epocrates logo
epocrates logo
epocrates logo
  • 0

Herbs & Supplements

epocrates logo

Sign in to access our clinical decision support tools

Sign in Create Account

Formulary
No Formulary Selected

close

 

Select a medication above to begin.

thioctacid

alpha-lipoic acid

Sections:

  • Entire Monograph
  • Reported Uses
  • Reported Doses
  • Cautions
  • Drug Interactions
  • Adverse Reactions
  • Synonyms
  • Other Info
  • Add to Interaction Check

Reported Doses

Safety/efficacy may not be established; reported doses may be derived from limited or potentially inadequate studies with variable regimens, multi-ingredient products, or where concentration of active ingredients may vary widely

Effectiveness Ratings

[see Herb & Supplement Effectiveness Rating Definitions table]

age-related testosterone deficiency

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 800 mg PO bid

Alzheimer disease

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd; Info: used with standard tx

anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

arthralgia, aromatase inhibitor-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 240 mg PO qd

back pain

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 800 mg PO qd

beta-thalassemia

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd; Info: given before meal

burning mouth syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

CABG

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 100 mg PO tid; Start: 2mo before surgery, then continue x1mo after surgery

carpal tunnel syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd; Alt: 600 mg IV qd x30 days, then 600 mg PO qd

cervical dysplasia

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

CKD

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 1.6 g PO qd

diabetic nephropathy

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 450-600 mg IV qd x14 days; Alt: 300-600 mg PO qd; Info: used with conventional tx

diabetic neuropathy

[Possibly Effective]
Dose: 600-1800 mg/day PO divided qd-tid; Alt: 600-1200 mg IV qd

dysmenorrhea

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd x5 days; Start: before menstruation; Info: used with or without mefenamic acid

erectile dysfunction

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg IV qd x14 days; Alt: 800 mg PO bid

heart failure

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg/day PO in divided doses

hemorrhoids

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 200 mg PO qd

hepatotoxicity, toxin-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 250 mg PO bid

herniated disc

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 404 mg PO bid; Info: used with steroids, opioids prn

HIV/AIDS

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 300 mg PO tid

hyperlipidemia

[Possibly Effective]
Dose: 100-1200 mg PO qd

hyperprolactinemia, antipsychotic-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

hypertriglyceridemia

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 100 mg PO qd

hypotension, orthostatic

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 430-788 mg PO qd

impaired glucose tolerance

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg IV qd x14 days; Alt: 800-1200 mg PO qd

interstitial cystitis

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

male infertility

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd; Alt: 300 mg PO bid

metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO bid

metabolic effects, antipsychotic-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

metabolic syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

migraine prophylaxis, adult patients

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600-800 mg/day PO divided qd-bid

migraine prophylaxis, peds patients

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 300 mg PO qd; Info: for patients 10-19 yo; used with flunarizine

miscarriage prevention

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 100 mg PO qd; Info: used with vaginal progesterone

muscle strength

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 300 mg PO qd; Start: 150 mg PO qd x2 days

neck pain

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

neuropathic pain

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd; Start: 600 mg PO tid x3wk; Info: used with pulsed radiofrequency tx

obesity, adult patients

[Possibly Effective]
Dose: 300-1800 mg PO qd

obesity, peds patients

[Possibly Effective]
Dose: 300 mg PO bid; Info: for patients 10-17 yo

osteoarthritis

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd; Info: used with standard tx

pain, chronic

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 400 mg PO qd-bid; Info: for patients with mild to moderate idiopathic pain

peripheral arterial disease

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 300 mg PO bid

peripheral neuropathy, chemo-induced

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 240 mg PO qd; Alt: 600 mg PO qd

persistent olfactory dysfunction, post-COVID-19

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 300 mg PO bid

polycystic ovary syndrome

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 400-2000 mg PO qd; Info: used with or without inositol

preterm labor prevention

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 400 mg PV qhs

radiation exposure, peds patients

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 400 mg PO qd

schizophrenia

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 100-300 mg PO qd; Info: used with antipsychotic tx

sciatica

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600-800 mg PO qd

skin aging

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: apply 5% cream topically to face bid

tinnitus

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

vertigo

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 600 mg PO qd

vitiligo

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 100 mg PO qd; Info: used with phototherapy

wound healing

[Insufficient Evidence]
Dose: 300 mg PO 1h prior to and 300 mg PO immediately after hyperbaric O2 tx

Copyright © 2026. All Rights Reserved. Republication or redistribution, including by framing or similar means, is prohibited without the prior written consent of copyright holder.

Select a medication above to begin.

Help
FDA Reporting Form
 
Download Epocrates from the App Store Download Epocrates from the Play Store
About Us Features Business Solutions Help & Feedback
© 2026 epocrates, Inc.    Terms of Use Privacy Policy Editorial Policy Do Not Sell or Share My Information