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Success with low dose naltrexone for Autoimmune disorders
Low Dose Naltrexone, otherwise known as LDN, seems to be helping a lot of people lately who have all different types of autoimmune disorders.
The information I read sounds very interesting and would like to know if anyone has tried it personally?
The theory that I read says that many autoimmune issues are caused by a deficiency in endorphins, endorphins regulate the immune system. LDN temporarily blocks the body's natural endorphin production for a few hours, this tricks the body into thinking it needs to increase endorphin production. When the blockade wears off, all the endorphins are released into the body, regulating the immune system and providing natural pain relief for the rest of the day. Apparently, LDN can increase your endorphins by up to 300%
LDNscience.org has a lot of information and research about it. You can also look at the writer, Annie Habler (@hablerannie) on Medium.com who wrote an article recently about the fascinating background and history of LDN.
Please let me know if you have tried it and what your experience was like. If you could let me know any details your condition,the dosage you used, any side effects, etc it would be helpful.
Thank you!
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Hello @julie868. I see that you are new to the Connect community and I would like to welcome you. I did a little research and did find some information about a clinical study at Mayo Clinic about the use of low dose Naltrexone being used to benefit patients with vasculitis. I'm not sure when the results of this clinical trial will be available but it sounds interesting and hopeful. Here is the link to the article on the clinical trial, https://www.mayo.edu/research/clinical-trials/cls-20438025?_ga=2.177701730.610634593.1580564599-1221957091.1534862430
I am interested in finding out more about your interest in LDN. Do you or a family member have a health issue that might be helped by LDN?
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4 ReactionsHello @julie868, I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with Teresa @hopeful33250. There is another discussion on Connect where members are talking about low dose naltrexone and sharing their experience. I'm tagging our moderator @ethanmcconkey to see if we should move your post to the following discussion.
> Groups > Autoimmune Diseases > Anyone with experience using Low Dose Naltrexone?
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/anyone-with-experience-using-low-dose-naltrexone/
There are also a few other shorter discussions that you may want to read through.
> Groups > Neuropathy > Low Dose Naltrexone and Neuropathy
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-dose-naltrexone-and-neuropathy/
> Groups > Chronic Pain > Low-Dose Naltrexone for Chronic Pain
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/low-dose-naltrexone-for-chronic-pain/
Are you able to share a little more about your health issue and if you are thinking about trying low dose naltrexone?
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3 ReactionsYES! LDN was a huge game changer for me with my autoimmune symptoms. I started out on 1mg then got up to 3mg.
Unfortunately, I had to get a new primary care provider who rolled her eyes at it and refuses to prescribe it for me and now my symptoms are so bad that I'm almost totally disabled.
I had my prescription filled at a local compounding pharmacy.
The only side effect I had was a temporary mild insomnia that resolved after two weeks.
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7 ReactionsHello @bandruid7 and welcome to Mayo Connect. I'm sorry to hear that your new PCP is unwilling to prescribe something that helped you so much. If you have an opportunity you might direct her to the website that explains the clinical trial that is going on at Mayo Clinic.
If you care to share more what symptoms were helped the most by LDN?
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2 ReactionsI’m going to do more digging into this. I was recently diagnosed with non-specific myopathy after 17 months of different doctors, too many tests and procedures and still no definitive answers. I am an open book to any ideas at this point. Thanks for the info!
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4 ReactionsThank you Teresa. The greatest benefit I noticed was decreased fatigue, joint/muscle pain and severe bouts of insomnia resolved. I felt less inflamed systemically and had much more energy.
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6 ReactionsIt sounds as if the LDN really was a benefit to you, @bandruid7. Sometimes persistence does
make a difference, especially if the doctor knows of your history and the benefits of a treatment.
Have you approached your doctor about it again?
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3 ReactionsI have not. Honestly, I've given up on allopathic medicine. They are great for trauma and serious infection but they have completely failed me for the last 7 years. They've done nothing but dismiss me & push pharmaceuticals that make things worse on to me. (And I'm a Mayo patient too!).
I'll stick to exercise, nutrition, nutriceuticals and myself to be my healer from now on.
It's funny, I've been in veterinary medicine for 30 years and 100% of the time we are able to diagnose even the most obscure diseases & disorders within two weeks. Our patients can't even talk!!!
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9 Reactions@bandruid7 Sad isn't it.
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2 ReactionsI completely agree. We humans often go to several specialists, have test after test done to the point of ridiculous and still...nothing. I even chose Mayo because I knew they would find the answer I could not find in Springfield Illinois or St Louis Missouri. I was wrong. If I had been a dog, I would have had my answer over a year ago. Healthcare is so broken and so lacking. We are nothing but numbers.
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7 Reactions