if i considered this, i'd first consult a lot of sources.
if i'm not mistaken, high dose lipoic a. has some adverse effect having to do with thiamine(vit.B1).
consider also, in the western diet, B1 levels are marginal to begin with.
alcohol intake knocks out B1. many meds. knock out B1, as well as other B-vits.
i think dr. B mentions B1 in his guidelines. so check this out, as well.
Posted by jloisu (Member # 7538) on :
ALA can be taken with abx. Now I'm not sure with the other stuff so you might ask your pharmacist. Mine has a reference book for herbal supplements and their interactions.
ALA is good for Chelation (removing toxic metals from your body) and so my 2 cents are take it, along with N-acetly-L-cysteine which helps w/the production of glutathione which helps with inflammation, and Lyme is an inflammatory disease.
I've been told to take alpha lipoic acid by my LLNP, to help recover from and prevent liver toxicity due to the abx therapy.
Per Dr. B's guidelines, it helps facilitate entry of CoQ-10 into mitochondria. Dose is 300mg twice daily. Generic is ok. He lists it as a required supplement, along w/CoQ-10, unless you're on Mepron or Malarone.
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
Having posted on both of these, ALA and NAC, before, I would repeat here that neither should be taken without close supervision of a medical doctor that understands both. MNost don't because they do not regularly deal with them.
NAC - taking it alone - is a bad idea. It is part of the sulfhydril containing amino acid group that binds to mercury wherever it finds it, binds it and drags it anywhere, including the brain. The same with DMSA, DMPS, all have redistribution problems and the timing of taking any of these is critical; that is more pronounced with NAC than with anything else.
My doctor further told me that ALA has never worked on his patients or on anyone with a serous illness.
He warned me a long time ago when I was still sick with Lyme Disease that as lay people we should be extremely careful recommending any of these critical products to ill people.
Take care.
Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :
when i comes to lyme, and perhaps other tbds, as well, there are many paradoxical effects, where in many nutrients do NOT have the intended results; instead, they worsen symptoms.
example: on this site,search 'cysteine' in the medical abstracts library, and find an abstract having to do with the uptake of free cysteine, borrelia, and induction of hemolysis.
on the molecular level,nac is just cysteine with acetic acid attached to it.
so, one question would be does the nac get converted to cysteine, and if so how much so?
[ 13. December 2005, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: pq ]
Posted by Christine202 (Member # 6158) on :
Can anyone tell me what the contradiction is with taking ALA with Malarone? Thanks
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
My LLMD recomended ALA and acetyl l carnitine and maybee some nac,,
I seem to have some more energy on it and it gives me piece of mind that Im protecting my liver and boosting anti-oxidants.
These are some of the few supplements that I can take.
All of the energy boosting supplements that I have tried have created nervousness and or insomnia,
kind of like tyrosine and COq10 and SAME (had a psychotic reaction on that one)
--- so thats what I think.
Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :
i believe it was the merck index,1996 stated that lipoic acid is food for certain pathogenic organisms, BUT it did not specify which ones, or class of microbes.
this is NOT to minimize the absolutely postive effects of its properties, but to see this in the widest context possible.
so, please don't shoot the messenger.
[ 17. December 2005, 12:46 AM: Message edited by: pq ]
Posted by Lymelighter (Member # 5310) on :
GiGi: what is the best suppliment to bind with Mercury during chelation? Clorella, ALA, MSM, NAC, Glutathione, or a combo?
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
Another thing GiGi,,,,
I do want the mercury out,, I had my filling drilled out slowlly a year ago and have one small one left.
I had NO REACTION WHAT SO EVER. This is also after being very very affraid reading on all the CNS stuff and health problems that metals do cause.
My LLMD did some electrical testing on my teeth? And said that he wouldnt worry about the amalgams being drilled out without proticol...
However now that their out ive tried taking serveral brands of chorella witht the same results.
Lots of gas and bloating. Its interesting to note that vitamin c and magnessium also give me so much foul gas that it makes me wonder if their even being absorbed. Also pro-biotics.
So I really cant take
Chorella Magnessium pro-biotics
Due to extreme gas and bloating. So much that I find it difficult to sleep.
Just thought Id let everyone know since this is the season for sharing )
Posted by char (Member # 8315) on :
thanks everyone,
Very helpful. Some of it is out of my depth, but eventually it sinks in. (usually)
pq- I try to be very civil here; besidesI don't have the energy to shoot anyone.
Char
Posted by GiGi (Member # 259) on :
Lymeherx001, maybe you should consider several colonics, by a professional colon therapist. It sounds like you need it desperately. What does your doctor say?
I know that's what mine would recommend instantly before doing anything else.
Take care.
Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
ALA dramatically raises my energy level and helps keep my blood sugar down. My doc said NAC is not needed with it, since ALA is even better at conserving Glutathione. If you do take Cysteine, make sure it is NAC, as the plain stuff is dangerous, but I can't remember why. If you can find it, RLA is superior to ALA. It costs more but is much more potent. Klutzo
Posted by treepatrol (Member # 4117) on :
To refresh your memory on why regular cysteine (L-cysteine) is bad, it's an excitotoxin like aspartame and free glutamates.
What this means is that it causes a dumping of neurotransmitters in the brain which overexcites groups of brain neurons into rapid-fire and they basically burn themselves out (forever). Sort of like a self-induced mini-stroke.
N-Acetyl-Cysteine supposedly does not have this effect.
Sue
Posted by lymeHerx001 (Member # 6215) on :
I will consider them!!! Ive only had them done twice and this was 10 years ago.
Im 27 now,, been sick since I was 13-14 My diet in my teens was CRAPPP!!!
lots of sugar and breads my mother always told me to eat up.
Needless to say I was 250 pounds then, In my early 20s I was in a car accident and that gave me the modivation to loose 70 pounds!!!!
I did it with exteme diet and excersise and ephedrine.
After that I started drinking heavlly and ruined my health in less than a year.
I went psychotic from the ephedrine!!!
Well theres a short version. Thanks for the tip.. My LLMD is indifferent on the matter.
quote:Originally posted by GiGi: Lymeherx001, maybe you should consider several colonics, by a professional colon therapist. It sounds like you need it desperately. What does your doctor say?
I know that's what mine would recommend instantly before doing anything else.
Take care.
Posted by Starphoenix (Member # 2402) on :
I see a PA affiliated with a well-known LLMD in NY. They treat holistically.
I was told to take NAC and ALA. I was given the impression that they could be taken whenever with whatever. The instructions for NAC say to take between meals, so I take it twice with my probiotics. I take the ALA once per day, and I take that with Zantac, Plaquenil and food.
They both have antioxidant/detox properties. They do pull metal. I have had, um, metallic odor to poop. The PA said that's good.
Steph
Posted by pq (Member # 6886) on :
char -- thank you...thank you so much for not shooting the messenger! Posted by henson2 (Member # 463) on :
Ok, very, very naive question here. Please indulge the neophyte.
Is ALA the same as Evening Primrose Oil? i.e. Omega-6?
Someone was telling me I should boost my Omega 3s and my Omega 6 (Evening primrose oil) as they work well together.
I confess I am a newbie when it comes to supplements and what they could interact with.
Do these in any way interfere w. the absorption of abx, or do anything else bad for us Lymies?
I am going to ask my LLMD in a week or so, but I would be grateful for anyone who is able to share their wisdom.
THANK YOU.
Wishing us all better health very soon!
Posted by char (Member # 8315) on :
Pq- I am not even tempted to shoot you because I don't understand what you said.
Just kidding.(mostly)
henson- ALA is alph lipoic acid; our dr recommended it for my daughter. The Omega 3 fish oil capsules are different. You could look at supplement info on Dr. Burrasco's guidelines.
Has anyone heard of ALA exacerbating or causing depression?
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