Cimzia and Low Dose Naltrexone

rxgirl · Jun 30, 2012

My GI prescribed this combination and I am trying to wrap my mind around the pharmacology of the combination (sadly I am a pharmacist, but work in psychiatry so this is over my head

).

I am newly diagnosed with Crohn's, so this is my first treatment. My GI doctor actually suggested the LDN due to my low grade fever and joint pain. She is a NIH research doctor in IBD and I trust her judgement. However, the combo seems like they would work against each other.

Any thoughts? Thanks everyone!!!

David · Jul 4, 2012

Hiya rxgirl,

I have copied your thread here to the LDN subforum to give it a little more attention in an effort to get you some more responses. A copy still exists in the Cimzia forum as well.

Out of curiosity, as a pharmacist, why do you feel that Cimzia and LDN would work against each other?

rxgirl · Jul 4, 2012

Thanks David...I am interested in LDN with any biologic agents (Humira or Remicade). I feel this is kind of aggressive, but my GI says "top down" is the way to go now, especially with EIM'S.

rxgirl · Jul 4, 2012

Sorry...I was reading your response initially on my phone and missed the second part.

When I have looked at all the trials with LDN, they have excluded the anti TNF agents. However, it is more to see if the LDN works, I guess in the trials. The exact mechanism of LDN in Crohn's disease is not known, but it seems to block TNF. If that is the case, they would be synergistic. A lot of information makes LDN seem like an immune stimulator and anti TNF to be immunosuppressive, so that is how it seems like they would not work well together. I guess they are okay together, but with LDN being so experimental, it is still a little scary for me

.

effdee · Jul 5, 2012

I was on Cimzia and LDN simultaneously and didn't have any interaction issues. Reinforcing some of what you seem to have discovered, I've heard that LDN's mechanism is actually the opposite of how it's on the LDN website - that it's actually an immunosuppressant. I wish I could remember where I read that, but hopefully that will give you something to work with.

nogutsnoglory · Jul 15, 2013

I was concerned about the possible conflict between these two drugs but LDN is an immune regulator not a booster so I don't think it should have any interaction with Cimzia.

Kev · Jul 15, 2013

If it will soothe your fears any.. I've been taking 4.5mg of LDN since November, 2007. And I'm doing marvelous.. (oooh, temptation to insert a joke here, or reference a Billy Crystal impersonation.. but I'll behave). Seriously... LDN is safe (safer than any other alternative drug you could possibly find) AND I believe (I could be wrong about this) but I think it has the best success numbers of any drug. That's a pretty nice combination.

Now, if you have a doctor who is onside with prescribing LDN.. in combination with Cimzia or solo.. Congratulations. Finding a doctor to prescribe it is the biggest obstacle.

Now, if you go the combo route.. and it works.. and you get to a stage where you think you might want to trial going forward on just one of the combo... check the stats for both.. pros N cons... and I 'think' you'll discover there is simply one obvious choice, OK?

Jmrogers4 · Jul 16, 2013

rxgirl, I hope you will keep us updated on how you are doing on the combo. There are so many that ask if you can be on biologic and LDN at the same time and it would be great to have them read about a personal experience.
I hope they work great for you. My son's GI also suggested LDN for him but he said he didn't know how it worked to help Crohn's just that there had been research showing that it did.

rxgirl · Jul 27, 2013

I have been away from the forum for awhile now, but I wanted to give everyone an update. I am still taking LDN and Cimzia. It has taken almost a year of this combined therapy, but I am finally feeling mostly normal again. I had joint pain and swelling that took the longest to get under control. My GI symptoms were much quicker to resolve.

I actually am thinking about having a baby now, which is something I had almost completely ruled before. Now the dilemma of what meds to continue!

Jmrogers4 · Jul 27, 2013

That's great news! It was nearly a year for my son as well to see complete relief

Cimzia and Low Dose Naltrexone

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