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.
Yes, this is very helpful! Thank you!
MD
My search has found that CareFirst Specialty Pharmacy in New Jersey is more than half the price of any compounding pharmacy in San Diego for 120 ea x 4.5mg tabs. My San Diego neurologist prescribes and recommends its use for most autoimmune disorders.
@dwalker48 I’m curious about the LDN that you are using. You say that the neurologist recommends it’s use for most autoimmune disorders. Is it mostly for pain relief? Is it addicting?
Were you finding that most doctors weren’t paying attention to your complaints of pain?
@sandbarry1 @bayhorse @annewoodmayo and others interested in LDN. This article gives a very good overview on naltrexone.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962576/
Has its use made a difference for you?
I have PMR and Crohn's and have been on LDN since mid 2019. I asked my rheumatologis' PA for it after reading about it. My PMR hadn't been diagnosed yet and I had a lot of pain. LDN stopped my "non moving " pain in 2 days and it also healed my small intestine in a longer time. (2months?) It was loaded with ulcers and very much a bother. Now I can eat ruffage again. It has two isomers of the drug and they perform different tasks. One does the endorphin thing by covering the opiate receptors temporarily, and the other influences the microglia in the brain to not send out inflamatory signals. I suspect this is what healed my small intestine. Most American docs don't know much about it. But my GI PA tells me that the group that regulates them is researching it and something might change soon. 80% of the Crohn's patients who have tried it have been helped.
Becky, started LDN 7/2020 for PMR pain and have continued ever since. It helped relieve the pain and helped me to get off prednisone that was prescribed by rheumatologist. My neurologist believes it is slowing down side effects and progression of GBS/CIDP, another serious medical diagnosis, especially at my age of 82. My doctors are very concerned about my pain level at each visit and any new pain since last visit. If your doctor is not concerned, it's time to seek a doctor that is. I hope this helps and wish you peace and healing.
thanks much for the information. Do you recall what doses you and your daughter were taking?
It’s been forever since you posted this, but I thought I’d let you know that I get my low dose naltrexone from a website called ageless.com (I use amounts 1-3mg)
I spent about $25 a month for this medicine.
I was on it for long term Lyme's. It was wonderful until next Dr pulled me off it as unecessary