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!
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.
Has anybody with CIDP been treated with LDN?
I will be visiting my sister who has Sclaroderma soon. She lives in Northfield, MN.
Is there currently any Clinical Trails for Stem Cell Transplants (I have stem cells frozen from umbilical cord.
I'm just reaching out. She is so sick.
My son has 3 autoimmune diseases and LDN has been a lifesaver for him. He takes 5 mg daily for a year now. Energy increased, pain relief, tolerates some gluten now, less anxious, psoriasis much improved, prostatitis greatly improved.
Bandrduid7 are you still here? I too am a veterinarian who has tossed in the towel on allopathic medicine. Just acquired PMR but looks as if being close to 70 and a female of scandavian descent in the era of a big pandemic might have put me over the edge. Well, I did get immediate relief from pred with 3 hours after a month of increasing and excruciating pain. But, I am getting acupuncture, daily hot saunas, and IV infusions of a mega Myers’s Cocktail full of vitamin c, b vitamins and more weekly so that I can balance out this whacky immune response sooner than later.
Hello @raven42, Welcome to Connect. I'm not sure @bandruid7 is active on Connect since the members last post was last January 2022. Hopefully they will see your reply and my tag with their membername. I'm sorry to hear you joined the PMR club, not much fun when it rears it's ugly head. There is another discussion you might find helpful:
-- PMR: Are there treatment alternatives to Prednisone?:
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/alternatives-to-prednisone/
As much as I hate the thought of taking prednisone, it was what allowed me to get my PMR back into remission. The first time took 3 and half years. The second time only took 1 and half years. I attribute the shorter period of tapering off of prednisone due to making some lifestyle changes - eating healthier along with eating less inflammatory foods and more exercise. It sounds like you already done a lot of research on PMR but thought I would share this in case you haven't seen it.
-- Diet and Supplements for Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR):
https://www.arthritis-health.com/blog/diet-and-supplements-polymyalgia-rheumatica-pmr
Do you mind sharing what your starting dose of prednisone was and if you have a plan to taper off of prednisone?
I started with a wholoping dose of 40 mg of pred and nearly pain free in 3 hours. This is Day 6 and I still feel a bit stiff by morning but nothing like a week ago. I tried to deal with the intensifying and rapidly progressive pain for a month before finally admitting that perhaps a trial dose of pred would at least lead to “diagnosis by treatment.” I am going to decrease the dose to 20 mg maybe in a few days and also take it before going to bed instead of in the morning. Plan to monitor my c reactive protein and seg rate every other week or so to tweak the tapering dose. Glad there is now the option to order blood tests online and get the draws at our local Quest lab at a greatly reduced rate and quick turnaround directly into my email box. I have a fantastic GP friend who has been helpful and reassuring that it is okay to take the pred for now. But, I am determined to get my system balanced out with a more holistic approach and am definitely going to click on that link you have provided. Glad I found this forum, too.
@julie868 in response to your LDN inquiry I have just started taking it about 2 months ago. My PA suggested it for a case of Chronic Active Epstein Barre Virus. I have had it for years and am 69 now. It first raised its ugly head when I was 32. It has been a roller coaster ride, and in the past have maintained reasonably good health using supplements and diet. Now every time I have an upper respiratory infection, I end up spiraling into a flare of Mono which takes 6-8 weeks to come out of. I recently had RSV approximately 2 months after recovering from Omicron. The RSV kept me down for at least 6 weeks of symptoms. Needless-to-say we needed to try something different. Blood test revealed I was of course suffering with a flare of EBV and after 2 rounds of Prednisone and antibiotics, my PA suggested LDN. I have been tittered up to 2 mg so far, and started feeling better within a couple of weeks. I am cautiously optimistic and am hoping it will help with the EBV battle long term so I can get healthy again. 2022 was a rough one for me!
I was with 3.0 mg and started low now for about 6 months but stoppped since i really did not see any difference in anything
So glad for your beginning recovery and prayers for complete remission and good health. One suggestion occurs to me: have you had your gamma globulin titers checked? I am on weekly infusions of Hizentra, which I take for gamma globulin titers probably suppressed since infancy. Is there a reason for your unusual susceptibility to infection? If yes, I opted for self-administration of replacement gamma globulin, which I infuse weekly. This option is less likely to have negative side effects compared with monthly IVIG administered by an infusion nurse.
I have celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus and chronic fatigue syndrome, along with active Epstein Barr. Has anyone had positive results using low dose naltrexone for any of these illnesses?