Game-changing treatment offers hope to chronically ill patients.

Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is gaining attention as a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases, neurological conditions, cancer, and other illnesses. Naltrexone, an opiate antagonist, blocks opioid receptors in the brain, eliminating the pleasurable feeling caused by substances like alcohol. However, in small doses, LDN can stimulate the release of endorphins.

History:
Neurologist Bernard Bihari pioneered LDN in the 1980s while studying medications for drug and alcohol withdrawal. He discovered that small doses of naltrexone taken at bedtime blocked opioid receptors for a short time, leading the body to produce more endorphins without significant side effects. Bihari used LDN to treat HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis (MS), conditions associated with low levels of beta endorphin. Patients experienced clinical improvement, including symptom relief in MS patients and decreased viral counts in HIV patients.

Later development:
Encouraged by these successes, Bihari and other doctors experimented with LDN for other autoimmune illnesses and cancer, often with positive results. The patient community has shown overwhelming support, with MS patients funding clinical trials and conferences held on LDN. Clinical trials are currently exploring LDN’s effectiveness in treating conditions such as MS, Crohn’s disease, autism, fibromyalgia, and several types of cancer.

Illnesses treated with LDN:
LDN has been successfully used to treat various autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and psoriasis. It has also shown promise in treating cancers such as breast cancer, lymphoma, and prostate cancer. Additionally, LDN may be effective in treating conditions like HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mode of action:
Endorphins, like beta endorphin and met enkephalin, produced by the body, have profound effects on the immune system and can act as anti-cancer agents. Animal studies have revealed that met enkephalin possesses anti-cancer properties. Autoimmune diseases are traditionally viewed as overactive immune system manifestations and are treated with immunosuppressants. However, emerging evidence suggests that autoimmune conditions may actually be forms of immune deficiency, explaining why LDN, an immunostimulant, is effective.

Clinical effects:
In most autoimmune diseases, LDN halts disease progression and alleviates symptoms such as fatigue and pain. In degenerative conditions like ALS and Alzheimer’s, LDN slows down disease progression. LDN also demonstrates positive effects on cancer patients, with tumor growth halting in about 50% of patients, and some even experiencing tumor shrinkage. Patients with terminal cancer have shown prolonged survival when treated with LDN.

How it is used:
LDN is taken every night between 9 PM and 3 AM, as the body produces most endorphins during the early morning hours. Side effects are uncommon, but some people may experience initial sleeping problems, nausea, gas and bloating, or increased hunger, which typically subside within a few days. In MS patients, spasticity may temporarily worsen with LDN use. Improvement can occur within a day or may take a few months to notice.

LDN can be safely used alongside other medications, foods, or supplements. However, it cannot be combined with narcotic painkillers or immunosuppressive drugs, as LDN is an opiate antagonist and an immunostimulant. The only contraindication is a past organ transplant due to the potential for graft rejection. LDN can be prescribed by any doctor and filled by a compounding pharmacy. Calcium carbonate should not be used as a filler for LDN tablets. The recommended dose is 4.5 mg, but some individuals may take 3 mg.

Overall, LDN is relatively inexpensive, costing between $15 and $40 per month.