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Success with low dose naltrexone for Autoimmune disorders

Posted by julie868 @julie868, Feb 13, 2020

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.

kennethreffeitt | @kennethreffeitt | Dec 13, 2023
In reply to @covidstinks2023 "My endocrinologist put me on Naltrexone because I was so sensitive to the other meds for..." + (show)
@covidstinks2023

My endocrinologist put me on Naltrexone because I was so sensitive to the other meds for Hashimotos (Hypothyroidism). It helped me greatly for about 3 months and also helped with my fibromyalgia pain. Then I started having peripheral neuropathy symptoms in my arms and legs and more migraines. My primary took me off of it since I am migraine prone and that was a side effect listed for Naltrexone, along with peripheral neuropathy as a side effect. I will have to also add, my B12 was low which can cause the peripheral neuropathy symptoms. I started B12 injections and quit the Naltrexone and the peripheral neuropathy symptoms went away. With that said, my symptoms may have been from low B12 & the Naltrexone both. I am 'ultra' senstive to medications. This may be a good fit for you. I would just recommend looking out for the 2 side effects I mentioned. I wish you the best. God Bless.

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My doctor tried four or five antidepressants and each one caused my intestines to feel like they were "quivering" all the time. Finally that Dr. left and the replacement, when hearing of same, turned to the Medical School student next to him and said: "ten percent of caucasians are such slow metabolizers that they need to halve their dosages and take them twice per day." It worked. I also have hypothyroidism and both the regular Rx and the Armour thyroid Rx cause everything in my intestines to change into watery extreme diarrhea.

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barbb22 | @barbb22 | Dec 14, 2023

I have taken LDN for at least 5 years and have noticed a decrease in chronic inflamation. My naturopath started me at 3mg then slowly increased the dose to 6mg. It was a slow and subtle change, but I do believe it is helping.

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1 reply
cwitton1 | @cwitton1 | Jan 8 10:20am
In reply to @bandruid7 "Thank you Teresa. The greatest benefit I noticed was decreased fatigue, joint/muscle pain and severe bouts..." + (show)
@bandruid7

Thank 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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Are you still taking the LDN? How has it been from your post til now?

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cwitton1 | @cwitton1 | Jan 8 10:21am
In reply to @bandruid7 "I have not. Honestly, I've given up on allopathic medicine. They are great for trauma and..." + (show)
@bandruid7

I 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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I feel you. I hope you’re doing ok.

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sgarcia20 | @sgarcia20 | Jul 28 2:31am
In reply to @goodfriends "I am in Remission from Relapsing Polychondritis on May 2021 will be 8 years...I my rheumy..." + (show)
@goodfriends

I am in Remission from Relapsing Polychondritis on May 2021 will be 8 years...I my rheumy had no experience with LDN but in three weeks of taking it I went from barely able to move to dancing with delight. Opioids stopped contolling my pain and when we ran out of meds we had that talk.. I did give up...a friend gave me two more options and unlike the other eight rheumys was open to looking at something not tried before...Wahl's protocol and LDN were those options...I am a foodie and Wahl's didn't seem like something I would stay on so LDN was it...I was given 4.5 mg and for three weeks it was the worst flu but I had been warned that might happen..but after the three weeks I woke up with no pain and it was wonderful...Since then gradually improvements have occurred...my allergies lessened. My skin improved ...my trach has started to heal my breathing is better and off O2 shortly after starting it. I wish it had been started sooner as I wouldn't have as much damage to live with.

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Wow, congratulations. That just sounds amazing to me.
I just started on it myself for unknown auto immune issue. My doctor is quick to jump on the stuff and she’s been fantastic and continuing to figure this out.

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bayhorse | @bayhorse | Jul 28 3:42pm
In reply to @barbb22 "I have taken LDN for at least 5 years and have noticed a decrease in chronic..." + (show)
@barbb22

I have taken LDN for at least 5 years and have noticed a decrease in chronic inflamation. My naturopath started me at 3mg then slowly increased the dose to 6mg. It was a slow and subtle change, but I do believe it is helping.

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Barbb22: I didn't know anyone was prescribing LDN at a dose as high as 6mg. I keep reading that the high is 4.5 mg. I'm curious about this because I'm taking 4.5mg for pain and so far it's not doing much. Do you or your prescribing doc have any documentation that I could show my own physician?

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1 reply
dloos | @dloos | Jul 28 10:39pm
In reply to @bayhorse "Barbb22: I didn't know anyone was prescribing LDN at a dose as high as 6mg. I..." + (show)
@bayhorse

Barbb22: I didn't know anyone was prescribing LDN at a dose as high as 6mg. I keep reading that the high is 4.5 mg. I'm curious about this because I'm taking 4.5mg for pain and so far it's not doing much. Do you or your prescribing doc have any documentation that I could show my own physician?

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I’ve been taking 5mg and haven’t really felt any different. It took me one month to titrate up to 5 mg, and I’ve been taking 5mg for a couple months.
On another thread I saw it can take several months to”kick in”.
I’m going to stick with it at least another three months.
I have no negative side effects, so figure I’ll give it more time.

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1 reply
bayhorse | @bayhorse | Jul 29 12:10pm
In reply to @dloos "I’ve been taking 5mg and haven’t really felt any different. It took me one month to..." + (show)
@dloos

I’ve been taking 5mg and haven’t really felt any different. It took me one month to titrate up to 5 mg, and I’ve been taking 5mg for a couple months.
On another thread I saw it can take several months to”kick in”.
I’m going to stick with it at least another three months.
I have no negative side effects, so figure I’ll give it more time.

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The information about LDN is so mixed! I had been told that it should "kick in" within 8 weeks, and if no results, it wasn't going to work. Now, dloos was told it can take several months. Does anyone have any SOLID info on this drug??

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1 reply
dloos | @dloos | Jul 29 3:03pm
In reply to @bayhorse "The information about LDN is so mixed! I had been told that it should "kick in"..." + (show)
@bayhorse

The information about LDN is so mixed! I had been told that it should "kick in" within 8 weeks, and if no results, it wasn't going to work. Now, dloos was told it can take several months. Does anyone have any SOLID info on this drug??

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Unfortunately this drug is used “off label” for Long Covid. It is usually used at much higher doses for addiction issues.
So, our information is largely anecdotal. I was about to discontinue and a poster here
said it had taken six months to make a big difference.

Since I don’t have a negative reaction, I decided to continue. I will discuss with my primary care doctor at my next appointment.

I know it is very frustrating. I have been fighting this thing for two and a half years, and it just gets worse.
I haven’t found solid information on anything I have tried.

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Rosemary | @rosemaryconte | Jul 30 10:06pm

I tried a few times in fits and starts….hung in but each time RX renewal came due, I didn’t want to spend another $50 to continue. It’s cheap enough in low dosage, but who knows what is the right dosage for what problems and every patient being different….could be anything. Years earlier, I spoke to a pharmacist who told me that it would cost $50 a month and I’d have to use it for 2 years before I would know if it would help!!!

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