Complete dosage information for Alpha-Lipoic Acid — threshold, light, common, strong, and heavy dose ranges across 1 route of administration.
Full Alpha-Lipoic Acid profileImportant Safety Notice
Dosage information is for harm reduction purposes only. Individual sensitivity varies greatly. Always start with the lowest effective dose and work your way up slowly. Never eyeball doses — use a milligram scale.
## Overdose Profile in Adults Fatal ALA overdose in adults is extremely rare. The compound has a wide therapeutic index at supplement doses, and adults have tolerated single oral doses of several grams without fatal outcome. However, very high doses can produce clinically significant adverse effects: - Severe nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea - Hypoglycemia (particularly in diabetic patients or with concurrent insulin use) - Lactic acidosis (from disruption of mitochondrial metabolism at toxic concentrations) - Seizures (rare, at very high doses) ## Pediatric Toxicity ALA overdose in **children** is a more serious concern. Fatal cases have been reported at doses as low as approximately **25 mg/kg**. The clinical presentation of pediatric ALA overdose includes: - Severe lactic acidosis (the primary cause of mortality) - Multi-organ failure - Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) - Rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) - Seizures - Cardiovascular collapse The mechanism of pediatric toxicity is believed to involve overwhelming disruption of mitochondrial metabolism and energy production at toxic ALA concentrations. ## Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome A unique "overdose" scenario is the development of **insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS/Hirata disease)** with chronic ALA supplementation, where ALA-induced insulin antibodies cause episodes of severe, unpredictable hypoglycemia. This is not a dose-dependent overdose per se but an immunological reaction that can occur at standard supplement doses, primarily reported in individuals with specific HLA genotypes. ## Treatment - **Adults**: supportive care — antiemetics for nausea, glucose monitoring and supplementation for hypoglycemia, correction of metabolic acidosis with sodium bicarbonate, IV fluids - **Children**: aggressive supportive care in a pediatric ICU setting — mechanical ventilation if needed, correction of lactic acidosis, management of coagulopathy (fresh frozen plasma, platelets), renal replacement therapy if indicated. The prognosis in severe pediatric cases can be poor despite aggressive treatment - **No specific antidote** exists for ALA overdose
A common Oral dose of Alpha-Lipoic Acid is 300–600 mg.
The threshold dose for Alpha-Lipoic Acid via Oral is approximately 50 mg.
Alpha-Lipoic Acid typically lasts 4–6 hours via Oral.
