LDN: Beyond Autoimmune Barriers
Although once discouraged by the medical community, taking a low dose of naltrexone is taking on a new wave of followers.
There are various theories as to why it has been dismissed and it's use discouraged, yet what I find fascinating is how people continue to use it and find that it works! Some doctors have dismissed the success patients have found as coincidence and attributed their feeling better to a placebo effect, yet it would seem unlikely as many have been on it for an extended period of time.
Naltrexone is an opiate receptor antagonist.
What makes this drug interesting is not what it is conventionally prescribed for, but for the endorphin boost that a prescribed lower amount seems to manifest.
At a lower dosage, in many cases less than one-tenth of its original prescribed amount, naltrexone takes on a new identity as LDN-low dose naltrexone showing promise in its application for a multitude of disorders.
So why are the more recent "off-label" applications of LDN's use in treating various disorders creating quite a stir? The main three uses that seem to be catching most attention are as a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's disease and Fibromyalgia.
One might ask how can one drug can work on such different disorders? If you can understand how the medicine works, you'll see it's a no brainer, and wonder why someone didn't see this sooner.
The bigger question remains that if some of the brightest minds in medicine can see this, why is it meeting such resistance? Essentially LDN helps raise the immune system by boosting endorphins levels.
Albeit a simplistic explanation, this is where some of the controversy lies.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's are both autoimmune diseases.
Although Fibromyalgia (FM) is not considered an autoimmune disorder, it is believed that patients with FM have irregularities with their immune system.
This would cultivate the theory that LDN would not be an appropriate treatment for any of these.
It has been argued that the goal is to not over-excite the immune system in anyone with an autoimmune dysfunction.
Therefore as LDN raises your immune function it might be believed to be contradictory to conventional treatment paths.
Yet patients who take LDN, are finding that it has given them continued relief, some even saying a new lease on life.
The one thing that is agreed upon by the LDNers who have taken this, is that regardless of what treatment path you're choosing this for, it is important to start slow.
It can be obtained by prescription if your doctor chooses to think outside the proverbial box, however it is more cost effective and easier to manage dosing titration by purchasing them in tablet form and diluted into liquid.
Recommended dosing is determined by body weight according to Dr.
Ian Zagon.
Dosing is dispensed at night as it helps induce the body's natural endorphin production.
Dr.
Zagon recommends that you start at 1 mg per 100 lbs.
of body weight, and increase by 1mg per month until you reach the optimum dosage or maximum recommended.
Other notable resources recommend you increase by.
5mg every 2 weeks.
Dr.
Bernard Bihari had recommended a 4.
5mg dosage was optimal for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Similarly it has been discussed that LDN should not exceed a 4.
5mg dosage, although that was a recent point of discussion at this past October's conference on LDN.
Whomever you choose to follow, it is important to understand that despite your initial excitement as you experience feelings of better health, do not rush upgrading your dosage.
There are various theories as to why it has been dismissed and it's use discouraged, yet what I find fascinating is how people continue to use it and find that it works! Some doctors have dismissed the success patients have found as coincidence and attributed their feeling better to a placebo effect, yet it would seem unlikely as many have been on it for an extended period of time.
Naltrexone is an opiate receptor antagonist.
What makes this drug interesting is not what it is conventionally prescribed for, but for the endorphin boost that a prescribed lower amount seems to manifest.
At a lower dosage, in many cases less than one-tenth of its original prescribed amount, naltrexone takes on a new identity as LDN-low dose naltrexone showing promise in its application for a multitude of disorders.
So why are the more recent "off-label" applications of LDN's use in treating various disorders creating quite a stir? The main three uses that seem to be catching most attention are as a treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, Crohn's disease and Fibromyalgia.
One might ask how can one drug can work on such different disorders? If you can understand how the medicine works, you'll see it's a no brainer, and wonder why someone didn't see this sooner.
The bigger question remains that if some of the brightest minds in medicine can see this, why is it meeting such resistance? Essentially LDN helps raise the immune system by boosting endorphins levels.
Albeit a simplistic explanation, this is where some of the controversy lies.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Crohn's are both autoimmune diseases.
Although Fibromyalgia (FM) is not considered an autoimmune disorder, it is believed that patients with FM have irregularities with their immune system.
This would cultivate the theory that LDN would not be an appropriate treatment for any of these.
It has been argued that the goal is to not over-excite the immune system in anyone with an autoimmune dysfunction.
Therefore as LDN raises your immune function it might be believed to be contradictory to conventional treatment paths.
Yet patients who take LDN, are finding that it has given them continued relief, some even saying a new lease on life.
The one thing that is agreed upon by the LDNers who have taken this, is that regardless of what treatment path you're choosing this for, it is important to start slow.
It can be obtained by prescription if your doctor chooses to think outside the proverbial box, however it is more cost effective and easier to manage dosing titration by purchasing them in tablet form and diluted into liquid.
Recommended dosing is determined by body weight according to Dr.
Ian Zagon.
Dosing is dispensed at night as it helps induce the body's natural endorphin production.
Dr.
Zagon recommends that you start at 1 mg per 100 lbs.
of body weight, and increase by 1mg per month until you reach the optimum dosage or maximum recommended.
Other notable resources recommend you increase by.
5mg every 2 weeks.
Dr.
Bernard Bihari had recommended a 4.
5mg dosage was optimal for people with Multiple Sclerosis.
Similarly it has been discussed that LDN should not exceed a 4.
5mg dosage, although that was a recent point of discussion at this past October's conference on LDN.
Whomever you choose to follow, it is important to understand that despite your initial excitement as you experience feelings of better health, do not rush upgrading your dosage.
Source...