Low Dose Naltrexone
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Is LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) a "Cure All?"

| Modified on Feb 23, 2024
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Have you heard of low-dose naltrexone (LDN)? It is a synthetic drug used in small amounts that has shown promising results for those with serious diseases, including auto-immune disease, cancer, HIV, MS, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Celiac disease, and IBS.

What is Naltrexone?

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Naltrexone is used to help narcotic dependents who have stopped taking narcotics to stay drug-free. It is also used to help alcoholics stay alcohol-free."

A typical dose of naltrexone is 50 mg.

Side effects of the regular dose of naltrexone include digestive disturbances, sleep disturbances, headaches, and anxiety problems. Regular dose naltrexone is not recommended for people with liver problems because of its possible hepatotoxicity. Low-dose naltrexone is a much smaller dose of naltrexone, 3 to 4.5 mg, instead of the standard dose of 50 mg. So the low dose is indeed low - less than 10% of the standard dose.

This much lower dose rarely has side effects, yet many studies and personal testimonies show that the low dose is very effective for many who take it.

But I Have a Disease, Not an Addiction!

While the regular dose of naltrexone is used for addictions, the low dose is helpful for those with various chronic diseases. When a low dose of naltrexone is taken at bedtime, it causes an increase in endorphins produced by the body during the night. This is the mechanism by which it is helpful for a broad spectrum of diseases.

But is Naltrexone a Natural Remedy?

No, naltrexone is not a natural remedy. People looking for natural remedies often do so because conventional medications have not been successful, have had unacceptable side effects or have been too expensive.

Earth Clinic has been empowering those looking for safer, cheaper, more effective health remedies. Usually, this is in the form of supplements, herbs, diet, and health practices. Once in a while, some drugs with a good history of safety and effectiveness find their way into the pages of cures that Earth Clinic readers share. Aspirin and guaifenesin are two other synthetic drugs that would fit into this category.

How Do I Get Low Dose Naltrexone?

Because naltrexone is a prescription drug, you will need to work with a doctor who can prescribe it for you, and then you will need a compounding pharmacy to fill the prescription.

Have you tried low dose naltrexone (LDN)? Please be sure to share your feedback with us!

References:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/naltrexone-oral-route/description/drg-20068408
http://www.ldninfo.org/

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Autoimmune Problems

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Posted by David (Huntington Beach, Ca) on 02/21/2016
 ★★★★★

I have posted here before and am a Chiropractor for thirty years. In researching a cure for a friend I stumbled across LDN or low dose naltrexone.

Apparently it has had almost miraculous results with autoimmune diseases like lupus, MS, fibromyalgia, Hashimoto's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, also neuro-degenerative conditions like Parkinsons, ALS and others.

I am following up on it and will have some of my autoimmune patients look into it and begin using it. In the meantime, here are some important links to begin to look into it for yourself.

The short version of it is it's an off patent medication (so very cheap) that is very safe and taking in very small doses so that a month's worth of it is under $40.00 USD.

As a Chiropractor, I don't usually recommend medication, but it is so safe and such a low dose, with such AMAZING results being reported (since the mid 1980s) that I am very excited about its potential benefits.

http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/index.htm

This is a great place to start.

http://honestmedicine.typepad.com/ebook-Jan 7 10--The Faces of Low Dose Naltrexone.pdf

This is a wonderful free e-book with many text links to more information.

Let's start to spread the word on this on EarthClinic and if its anything close to what is being said about it, it will be WONDERFUL!

Blessings,

David in HB

Broad Benefits

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Posted by Sam (Miami ) on 03/15/2023
 ★★★★★

Why my comment about LDN for burning mouth and throat wasn't posted? It is based on the real studies and the cause of the syndrome. Do research. LDN forces a body to heal itself. I take it for neurological pain, my sister takes it for seasonal allergies which are severe, my late mother lived for 3 years with no follow up with an oncologist after a radical hysterectomy. She died from a stroke, not cancer. She had no symptoms of cancer during those 3 years and was living independently fully functioning physically and mentally. She was 84.

EC: Hi Sam, yes, we posted your LDN posts yesterday and the third link today. Here's the URL: https://answers.earthclinic.com/sudden-relentless-burning-in-throat-and-mouth.html

Chronic Cough

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Posted by Sam (Miami) on 11/08/2018
 ★★★★★

LDN: A different kind of medicine that doesn't heal itself, but makes your body to heal whatever isn't working.

My sister's persistent itchy cough that she had for years disappeared literally next morning after she took her first dose. We were shocked. 3.5 mg capsules didn't work for me and now I found a company in Israel that ships it liquid, one drop 0.5 mg. Under the tounge. It is still being shipped. I ordered to my mother in Latvia, it took 21days, but she got it. You have to take it nonstop for the rest of your life. If there are no alternatives, the price is small compared to consequences. There's no limits to what might get cured, since it makes your own body to figure be out what is wrong and address it

Replied by Sam
(Miami)
01/08/2023
★★★★★

Jan 2023 Update:

My sister's annual severe allergy during pollination season (July-September) is reduced to a mild discomfort, if she takes LDN. She can't get it in her home country, therefore depends on the supply she brings home after visiting Miami. Before LDN she was getting IV infusions (medications) in a hospital setting, for her allergy was severe.

Our Mom has died in 2021, she was 85. She was diagnosed with a rare endometrial sarcoma in 2019, had a laparoscopic surgery, was discharged 3 days later, never had a followup with an oncologist, in fact she had only seen an oncologist once who recommended an open abdomen surgery (still a standard procedure in her home country), PET scan, etc. We convinced Mom not to have PET scan done and have a laparoscopic surgery for which she had to pay out her pocket. Mom never stopped taking LDN since 2018. The company that was selling it online and shipping all over the world was reprimanded by FDA (not sure what jurisdiction they had over the company based in Singapore) for the "fake" COVID treatment claims in 2021 went out of business.

In 2021 Mom still had one year supply. After the surgery Mom recovered fast, had no symptoms and was fully functional physically and mentally until May 2021, (2.5 years after the surgery) when she had some sort of episode, we believe it was a stroke (she lived alone and refused to move to live with us). 3 days later, after 36hrs trip, we were with Mom. One-two more days and she would be gone.

We immediately started intramuscular injections of 2 medications for people with strokes, prescribed by her doctor (doctors still do house calls in her country) and Mom responded dramatically. She also had an acupuncture at home and the acupuncturist said that she "tapped" into Mom's life reserves and if we want to transport her we have to do it right away. It took 30 days to wrap things up before we were able to leave. We bought a wheelchair. Mom managed 8hr flight fairly well, 3 days in a hotel, then another 3hr flight and 5 hrs ride in a car. She wasn't complaining about anything, but we could see that she started deteriorating physically and mentally.

5 weeks into her new home and she was gone-she was sleeping all the time, losing her muscle strength and was not recognizing her family. We don't know the exact cause of her death. I took 12 weeks to go from being a fully independent and active, not like an average ailing 84yo, but like a fully functional person, to her death.

Our thoughts: She was on LDN for 3.5 years- it took care of her pains that come with age, put her very aggressive cancer into a remission (she had no symptoms whatsoever), and whatever episode she had in May, 2021 was not caused by cancer. An autopsy was done since she had no doctor in her new home-country, but it was just a formality without thorough investigation, it did show metastasis in her lungs, yet Mom had no symptoms whatsoever. Long story short, Mom was spared of chemo, radiation and scans torture and lived as nothing was wrong with her. Was it LDN? We don't know but tend to believe it was.

I have Dysautonomia, severe premature osteoporosis, and now tested positive for PQ VGCC antibodies. The list on my symptoms could be 5 pages long. I am taking LDN on and off for several years. It does help with pain- I do have this weird BONEs pain, upper body pains, hip bones pain, clavicle, shoulder-blades, you name a bone-it hurts. Once I stop taking LDN, the pain comes back. It didn't help with any of the other 99 symptoms... PQ VGCC positive means we have to start an aggressive search for a cancer. I don't have strength or desire to search for anything anymore.

As you can see, 3 people, different ages, different health problems, and different response to LDN.

Fibromyalgia

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Posted by Killarney Lass (Saskatchewan Canada) on 02/22/2023
 ★★★★★

I have been using LDN for 5 years now.

I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia years ago. I dislike this catch all term so I will just say that I went to my GP because of swelling in my knees that had gotten so bad I could barely bend them.

I had read about LDN and thought I would be having a huge problem getting my Dr. to prescribe it. I took a list of all of my symptoms and the many treatments and supplements I had tried over the years.

I asked my Dr.to give me a 6 mos.prescription and if it didn't help, I would see a rheumatologist.

I started at 1.5 mg. which I take at night.The first morning I noticed much more energy and a clearing of my brain fog.Within a month my body aches and swollen knees had gone away.

I have stayed at 3.0 mg. as that dose works best for me.

At 50 years old, I thought by 60 I might be incapacitated but at 60, I am walking an average of 4 km. a day and doing weights twice a week.

I also give it to my senior Border Collies.
One lived to 17.5 yrs. and my other two are now 14 and 15 and still walking with me every day.

Hormonal Imbalances

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Posted by Tracey (Colac) on 04/14/2016
 ★☆☆☆☆

Ldn:

I was on 1.5mg for 1 month for ongoing brain fog that doctors attribute to menopause or protracted Benzo withdrawal, or anxiety, or some other hormonal imbalance. No change. So now been on LDN 3mg for last 2 months.. no change.....I am a mess and LDN not changing this so I don't know.

Replied by Rsw
(Oh)
04/14/2016

Hi Tracey,

LDN will modulate your immune system, and by doing so can positively impact a host of immune problems and diseases. However, I don't recall it being effective for balancing hormones due to menopause. Please take a look at posts to relieve your anxiety from menopause under the ailments tab at the top/menopause. Many herbal and other remedies have been suggested on this site that may be more beneficial to you. I hope you feel better soon.

Replied by Deb
(Florida)
04/15/2016

Tracey, I'm no doctor, but think our hormones are changed by GMO foods. The glyphosate is toxic to every part of our bodies. Many people are having gut problems, gluten sensitivity, hormonal problems. Please try to avoid corn, soy, canola, sugar, zucchini, squash even dairy because the cows are fed GMO corn & soy. If you want any of the above buy organic. That way you will be safe.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Posted by Chip (St. Augustine, Fl) on 03/01/2018
 ★★★★★

I have used LDN for 5 years. I started because a neurologist said that I might have MS, I do not. However, I did have fairly severe RA. I would wake up and my hands would hurt. I also had Asthma. Both are auto immune diseases.

I refer to them as had, because they are both in remission. It took 3 months of 1.5mg of LDN every night to get rid of RA pain. It took almost 2 years to rid myself of asthma. When the symptoms stopped my Doctor refused to believe me and kept the medications coming. I now have a drawer full of inhalers and I canceled my prescription.

There is a significant fact to know about LDN. It does not cure anything, however it makes the immune system work better and generally places the condition in remission. Many Doctors refuse to prescribe LDN because they are worried that if you have an auto immune problem the immune system gets stronger and it will attack the body more. However, what it does is make the immune system work better so that if it were attacking the body it stops doing that. It does this by increasing the amount of endorphins the body makes as well as increasing the number of endorphin receptor sites in the body. The LDN works to prevent the body from absorbing endorphins for several hours. The body thinks it is not producing endorphins and ramps up production plus increases the number of receptor sites. (Note, this is my lay person description I have seen much more thorough discussions by MD's much of which goes above my head.)

The body naturally makes the most Endorphins shortly after you fall asleep at night. There have been numerous people who try and take it at times other then before going to bed. Most find their symptoms coming back and they go back to nighttime dosing. It is worth noting that there is one noticeable side effect. It only occurs for a few weeks then no longer is an issue. The side effect is that when the flood of endorphins hits, that dreams can become vivid. Not bad but very realistic. This effect usually fades after a few weeks.

The original website of Dr. Bihari (the one who discovered LDN) is www.lowdosenaltroxone.org. It is very worthwhile to read. However, it does not tell you everything you need to know. For instance it tells you that most people take 4.5MG at night before they go to bed. However, very few people can tolerate 4.5MG to start with. The current recommendation of the LDN Users Group on Yahoo, is to start with 1.5 mg for 30 days, then up the dose to 3.0mg for 60 days, then go to 4.5mg. I found out that I can only tolerate 1.5mg per night. When I try to up the dose I get severe restless leg syndrome if I go above 2 MG. (Note, I just checked it out and the site has been recently updated and is much better.)

Even than, it took only 3 months for me to wake up pain free. No RA symptoms. However 3 times the first year I took it, I forgot to bring it with me on trips and after 3 days the RA symptoms returned. Once I started back on LDN they went away again. Now after 5 years I can skip up to 5 days before the symptoms return as I obviously built it up in my bloodstream.

The Yahoo users group is free to join and had at the last I heard over 11,000 members. The Moderator publishes a number of excellent information sheets covering every aspect of LDN, including a long list of medical problems that LDN helps to relieve, a list of Doctors that prescribe it and alternative methods to obtain it. It is an excellent resource.

When my RA symptoms disappeared I had no idea LDN could make that happen. However I found on a UK website an article that stated 86% of those with RA who were on LDN had their symptoms put in remission. I found websites that discussed LDN In every English speaking country. There is even a U tube video in Norwegian (it has Engllsh subtitles). Norway has over 50,000 people who take LDN.

After I learned about LDN, it took me several months to find a doctor who would prescribe it. At my request he prescribed 90 days worth of 4.5 MG capsules. I needed to take it to a compounding pharmacy. Since I was living in Palm Beach County I took it to Skips Pharmacy in Boca Raton. Dr. Skip Lenz (he has a doctorate in pharmacology) has more LDN patients than anyone else. He provides LDN to well over 10,000 people a month. I dropped off the prescription and a few days later Dr. Skip called me and cautioned me to start at 1.5 mg a night instead of 4.5 mg. At the time he recommended 30 days at 1.5 mg then 30 more days at 3.0 mg, then if I tolerated that to go to 4.5 mg. I never made it to 4.5 mg. Rather than change my prescription I would dissolve 2 capsules in 1.5 cups of distilled water, then take a quarter of cup of solution every night. This effectively made 90 4.5mg/capsules last me 9 months.

LDN like most medications does not work for everyone. However, when you ease into it, it does much better. The Yahoo users group has lots of discussions on how to start it. It is not very effective if you are already taking heavy opioids, they give lots of advice on how to cope.

Viruses, Menopause Symptoms

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Posted by Dawnie (Pennsylvania) on 09/17/2017
 ★★★★★

After reading your article on low dose naltrexone I just wanted to share that after testing positive for human parvo virus, HH6, and cytomegalovirus I was so tired every day and all of my major joints hurt. I was told by a Dr. in Florida that 80% of people diagnosed with fibromyalgia or CFS, have at some point had fifths disease. In any event he recommended LDN and I was more than willing to try anything.

The first week was so bad that I had to stop taking LDN 4.5 mg. I did not feel any better and some days the brain fog was unbearable. A few days after stopping I realized I was actually getting better and thought to myself it had to be the late effects of the LDN. I hadn't felt that good in several months.

I started back on LDN taking 1/2 of a 4.5mg tab nightly and the results were amazing!!! Within a few weeks I was back to myself. Even better than I was prior to getting sick. I tried stopping the LDN and within a few weeks all of my joint pain was back as well as the extreme fatigue.

I was also pleasantly surprised to realize that while I was on the LDN my night sweats from menopause were controlled as well. I hadn't realized it until I'd stopped taking LDN how much it was helping my mood and night sweats!!!

Needless to say I have had amazing results and can not imagine ever being without it. Recently I had to stop taking it again for several weeks because I was having surgery and I knew I would need to take Percocet for pain after my surgery. I was hoping that once I stopped the LDN I would just stay off it even when I was done with the pain medicine. Just because who wants to rely on a pill if it's not necessary. Well within three weeks I was waking up dripping wet from night sweats and all of my joints were aching again! I remember coming home from my work out one night and thinking OMG I can't believe how awful I feel again!!! I immediately started back on my LDN 4.5 mg at bedtime and once again joint pain, night sweats and chronic fatigue gone!!!!

I am so grateful for this drug!!! I can not imagine where I'd be without it.

Replied by Assieh
(Córdoba)
01/13/2024

I have really severe joint pain after menopause. I tried LDN but it upsets my stomach. Did this happen to you?

Norma
(NYC)
01/14/2024

I take LDN, my late mom was taking it for years and my sister is taking it. Different reasons. Mom and sister had no side effects whatsoever. I, on the other hand, can't take it for long, but it never ever affected my stomach. I did feel nauseated in the beginning and asked the pharmacy to change the filler to rice powder to see if it will make a difference. It did, no more nausea. Mom and sister were taking LDN with different fillers.

So make sure not something else is causing your stomach reaction and read info about side effects on LDN research Trust site.

Replied by beverly
(usa)
02/22/2024

The first time I was given LDN it was compounded to 5 ml doses which I never took and the batch went bad. The second prescription was written as thirty 50 mg tablets by mistake. The pharmacist said I could compound it with orange juice but the dosing is confusing. I have read 50 mg equal 50 ml. If I want to start at a very low dose for my autoimmune disease then I was looking to compound one 50 mg tab equaling 50 ml solution then use a syringe to dose at .5 ml for first month then slowly increase. Does that make sense?



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