Alpha lipoic acid
Description
Alpha lipoic acid is an antioxidant. It is used in relieving symptoms associated with diabetic neuropathy (nerve damage due to diabetes). Alpha lipoic acid helps repair the damaged nerves and protect the nerve tissue from further damage.
Alpha lipoic acid may rarely show side effects like nausea, vomiting, headache, skin rash, indigestion, etc. Consult your doctor if any of these side effects persist or become severe.
Alpha lipoic acid should be taken on an empty stomach. Do not take more or less than the prescribed dose. Take it for the recommended duration to get maximum benefits from the treatment. Avoid discontinuing this medicine without consulting your doctor.
Alpha lipoic acid should be avoided if you are allergic to it. Inform your doctor if you are taking any other medication or have any other medical condition before starting the treatment with this medicine. Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy, or are breastfeeding. This medicine is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age due to the lack of safety and efficacy data.
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Side effects
Major & minor side effects for Alpha lipoic acid
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Skin Rash
- Dizziness
Uses of Alpha lipoic acid
What is it prescribed for?
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Alpha lipoic acid deficency
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Concerns
Commonly asked questions
- Onset of actionThe amount of time required for Alpha lipoic acid to show its action is not clinically established.
- Duration of effectThe amount of time for which Alpha lipoic acid remains active in the body is not clinically established.
- Safe with alcohol?Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
- Is it habit forming?No habit-forming tendencies were reported for Alpha lipoic acid.
- Usage in pregnancy?Due to the lack of safety information, consult your doctor before taking Alpha lipoic acid if you are pregnant.
- Usage while breast-feeding?Due to the lack of safety information, consult your doctor before taking Alpha lipoic acid if you are breastfeeding.
Allergy
Avoid taking Alpha lipoic acid if you are allergic to it. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice symptoms such as skin rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, breathing difficulty, etc.
Warnings for special population
Pregnancy
Due to the lack of safety information, consult your doctor before taking Alpha lipoic acid if you are pregnant.
Breast-feeding
Due to the lack of safety information, consult your doctor before taking Alpha lipoic acid if you are breastfeeding.
General warnings
Other medicines
Alpha lipoic acid may interact with other medicines and cause undesired effects. Hence, inform your doctor about all your current medicines, including any herbs and supplements, before beginning treatment with this medicine.
Use in children
Alpha lipoic acid is not recommended for use in children below 18 years of age as the safety and efficacy data are not clinically established.
Medical conditions
Alpha lipoic acid should be used with caution if you have liver problems, diabetes (high blood sugar levels), thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, or a thyroid disorder. Consult your doctor before taking this medicine if you have such conditions.
Missed Dose
If you forget to take a dose of Alpha lipoic acid, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
Overdose
Never take more than the prescribed dose. Seek emergency medical treatment if you suspect an overdose of Alpha lipoic acid .
All drugs interact differently for person to person. You should check all the possible interactions with your doctor before starting any medicine.
Interaction with Alcohol
Description
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Instructions
Interaction with alcohol is unknown. It is advisable to consult your doctor before consumption.
Interaction with Medicine
Antidiabetic drugs
Disease interactions
Disease
Information not available.
Food interactions
Information not available.
Lab interactions
Information not available.
Take Alpha lipoic acid as instructed by your doctor. It should be taken 30 minutes before food as certain foods may lower the absorption of this medicine from the stomach.
Avoid taking more or less than the prescribed dose.
Avoid discontinuing Alpha lipoic acid without consulting your doctor.
Keep Alpha lipoic acid out of the reach of children. Discard the unused medicine properly after the date of expiry.
Consult your doctor if you have vitamin B1 deficiency, liver problems, thyroid disorder, or diabetes before taking this medicine.
Miscelleneous
How it works
Alpha lipoic acid helps repair the damaged nerves and protect the nerve tissue from further damage.
Legal Status
Classification
Category
Oral nutritional supplements
Schedule
N/A
Ecopharm.bg. 2022. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 July 2022].
Pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. 2022. Thioctic acid. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 July 2022].
Information on this page was last updated on 14 Oct 2022
Disclaimer
We’ve made all possible efforts to ensure that the information provided here is accurate, up-to-date and complete, however, it should not be treated as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Practo only provides reference source for common information on medicines and does not guarantee its accuracy or exhaustiveness. The absence of a warning for any drug or combination thereof, should not be assumed to indicate that the drug or combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for any given patient. Practo does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information provided above. If you have any doubts about your medication then we strongly recommend that you consult with your doctor, nurse or healthcare provider. See detailed T&C here.