Low Dose Naltrexone

[TheKid]

Hey all. I was wondering if anyone here is using low dose naltrexone for their autoimmune issues. I've heard a lot about it and have had it recommended by one health professional, but I don't know of anyone personally who has had experience taking it. Anyone out there know anything?

[jessielou]

Hi thekid

Hadn't heard of this drug, so done a little research, as far as i can ascertain this drug is used in high dose form for treating heroin addiction withdrawal. Low dose naltrexone has not been given FDA or NICE approval. So may be prescribed off-label in some countries.

There are a lot of claims on internet that it may be of use in various disorders/illnesses. It claims to up the immune system in autoimmune conditions, so i honestly can't see it being of benefit to me personally, I want my immune system to calm down and stop breaking bits of me!! I take immuno-suppressants as do many who have autoimmune conditions!!

Don't know if anyone on here would be taking it. Sure they be in touch if they do.

Hope you well today.

Take care gentle hugs sheena xxxxxxx

[TheKid in reply to jessielou]

Yeah, I've read up on it too. I guess the mechanism they tout in terms of those of us who have autoimmunity has to do with the effect naltrexone has on up-regulating the production of endorphins and enkephalins. According to what I've read, there seems to be a relationship between deficiencies in endorphins and onset of autoimmunity.

SLE and rheumatoid arthritis are just two of a number of autoimmune diseases in which use of low dose naltrexone resulted in some beneficial outcomes. I am not sure if APS sufferers would benefit, that's why I'm asking about people's experiences.

[Storky]

This drug has had some success in a Stamford trial with Fibro and got everyone excited. It is being used in the US for fibro now quite a bit. Over here I know of one place where it can be obtained with a prescription if you can get someone to prescribe and I know of someone who trialled it with limited success. It is as you say off label in any case even for Fibro.

For any other conditions I have not heard of any trials or outcomes.

[MaryF Administrator in reply to Storky]

For Heroin withdrawal it was never prescribed as low dose.. It was at the full dose. For best information the LDN Trust appears to be the best port of call. MaryF x

[jriffey]

I started taking low dose naltrexone for my fibromyalgia, but the biggest difference I noticed is that is greatly diminished my inflammation and mostly eliminated my fatigue. I've taken it now for 2 years and feel it has turned around my health. By having less fatigue, I am better able to take care of myself and get stronger each month

. Virtually no side effects. It's worth a shot for anyone with an autoimmune response.

[phlyer]

My wife and I have both started taking LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) about 5 years ago, she for Ciliacs and myself for Crohn's. Along with diet adjustments, her Ciliacs disappeared and my Crohn's, while still present, no longer causes any problems. Penn State has done a couple of documented clinical trials that demonstrated positive results with Crohn's and you can use that information to help persuade your doctor to prescribe it. We get ours from a compounding pharmacy (Gideon's) in NY. The drug (in larger doses) had been around a long time and has proven that there are no significant side effects. The only reason not to take it is if you are on a heroin based pain killer because LDN would block it.

[MaryF Administrator]

Hi - I am on this, under a clinic in Glasgow. Out of desperation I had to try something new as i had such late diagnosis in life that most drugs very much upset me, including Plaquenil, where I had the most dangerous of reactions, although my daughter having had a younger diagnosis, having passed a Lupus test, I might add does well on Plaquenil and Aspirin. I am also mainly allergic to most antibiotics now. I have been on LDN for one year now, carefully managed and I am much better than I was before I took it, for instance my head to toe, severe Psoriasis, due to having Psoriatic Arthropathy has cleared by seventy five percent with the last few patched behaving themselves much better. So.. it is a drug in the tool box, but you need the right medical professional to prescribe it and manage it, I chose to employ the clinic in Glasgow to help with my severely over active immune system. I was sero negative Lupus as for many years, although at least I have passed a test for that now! I feel an awful lot better on this drug, and I am building up on it very slowly! My recovery from infections is faster, and it does no interact with my Aspirin doses or anything else. I have also reduced my use of painkillers radically since climbing up on this, and my joints appear to not wish to swell so much. Hope this helps.

youtube.com/watch?v=CVpjsDK...(Not working as expected?)! MaryF.

MaryF x