Alpha-Lipoic Acid Found to be a Safe, Effective, and Cost-Effective for Diabetic Polyneuropathy

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Alpha-Lipoic Acid Found to be a Safe, Effective, and Cost-Effective

Treatment for Patients with Diabetic Polyneuropathy

http://www.vitasearch.com/CP/weeklyupdates/

Reference: " Switching from pathogenetic treatment with alpha-lipoic

acid to gabapentin and other analgesics in painful diabetic neuropathy:

a real-world study in outpatients, " Ruessmann HJ, et al, J Diabetes

Complications, 2008 April 8; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address:

Heinz-Jürgen Ruessmann, President, AND, Arbeitsgemeinschaft

niedergelassener diabetologish tatiger Arzte e.V, Wilhelminenstr. 22,

46537 Dinslaken, Germany).

Summary: In a retrospective, real-world study involving 443 diabetic

subjects with chronic, painful neuropathy, switching from regular daily

treatment with alpha-lipoic acid for 5 years to treatment with the drug,

gabapentin (often sold under the brand names Neurontin or Gabarone), or

other pain medications, was found to be associated with considerably

more side effects, increased frequency of outpatient visits, and

increased daily cost of treatment. After receiving daily supplementation

with alpha-lipoic acid (600 mg/once a day) for an average of 5 years,

patients were switched to either gabapentin (600-2400 mg/d) (n=293) or

no treatment because of no acute symptoms (n=150). Among the group left

untreated, 73% developed neuropathic symptoms 2 weeks after stopping

alpha-lipoic acid treatment. Among the group on gabapentin, 45%

developed side effects so intolerable that they had to stop taking the

drug. Moreover, 55% of the su bjects on gabapentin were nonresponders to

the drug at doses up to 2400 mg/day, and therefore required treatment

with other pain medications (and were given drugs such as pregabalin,

carbamazepine, amitriptyline, tramadol, morphine). Patients on

gabapentin or other pain drugs required outpatient visits an average of

7.9 times per 3 months, as compared to only 3.8 times per 3 months while

taking alpha-lipoic acid. The authors point out that, " the daily costs

for alpha-lipoic acid were considerably lower than those for gabapentin

or several frequently used drug combinations. " The authors conclude that

daily treatment with alpha-lipoic acid, " …represents for the practicing

diabetologist an effective, safe, and cost-effective treatment option

for the majority of patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. "

--

ne Holden, MS, RD

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