Low-dose naltrexone has recently attracted attention as a possible treatment for autoimmune diseases, neurological conditions, cancer, and some other diseases. Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist, which means that it blocks opioid receptors in the brain and thus eliminates the sensation of pleasure caused, for example, by drinking alcohol, because our endogenous opioids (endorphins) cannot bind to the receivers. But when used in very small doses (less than 1/10 of the normal dose), naltrexone can be used to stimulate the release of endorphins.

History

Low-dose naltrexone was started by neurologist Bernard Bihari in the early 1980s, when he was studying drugs used for drug and alcohol withdrawal. He noted that very small doses of naltrexone (initially 3 mg) taken at bedtime only transiently blocked opioid receptors, stimulating the body to produce more of its endogenous opioids and producing no significant side effects.

Bihari tested LDN as a treatment for HIV / AIDS and multiple sclerosis, two conditions that have been shown to be associated with low levels of beta endorphin, one of the most important endogenous opioids. In some of his AIDS patients, blood levels of beta endorphin tripled when low doses of naltrexone were used.

The patients also experienced marked clinical improvement. MS symptoms (especially fatigue) eased and disease progression seemed to halt. Most patients never experienced a single MS attack after starting low-dose naltrexone. The viral counts of the HIV-infected patients dropped dramatically and their CD4 counts subsequently increased. As a result, the rates of opportunistic infections and AIDS-related neoplasms decreased.

Later development

Encouraged by its success, Bihari and other doctors began testing LDN for other conditions, such as other autoimmune diseases and cancer, often with excellent results. The support from the patient community has been overwhelming. MS patients have raised money for clinical trials and even three NDT conferences have been held, with the fourth scheduled for October 2008.

A study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that 89% of Crohn’s disease patients improved in LDN and 67% achieved a complete remission. Clinical trials are currently underway for multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, autism, fibromyalgia, pancreatic cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (head and neck cancer). A large study on HIV / AIDS is also underway in Mali, West Africa.

Diseases that can be treated with LDN

LDN has been used successfully to treat the following conditions:

Autoimmune diseases

• multiple sclerosis
• systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE / LED)
• rheumatoid arthritis
• ankylosing spondyloarthritis
• pemphigoid
• sarcoidosis
• scleroderma
• Crohn’s disease
• ulcerative colitis
• Celiac Disease
• psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
• Wegener’s granulomatosis
• transverse myelitis

Cancers

• bladder cancer
• breast cancer
• carcinoid tumor
• colorectal cancer
• glioblastoma
• Liver cancer
• non-small cell lung cancer (NSLC)
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• lymphoma (both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin)
• melanoma
• multiple myeloma
• neuroblastoma
• ovarian cancer
• pancreatic cancer
• prostate cancer
• Renal cell carcinoma
• throat cancer
• uterine cancer

Other diseases

• HIV AIDS
• hepatitis C
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) / Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
• autism
• Alzheimer disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Behcet’s disease
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, emphysema)
• endometriosis
• fibromyalgia
• chronic fatigue syndrome / myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS / ME)
• irritated bowel syndrome (IBS)

LDN may also work eg for eg myasthenia gravis, antiphospholipid syndrome / Hughes syndrome, narcolepsy (a possibly autoimmune disease), interstitial cystitis, chronic Lyme disease / post Lyme syndrome, acne, rosacea, chronic urticaria , dementia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). ), cluster headaches, schizophrenia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It has been reported to be helpful in preventing insomnia and migraine.

Action mode

Endorphins are often associated with the pleasant sensation we get from, for example, exercise, but they are more than that. Beta endorphin and meth enkephalin, another opioid peptide produced by the body, have profound effects on the immune system. Numerous studies in animals have shown that methencephalin acts as an anticancer agent. Beta endorphin levels have been shown to be low in HIV / AIDS, many autoimmune diseases and, for example, migraine.

Autoimmune diseases have traditionally been seen as manifestations of an overactive immune system and are generally treated with immunosuppressants, but more and more data are emerging suggesting that autoimmune diseases may be forms of immunodeficiency, which explains why LDN , an immunostimulant, works for them. .

Clinical effects

In most autoimmune diseases, the progression of the disease stops. Symptoms, such as fatigue, pain, muscle weakness, and cognitive problems, are often relieved as well. In degenerative conditions like ALS and Alzheimer’s disease, the progression of the disease slows down. Lipodystrophy caused by antiretroviral drugs (HIV) usually improves significantly.

Bihari reports that cancer growth stops in about 50% of the cancer patients it treats. Some of these patients show objective signs of tumor shrinkage. Some patients who have been considered terminal with little time left are still alive and doing well years later, such as one with pancreatic cancer (one of the deadliest cancers) whose case was published in Integrative Cancer Therapies.

According to Bihari, LDN works best for the following cancers: multiple myeloma, Hodgkin’s disease, breast cancer, cancers of the gastrointestinal tract (including the pancreas), and non-small cell lung cancer. That is not to say that cancer patients should ditch their existing treatments, but LDN can be combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Some patients only undergo surgery or are considered not to benefit from conventional treatment, so they would be good candidates for LDN.

How to use

LDN is taken every night between 9:00 p.m. M. And 3:00 a. M., Since the body produces most of its endorphins during the first hours of the morning. Usually there are no side effects. Some people experience trouble sleeping during the first week. Nausea, feeling “high,” gas, bloating, and feeling hungry can occur at first and usually disappear within a few days. In patients with MS, spasticity may temporarily worsen. It may take a day to a few months to notice an improvement.

LDN can be safely taken with all other medications, foods, or supplements, but because it is an opioid antagonist, it cannot be combined with any narcotic (opioid) pain reliever, including tramadol, and taken with immunosuppressive medications (such as corticosteroids) can cause the medications. to “cancel” the effects of each, since LDN is an immunostimulant. The only contraindication is a previous organ transplant, because the intake of an immunostimulant can cause graft rejection.

Any physician can prescribe LDN as an “ex tempore” prescription, to be filled by a compounding pharmacy. Some people use foreign pharmacies, as in most countries it is legal to order medicine abroad with a valid prescription. LDN can be formulated in capsule or liquid form, but the liquid must be refrigerated and is less convenient when traveling. It is recommended that calcium carbonate is not used as a filler for tablets.

The recommended dose is 4.5 mg, but some people, especially those who are very thin and those with severe MS, only take 3 mg. Often times, prescriptions are issued for 1.5 mg capsules so the patient can try to take two or three at a time. LDN is also relatively inexpensive, typically $ 15- $ 40 a month.