Low dose naltrexone for Chrohn's treatment

[ianbrenco]

Hi All,
My best friend is really struggling with Chrohn's & in the last year has had setbacks that I hate to watch & I believe he hates to be dealing with. None the less, he is keeping a fantastically positive outlook on life & still doing his best to enjoy it to the fullest. The definition of "fullest" may have changed but it appears that the change is not stopping him from making the best of a bad situation. It is very inspiring to see. I am struggling with my own issues, not related to Chrohn's, & he is a role model. I only wish I could stay as positive as he is.

A treatment that I have been using over the last year is now being highlighted in one study in moderate to severe Chrohn's patients. The study can be found by googling "low dose naltrexone chrohn's disease pain topics" & it is the 2nd hit on this search. The site is Pain-Topics dot org. Since this is my first post, I can't put the url in the post. Hopefully there's enough info here that the report can be found.

It may be worth reading this report for anyone considering low dose Naltrexone treatment. Others may be interested in checking it out for a possible new or additional treatment.

In my case, I am struggling with a completely different auto-immune issue. One of the symptoms for me is a chronically low white blood count & subsequent weakened immune system. Since starting LDN, 4.5mg, about 1 year ago, my WBC baseline has improved roughly 33%. A Previous study of LDN for Chrohn's treatment have shown positive results. The above study worked with a larger sample size than the previous study & still showed positive results. There is a reference in this report to a possible bias. In the future we should look for some peer reviews & separate, comparative studies.

In addition to my best friend's struggles, my godmother & another friend from childhood all struggle with Chrohn's. The husband of one of my cousin's passed away last year due to complications from Chrohn's. This is a horrible disease that can hit a person & family really hard. LDN may not be a silver bullet, but it may be worth a try for some.

Best of luck to everyone.

-

 

[ameslouise]

Hi Ian and welcome!

We have a whole section here on the forum about LDN. There are many here that have tried it and it has been successful for some. Depending on where you are, it can be difficult to obtain a script for LDN. Many docs don't know much about it, and those that do, some are hesitant to prescribe it because there haven't been many longterm studies.

Just like any other meds - it comes with risks and benefits that we all need to weigh. It will work for some and not for others, just like any other med. But I agree that it should be considered alongside the other more traditional treatments.

- Amy

 

[xJillx]

Hi Ian! That is terrific news that LDN has helped your WBC. I don't know too much about LDN, as Amy has said, it is not seen as a conventional treatment option. However, you've piqued my interest, and I may do a little homework on the subject. Thanks again for sharing!

 

[Terriernut]

I am trying to convince (now absent on paternity leave...grrrrrrrrrr) GI to try me on LDN. I'll be a guinea pig for him. But no, not yet.

As I am the most stubborn creature on earth, I wont give up. The Penn State trials have been good. What we DONT know is long term results from the tests. So, until more research is done, it will be an uphill battle to secure the prescription. Although, LDN is inexpensive. Therefore, dont expect alot of research. Not enough profit for the drug makers.

LDN is an immuno moderator, not a suppressant. Things can get worse before they get better for some folks. There is a yahoo group for LDN for crohns and UC and other bowel diseases.

Welcome to the forum, and heres hoping your friend continues to prove an inspiration for you!
Misty