EDIT: THE BIOPERINE IN THIS MAY INTERACT WITH YOUR MEDS....SEE MY OTHER POSTS BELOW
It may just be helping me because I'm probably CoQ10 deprived from being on Malarone (that happens from Mepron/Malarone...right?)
But anyways, I took one or two of these today (can't remember honestly) and I did have a better day today, energy wise.
It is Doctor's Best High Absorption CoQ10 100 mg, and I got it at iherb.com. But you could probably find it on vitacost.com, etc.
There isn't fat in the capsule (like some brands), so you will have to take it with some fat.
I think this bottle only cost me like $13, and it will last 3 months at the normal dose, 1.5 months if I double up.
I'm not getting any money from posting this...just wanted to let you guys know about this. Whenever I find something that helps, might as well tell people.
Of course it could be a coincidence, but it really seems like taking this helped me today.
[ 10-20-2009, 07:22 PM: Message edited by: Hoosiers51 ]
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Also just wanted to say that if you are on Mepron or Malarone, most doctors say NOT to take CoQ10 with it, because it blocks absorption of the drug. I'm only doing it because I'm stopping the Malarone very soon.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Hi Hoosiers, I tried that brand of CoQ10 at very low doses and it sent me over the edge in terms of feeling hyped up. I could not take it. Perhaps it is much more effective than other CoQ10?? Once I get rid of babesia, I may try it again. Thanks for mentioning it.
According to Dr. S's Babesia book, mepron is similar to the body's naturally produced CoQ10. CoQ10 is used to make all of the ATP in the body. Mepron appears to work on babesia by inhibiting CoQ10. Babesia needs CoQ10 for it's metabolism. Mepron may also inhibit the synthesis of ATP which may negatively affect Babesia.
I used to take CoQ10 but decided as long as I have babesia I should avoid it regardless of whether I'm taking mepron or malarone. I don't want to give it the fuel it needs to grow. Don't know how my LLMD feels about it other than I was told to stay off CoQ10 as long as I was on mepron and malarone.
Terry I'm not a doctor
Posted by disturbedme (Member # 12346) on :
I am wondering how much CoQ10 we should take? I have some that is 120mg and have been taking that. How much is safe to take?
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Wow. Thanks, Hoosiers! I've been using Twin Lab's 100mg and it's about $23 for two months. I get it at Vitacost.
I will check into this other brand.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
You're welcome!
I'll give you the exact name of it, because there are a bunch of Doctor's Best CoQ10's on iherb, believe it or not.
Mine are the Veggie Caps, not the soft gels. I think that is why it's cheaper, but the down side is that then you need to take it with fat (the soft gels have fat in them, so you can take those whenever). Because CoQ10 needs to be taken with fat.
It's "Doctor's Best High Absorption CoQ10 with Bioperine 100 mg, 120 Veggie Caps."
Right now it's $12.95 at iherb.
edit: actually, I just looked at the soft gels, and those are only $2 more.
Posted by Lemon-Lyme (Member # 19229) on :
I'd be careful with those, well, careful with Bioperine to be exact.
It can increase not only the doses of the supplement, but medications you are taking too.
A better option may be low dose ubiquinol (doctor's best makes a 50mg one), or a Kaneka Q10 (Healthy origins is inexpensive from iHerb). Or one of the Jarrow versions is good.
I wouldn't be concerned about the fat in the gel, if it's a good fat. Olive oil or Medium chain triglycerides should be fine. I'd avoid the soy oil ones though.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
I had a neuro once suggest 1,200 mg of Co-Q10 daily. Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
What's bioperine? Is it in the one Hoosiers mentioned???
Maybe that's what makes it more absorbable?
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
LemonLyme,
Do you have any links or do you know as fact that bioperine would increase the effectiveness of medicines, or is that just speculation?
I did have that thought, that maybe the bioperine would make the meds also more absorbable. It helps the CoQ10 be absorbed.
This is what the manufacturer has to say about Bioperine: "Bioperine, an herbal extract derived from black pepper fruit, promotes absorption of nutrients in the GI tract.* Preliminary studies have shown that Bioperine increases CoQ10 absorption."
So I was thinking it would only help the GI absorb nutrients? But obviously that could be a dangerous assumption, if that assumption is wrong, and you are dealing with powerful meds.
So this is something people should definitely ask their doctors about, or do more research.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
Okay...did a little research myself and found out.
Yes, bioperine will increase efficacy of some medications, so in general, Lyme patients should probably avoid it.
This is from Wikipedia (I'm sure there are better sources, but this was fastest to find): "Due to its effects on drug metabolism, piperine should be taken cautiously (if at all) by individuals taking some other medications.[citation needed]"
"Piperine has also been found to inhibit human CYP3A4." Then it mentions there are other enzymes inhibited too, but doesn't list them.
Piperine is in Bioperine, from what I can tell.
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
I have been getting more of the "Biaxin taste" in my mouth today, so I'm thinking maybe I will also avoid this supplement, since Biaxin utilizes CYP3A4 for metabolism.
Awww...I was so excited about this stuff too. Thought I found something I could afford that would help my fatigue. Posted by Lemon-Lyme (Member # 19229) on :
I don't have the links handy, but yeah, Bioperine affects a liver pathway that some drugs use. I usually suggest to just avoid supplements with it, especially for Lyme people, seeing as we tend to take various medications.
It is dose dependent, so perhaps smaller doses won't affect you, but to me it isn't worth the risk. And really, for CoQ10, it isn't even necessary.
If you want a more absorbable CoQ10, just go with one of the Jarrow Q-absorb brands.
Or try Ubiquinol (reduced form of CoQ10). I was really skeptical that is actually asborbed better than CoQ10, but recently had my CoQ10 levels tested, and on 150mg Ubiquinol daily my levels were over double what they were on 200mg Ubiquinone. I plan to retest in about a month, to make sure it wasn't a fluke/lab error.
The Doctor's Best Ubiquinol is what I use, runs about $20/monthly. Although that is at 3 gels daily. One option is to take one gel daily at 50mg, and see how that works for you.
There are other inexpensive brands of CoQ10 you can find on iHerb too. 100mg daily probably will run you about $6/month, if you shop carefully (Healthy Origins or Jarrow dry caps).
And in case people aren't aware, you can get your CoQ10 levels tested at most labs (and insurance will pay for it). It can be useful when supplementing CoQ10, just to see if the pills are actually doing anything.
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