cysteine. -
Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :
I am one who cannot take ALA. I was starting it slowly after being on DMSA for awhile for heavy metal detox and I get a terrible anxiety, feelings the world is going to end any second kind of feeling. I was only taking 50mg.
I won't being using that until my metals are way, way down and even then I still may never be able to use it. It crosses the blood/brain barrier and may wreak havoc with some people.
hth
Posted by nevagiveup (Member # 26420) on :
Thanks for your inputs...She started taking ALA 200 mg twice a day .. her symptoms came back which were getting better in 2 weeks prior to starting ALA .. cognitive problem, concentration issue, fear, seems lost ..all that has come back after ALA dosage got started and am not sure if ALA can react with other Rx - rifampin, doxy, keppra XR (for seizures), Fish Oil, Vit B12, Vit D, Levocarnitine that she is taking. So wud ALA can cause that kind a havoc by crossing blood brain barrier ?
Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :
I don't know if it's reacting to any of the meds but I do know it can cause everything you described.
It happened to me on much lower doses.
It took a few days for all the anxiety/fear to calm down after stopping.
Posted by mattnapa (Member # 26414) on :
nevegiveup- Not sure if your daughter has mercury amalgam fillings, but my doctor advised removing them before using ALA since it could move mercury into the brain