Low dose naltexone

[David in Seattle]

Anyone have any personal experience with this? One of the issues seems to be that Naltrexone is only available in 50mg capsules/tablets, the dose for Crohn's etc., is more like 4.5mg, and only a few pharmacies will compound the smaller doses. But it's a hydrochloride salt, and soluble in water, so what's the issue? Dissolve a 50 mg tablet (or powder from a capsule) in a quantity of water (I would think 200ml would be more than enough) then drink 1/10th of it (20ml, in the 200 ml example) each day. What could be easier? Naltrexone is a relatively innocuous drug. I'd love to try this. I wonder if any of the clandestine online pharmacies that sell tons of Viagra etc., have it available. Or perhaps a trip to Mexico...

Anyway, has anyone here used LDN?

David

 

[D Bergy]

There are a few here that use it. I use it myself along with some other self treatments. I have done real well on it.

You can dissolve it in water but you do have to refrigerate it and it only lasts so long.

There are several compounding pharmacies that you can order it from. I encourage anyone using it to use one of the approved pharmacies, as it can be screwed up.

I use "The Compounder" in Aurora Illinois. They mail it to me. Skip's Pharmacy is another popular one. The list is on the Low Dose Naltrexone Site at:http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/

The Compounders site is: http://www.thecompounder.com/

Skip's pharmacy
21000 Boca Rio Rd Ste A29
Boca Raton, FL 33433
561-218-0111

If you do a search using LDN and Low Dose Naltrexone as key words, you will find a few threads on it. Getting prescription can be a challenge, but anyone with a little determination can get it done.

Dan

 

[Brad P]

Anyone have any experience with LDN and duodenum crohn's? and healing fistulas?

I had a scope today and not only do I have reflux issues, but it is stemming from bad crohn's in my duodenum and a fistula connecting a loop of bowel. Remicade has been suggested but won't know my game plan until tomorrow. Given my history with cancer, it is not the solution I prefer despite the risk is mainly lymphomas and not adenocarcinoma which is what I had, likely caused by 20+ years of chronic inflammation and scarring. But right now my quality of life sucks...been off work now 6 days straight and prior that was barely getting by.

I did read on ldn.org that 2 subjects with fistulas had theirs healed while on LDN. I am going to suggest this to my GI and see what she says.

 

[3132757]

I personally am not on LDN yet, but i took the liberty of doing the research and then finding a doctor who would issue it so that when I do reach the time I require medication (self management at the moment) I will jump on LDN.

Brad P, i would be suggesting LDN to your GI as well. Even though its not FDA approved (yet) the side effects are less than aspirin so try to encourage your GI that its worth a try. There is also a paper on the efficacy of LDN in treating Crohns, might be helpful in taking all the info to your GI.

Fou

 

[alexandros8]

I'm seriously looking into this now that I'm recovered from an ileocolectomy and not on any meds yet. I found this article and found it interesting. Looks like its gaining momentum in the field. I'm seeing a couple different GIs soon so I'll let you know if I find out anything further.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17222320

 

[Brad P]

My GI never heard of this but is looking into it. She also suggested to me about going to see specialists in Toronto given I have active Crohn's in the duodenum, a fistula there too, and a past history of cancer. I hope to hear prior the end of the week some details on this potential trip.

 

[D Bergy]

Since LDN is also used as a Cancer treatment, I think you have a far better case for its use than anyone else. Crohn's is one thing, but Cancer is something to prevent at all costs.

Dan

 

[alexandros8]

Full article I referred to above. Penn State credibility.
http://files.me.com/alexandros8/nmbdsr

 

[Kev]

I started using LDN in 2007. My GI prescribed it, and even arranged for a local pharmacy to compound it. (the scarcity of compounding pharmacies is apparently partly due to its rare use at this dosage, AND .. that they have to be equipped with a hood... some sort of special chamber that allows working with Naltrexone without inhaling it.. very few pharmacies are so equipped). Before the local one had been arranged, the closest compounding pharmacy I found was quite some distance away, in Toronto. I bring all this up because if you're intent on going LDN, one of the hurdles will be locating a reputable source. Its no good going this route if what you're taking isn't Naltrexone, or isn't the right dosage. Anyway, the next hurdle is finding a doctor to prescribe it. I went so far as to locate doctors who would prescribe over the phone (how risky is that?)... if my own doctor opted not to support me. It never came to that.

As for me, the results have been spectacular. It turned my life around, and I've done so well that my doctor now has placed another patient on this treatment.
(as far as we can discern, the 2nd in the entire province). The benefits of LDN in treating Crohns is on par or surpass any other medicinal treatment that I've seen, AND the risks of taking it... side effects, long term risks, etc., are just so far below the risks of taking any of the others... they are almost neglible. I do not encourage other crohns sufferers to jump willy nilly into taking LDN, but it has worked for me; there is a study published in the American Journal of Gastro enterology to support it as a treatment, and it certainly is worth investigating.

 

[Gregory]

Does anyone know of physicians in the Seattle area who will prescribe LDN? Thanks!

 

[D Bergy]

What I would do to find a doctor that prescribes LDN, is check with Skips Pharmacy in Boca Raton Florida, or some of the other approved pharmacies. See if they have any doctors that prescribe from the Seattle area. Doctors order it from all over the U.S.

They may be able to help. It is worth a call to see.

Skip's pharmacy
21000 Boca Rio Rd Ste A29
Boca Raton, FL 33433
561-218-0111

Dan

 

[D Bergy]

List of approved LDN compounding pharmacies.

http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/index.htm#How_can_I_obtain_LDN

 

[hopeful]

LDNscience.org has a directory of doctors that prescribe LDN - under Find a Doctor

 

[Gregory]

Ldn

Great ideas--I'll check these out. Thanks!

 

[mizgarnet]

LDN has made a tremendous difference for me. I have been taking it for 3 months. I buy 50mg tablets from India and disolve them in 50ml of distilled water. I was very hesitant to try it but I am so glad I did. I do not have a doctor that will prescribe it. I am doing it on my own.

Wendy

 

[CDDad]

Like Mizgarnet, I did the LDN from India route. I ordered it from a Canadian online pharmacy - and then it was delivered from India to me. I felt more comfortable when I learned that many drugs are made there. This was a few years ago. As you can see from the surgeries on my sig line, it did not work for me. (Who knows - maybe I mixed it up wrong). I read all I could online about how to mix it up, and bought a graduated cylinder to measure the exact amount of water, etc. Some chemist I was.

But I remember having the one side effect - weird vivid dreams. Hard to explain unless you try it. Then I moved on to the SC diet - but that's another story.