Naltrexone is a drug that was approved by the FDA in 1985 to treat opiate dependencies. (8) Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is being used as a regulator of the immune system, providing relief to patients with autoimmune diseases, and central nervous system disorders. (1) Whilst it is not licensed by the FDA specifically for these conditions, physicians are permitted to prescribe LDN ‘off-label’ for treatments they think are appropriate. (8) It provides a partial block of the opioid receptors for a period of about 8 hours, it actually provides an effect of causing the patient’s body to up-regulate the endorphins we naturally make. This in turn reduces inflammation, improves sleep, and has beneficial effects on the immune system. (3)
LDN Information Links
1) LDN and Cancer
Low Dose Naltrexone might exert its effects on tumor growth through a mix of three possible mechanisms: 1) By inducing increases of endorphins in the bloodstream, 1) by inducing and increase in the number and density of opiate receptors on the tumor cell membranes, making them more responsive to growth-inhibitors, 3) by increasing the natural killer (NK) cell numbers and cell activity (1)
2) LowDoseNaltrexone.Org
Comprehensive website with research, interviews, case studies, history and more about LDN and its use for a wide variety of immune-related issues. This website is sponsored by Advocates For Therapeutic Immunology. The purpose of this website is to provide information to patients and physicians about important therapeutic breakthroughs in advanced medical immunology. (2)
3) LDN: Naltrexone for Pets
We don’t really clearly know how this drug works to benefit the immune system, but one proposed mechanism is that when it is taken in a low dose, once daily (twice in the evening for dogs), it provides a partial block of the opioid receptors for a period of about 8 hours, it actually provides an effect of causing the patient’s body to up regulate the endorphins we naturally make. This in turn reduces inflammation, improves sleep, and has beneficial effects on the immune system. (3)
4) LDN Patient Information
Your prescriber will usually start treatment at a low-dose and increase gradually over a period of weeks until you are stable at your goal dose (“Go-Low, GoSlow”). Starting dose can vary from 0.5 mg to 1.5 mg and is increased up to 4.5 mg, which is the maximum dose for Low Dose Naltrexone – although you may have a lower goal dose per your provider’s instructions. (4)
5) LDN Dosing Information
“Ultra Low Dose” when given daily in microgram dosing – dosed twice daily
“Very Low Dose” when given in daily-dose of less than 0.1-0.5 mg
“Low Dose” when given in daily-dose less than or equal than 4.5 mg
“Moderate Dose” when the daily-dose is less than 25mg
“High Dose” when given in daily amounts of 50mg or more (5)
6) LDN Prescription Source Worldwide
If you do not have a primary care doctor who can prescribe LDN for you, Dickson Chemist in Scotland does remote consultations with new patients to provide a prescription and dispense medication. They supply LDN in liquid form and capsule form and recommend taking the liquid for the first time just so you can find the right dosage for yourself then you can change to the capsules. The cost for the liquid LDN 1mg/1ml is from £21.50 for a 28 day supply. The cost for 3mg capsules / 4.5mg capsules is £30.50 for a 28 day supply. The cost of postage is from £9.50 (international). The initial consultation cost for new patients is £40.00. Every 3 months you will require a new prescription which is £30.00 per prescription. Once you fill out the form and submit your details, it may take a few days to receive a response as they receive a high volume of requests on a daily basis. (6)
7) LDN and Multiple Sclerosis
Over the past few years, growing experience with the clinical use of LDN demonstrates its consistency in preventing further attacks in people with MS. In addition, a majority of such patients note reductions in spasticity and fatigue. (7)
8) LDN Science
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is being used as a regulator of the immune system, providing relief to patients with autoimmune diseases, and central nervous system disorders. Naltrexone is a drug that was approved by the FDA in 1985 to treat opiate dependencies. The term ‘LDN’ refers to the use of Naltrexone at doses below 10 mg per day. Whilst it is not licensed by the FDA specifically for these conditions, physicians are permitted to prescribe LDN ‘off-label’ for treatments they think are appropriate. Numerous laboratory and animal studies have been carried out to investigate the novel effects of LDN in cancer and autoimmune disorders. The apparently diverse conditions in which LDN appears to have a therapeutic effect are united by their ability to benefit from increased levels of endorphins (naturally occurring opioids – specifically OGF). (8)
9) In Tiny Doses, An Addiction Medication Moonlights As A Treatment For Chronic Pain
When it comes to treating some patients with complex chronic pain, low-dose naltrexone appears to be more effective and well-tolerated than the big-name opioids that dominated pain management for decades. So how does it work? Scientists think that for many chronic pain patients, the central nervous system gets overworked and agitated. Pain signals fire in an out-of-control feedback loop that drowns out the body’s natural pain-relieving systems. They suspect that low doses of naltrexone dampen that inflammation and kick-start the body’s production of pain-killing endorphins — all with relatively minor side effects. (9)
10) LDN Patient Stories
Stories from 114 people who have found relief from the daily pain and other chronic symptoms of immune deficiency diseases such as fibromyalgia, IBS, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and more by using Low Dose Naltrexone. (10)
11) Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN)—Review of Therapeutic Utilization
This review aims to present an overview of the current knowledge on these topics and summarize the key findings published in peer-review sources. Following Dr. Bihari’s initial off-label use of naltrexone in doses ranging from 1.5 mg to 3 mg as an adjunct therapy for acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the 1980s, Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) has been introduced into clinical practice. It has been widely accepted as an alternative medicine modality. (11)
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