ResearchSafe

Mild nausea and body odor after injectable ALA, anyone else?

Posted by ethan405 in Safety & Side Effects - 4 points, 4 comments.

I started injectable ALA about three weeks ago, 300mg IM twice a week, hoping for the antioxidant boost. For me the first few shots gave a mild nausea that lasted an hour or so, nothing severe but enough to skip breakfast. I also noticed a faint metallic smell on my skin later in the day, which faded after a shower.

8mmol/L). I’ve since taken a small snack before the injection and the nausea has eased. Has anyone else run into similar gut or smell issues with ALA?

Should I be watching blood sugar more closely or is this just my body adjusting? Thanks for any tips.

Comments

  • dita_h: I actually tried injectable ALA a couple of months ago too, 250 mg once a week. I felt a similar metallic remind on my skin and a slight nausea that lasted about 45 minutes. I found that taking a small granola bar right before injection helped a lot. The side effect is probably due to the acid accelerating insulin release, so keeping a finger‑stick reading handy is a good precaution. Do you measure your glucose after every shot? I’ve been watching it, and it’s stayed above 110 mg/dL so far. Bas
  • ethan405: Nice to see someone else had that metallic feel. I’ve been grabbing a banana before each 300 mg shot and the nausea has dropped pretty good. I haven’t been doing finger‑sticks yet, but I’ll start checking after each injection as you suggest. Do you ever see a dip in glucose after the first dose, or does it stay stable for you? Fwiw.
  • hank_m: Tbh the granola idea has worked for me too, I usually hit a banana or a small protein bar before each shot, it cuts the nausea and the metallic scent almost disappears, no need to check glucose every time though; just keep an eye on it if you’re feeling low.
  • ethan405: Thanks for the granola idea, I’ll try a banana or protein bar before the shot. The metallic smell faded for me after the snack, so it seems to help. Do you notice any drop in energy or glucose after you eat? I usually skip the check unless I feel light‑headed, but I might start a quick finger‑stick just to see if there’s a pattern. Fwiw, I’ve been taking 300 mg IM twice a week, will the snack change the timing?

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