Alpha-lipoic acid and Sore Throat: What Users Say

• JB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 24, 2020

For Dietary Supplementation "I took OTC 600 mg a couple of times during the day and found it gave me a strange sensation, feeling flushed and warm. So I stopped. A week or so later, I read that you should take it before bed, so I took it 3 or 4 nights in a row. Right away, I started to sleep great, my IBS seemed to calm down, my morning constitutional was solid and complete. On day 4, I had some significant acid reflux overnight. The next day or two, I started to get throat pain when eating. It felt like I had cuts in my throat. I looked closely, and there were about 5 or 6 little open sores on my tonsils. I immediately thought I had strep throat. For some reason, I googled ALA side effects and saw that some people get mouth sores from it. So I've stopped taking it, and now I'm gargling with salt and baking soda, trying to calm down my tonsils. It still hurts, I hope it's not strep."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2019

For Dietary Supplementation "Twice now, I have started vomiting after taking 600 mg of alpha-lipoic acid for peripheral neuropathy. This last time, I experienced severe burning in my throat up through my nose, along with vomiting, and the burning continued for more than 6 hours!"

• Non...
• October 8, 2021

For Dietary Supplementation "I’ve tried taking ALA on two different occasions. The first time, I took it for about a month. The second time, for a week. Both times, the same symptoms. Still much burning in throat (although I was prescribed ALA for burning mouth syndrome), and it made my stomach hurt and bloat. No more!"

• Cin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 20, 2022

For Dietary Supplementation "I’ve had severe itching of my feet for 20 years. My doctors and I didn’t know the cause, and steroid creams didn’t relieve the itch. I would wake up at night with severe itching every 1-2 hours. Only prednisone relieved it, but my doctor was reluctant to order it. I learned that standing in cold water and applying ice stopped the itching an hour or two. When I was in the hospital with a stroke and getting ice packs on my feet, a neuro doctor said I have erythromelalgia, a hereditary condition that causes redness of the palms and soles of the feet, and fleeting or sharp pains in the limbs. I started on Gabapentin, which didn’t work. Then a new PCP ordered ALA 600 mg for erythromelalgia, and it worked right away to stop the itching. Side effects are burning in the throat and stomach when I swallow it. I take it with food and plenty of water while standing up. It causes bad breath, like ketone breath, and smelly urine. No hair loss, as I take milligram for HBP. I also take a PPI for GERD. No heartburn. No burning tongue."

• Dot...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2023

"The neuropathic and vascular pain was greatly decreasing my quality of life. The pain has increased over the last several years, and doctors are indifferent. One doctor did share that they do not know how to treat nerve pain. I believe it was my acupuncturist who recommended ALA. I began taking it, but it would burn my throat. Further research suggested the R-ALA form. I tried it, but the dosage was lower. I still had the original form and increased the dosage to two 300 mg capsules about 6-8 hours per day. An MD suggested Thiamine, and research suggested the form Benfotiamine. After years on Gabapentin, which caused my feet to swell, I quit taking it as it did nothing for the ever-increasing pain. Some days now I have no pain, and I am able to sleep longer. Taking the ALA with meals seems to help with the throat burning. My severe hair loss and dry skin began a good 18 months before taking the ALA. I think it is related to the injectable I take for high cholesterol, not the ALA."