Any OTC supplements or vitamins help you? | Arthritis Information

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Have you noticed or found any over the counter supplements or vitamins that seem to help with your symptoms of RA or joint pain, fatigue, swelling, etc?

 
I was just thinking maybe I should start taking some other stuff to see if maybe something else would help me deal with symptoms and would really like to hear if anyone found anything that helps them and how!
 
Thanks!
Many people around here swear by fish oil.  Enough to make me go out and buy some.  If I only could remember to actually take it I could answer out of personal experience.  But as it stands, this is all I got!  And by the way, welcome to the board! Linncn2009-03-14 18:24:49[QUOTE=Linncn]Many people around here swear by fish oil.  Enough to make me go out and buy some.  If I only could remember to actually take it I could answer out of personal experience.  But as it stands, this is all I got!  And by the way, welcome to the board! [/QUOTE]
 
Thanks! I have heard of fish oil before. My grandma swore by it for general health and she lived to 93. Thats kind of funny. Any idea what it helps with in particular or just everything?
Sorry, I don't know.  Stick around though, someone will tell you.  I take fish oil.  Specifically, I take enteric-coated omega-3 concentrate from fish body oils.  Regular fish oil capsules only contain about 300mg EPA+DHA per capsule.  The ones I take have 600mg to 750mg EPA+DHA per capsule (depending on which ones I find).  I take between 3000mg - 6000mg of EPA+DHA per day - typically 4 to 8 capsules.  To get the equivalent amount from regular capsules you need to take 10 to 20 per day.  ICK!  The enteric coating ensures the capsule releases in the small intestine instead of the stomach, which protects the oils from stomach acid (enabling higher absorption) and also helps prevent "fish burps" and indigestion some folks experience with the regular capsules (especially at high doses).

The research indicates that in order to show benefit in RA, you need at least 3000mg/day of combined EPA+DHA.  ALA (the omega-3 in flax) is not nearly as effective.

When I began taking high doses of fish oil, it took about a month or so for me to notice any benefit.  But once it started working, WOW!  What a difference!

I took nothing but fish oil for a couple of years.  I eventually thought that perhaps I didn't really have RA and didn't need to take it anymore, so I stopped.  Big mistake.  About 6 weeks later I had a huge flare.  I got it under control with medrol and naproxen (1000-1500mg/day), but even after a couple of months back on high-dose omega-3 fish oil I wasn't able to completely control the pain/inflammation any more so we added plaquenil about a year or so ago.  I've been pretty much OK ever since.  I've had a couple annoying flares when I've had to stop plaq and/or fish oil for various reasons (the latest one being a seemingly endless loop of stomach bugs and other viral insults in our house this winter).

If you do decide to try high-dose omega-3 supplementation be sure to work with your doctor.  Like anything else, it's not without risk. have you had your Vitamin D tested?  Low levels will make bones ache more....
 
and hello..... like your name!!
Hopefully Lynn will be by to extoll the virtues of Vitamin D!
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