The drug works by boosting the immune system. Specifically, LDN increases the body's production of endorphins and enkephalin. These opiods apparently have some regulating effect on the immune system (although the exact effect appears to be unknown). From what I've gathered, there are other immune therapies, such as acupuncture, that may have a similar effect. Acupuncture, for instance, likely triggers the release of endorphins as well.
The recent study conducted at Pennsylvania State University to use LDN for Crohn's therapy used 4.5mg at night before bedtime and had great results. The positive results prompted additional NIH funding to proceed with clinical trials.
Another source of info (in addition to Wikipedia) is this website: http://lowdosenaltrexone.org/. It includes information on how and where to get low-dose naltrexone. Naltrexone is already widely available, but you need to get it altered to put it in low-dose form. There are a limited number of pharmacies that do this.
Another thought that this treatment prompts is that this treatment works in direct opposition to most traditional therapies. While most prescription drugs are meant to stop the immune system (i.e. immunosuppressants like Entocort or Prednisone), this treatment is meant to boost the immune system. Which way is right?
In order for anybody to be able to handle any autoimmune disease ie Crohns you need a healthy functioning immune system. The only way I believe is right is by boosting the endorphins in your body which in turn modulates the immune system. You do not want to suppress this!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I can explain - LDN works by boosting endorphin levels and opioid growth factor. This is the key to why it works in the body. The animal body works using endorphins, which boost immune system and repair cells and act as a pain killer. This is why they get produced in active muscles, in order to be prepared for any injury or insult.
In the night and early morning, the body produces larger numbers of endorphins for the maintenance of the immune system and the repair cells, and also in the control of tumour development. This is why young healthy individuals are unlikely to develop cancers.
This process is essential since the world is full of bugs and viruses trying to eat us one way or another, and that is why we have these immune and repair systems. Without them, we wouldn’t last a day. So, if endorphin production get’s damaged by the stresses of life, as it does, then autoimmune diseases and cancer and much else besides can get a hold. This also explains why these type of expensive diseases are common in the west. We stress our immune and endorphin systems with pollution, overwork, being indoors all the time, and all that on top of the natural climatic issues of dark winters causing lack of vitamin D and the genetic and physical factors that make us vulnerable to specific conditions etc.
LDN fixes the endorphin part of this system, which drives the rest. You still need a good diet to feed the process, and it won’t fix stuff that is smashed. But it can stop these diseases and many times even create reversals and improvements of varying degrees.
This seems to be a reasonable explanation of how this drug is working, and we can see that sometimes it will need help from more conventional therapies, but it should be a front line treatment, as it is also now becoming apparent drugs given to suppress the immune system is causing cancer later on in life. Please do consider 'first do no harm'.
For news articles and more information on Low Dose Naltrexone for Crohn's, please see http://ldnforcrohns.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteand http://ldnnow.com
Thanks.
This site features a discussion of Low Dose Naltrexone in the treatment of Crohn's disease:
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/ldn-for-crohns
It includes links to research and testimonials.
Jayne what a marvelous explanation of how LDN works. Please sign the petition to downing street by visiting www.ldnnow.com.
ReplyDeleteAnytime you can avoid Predinsone in favor of a treatment that is building rather than suppressive take the other one! LDN is working for so many and is improving the immune system. It has low toxicity and is not known to cause the degree of problems that Prednisone and other immune suppressive drugs result in.
ReplyDeletehttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/LDN_Information
I've been using Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) 4.5 mg since 06/01/09 for Fibromyalgia and IBS, among other autoimmune issues. I've had nothing but wonderful results. My chronic diarrhea stopped almost immediately and I'm now having consistently normal BMs for the first time in over 2 years, plus my appetite has returned and nausea has gone away. My Fibromyalgia pain level has dropped way down and even my seasonal allergies have cleared up. I would recommend it to anyone suffering from an intestinal illness. LDN has worked beautifully for me. I'm sooooo glad I found out about it! <:o)
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ReplyDelete