LDN therapy

Hi, I have been using LDN for Sjogren's syndrom (syndrome) whom cam on about a year ago.  I was able to find LDN when I was suffering dry eye for 7 months and one month with dry mouth.  LDN gave me improvement on tear film and completely reversed my salivary gland function.  I had my life quality back.  A month ago, I had an urinary tract infection which I suspect leads to my probable IC now which I understand is another AI disease.  Has anyone been using LDN for IC?  Any success?

Another question is that I was taking antibiotics over a period of 2 years and I do believe I have a severe candida yeast overgrowth which I have been dealing with Diflucan for 2 weeks now.  LDN stopped working for me since I started the UTI and my dry mouth symptom gradually came back.  I am still on 4.5mg LDN whild doing yeast/diet but LDN seems to be less effective, at least my salivary gland production came back a little instead of completely like a month prior.  I am just wondering what is going on?  BTW, when I first started LDN, LDN gave me dry mouth relief, in just 8 days.  I am still a strong believe in LDN and just hope that it continues to work for me on SS and IC.

Any comment is appreciated.  Chris

[krndhn]

Hi,
I don't have qnaswers for you - only a question. I have Sjogrens too, but only take pred & plaquenil.  What is LDN?

Karen

[smylze]

Hi,

To answer your question, LDN stands for Low Dose Naltrexone. It was originally used full strength(ie, not in the low dose form) to treat heroin addiction when a doctor using it discovered it seemed to have an immune boosting affect including positive outcomes with autoimmune diseases. Most doctors aren't aware of it since its use is off-label and not profitable to pharmaceutical companies. It's very cheap (considering the cost of most medicines) and if you're willing to do the research to learn the in's and out's, it may be an option to consider.

Best of luck - Abby

[PlateletGal]

Interesting. My mother has Sjogren's and she's currently on Dr. David Jernigan's protocol, which is targeting the pathogens that are contributing, if not causing, her condition. She's having herxing symptoms, which means that the treatment is doing its job.

[valerie09]

Where do you get the LDN?  it really helps with the dry eyes from sjogrens? i have them and they are severe.

[kjelltp]

HI,

I've been taking LDN for a year now (-3 weeks break).  I do not have SS, but other AI.   Two of my problems, were dry mouth and eyes as well.   Initially I got relief from this via dietary changes (blood type diet), however still had other issues.  After I started LDN most of these went away, besides my main problem (retinopathy).  
I was taking 3mg for a long time, I got off to try steroid eye drops for 3 week (a mistake), and when I got back on 3mg it seemed like some of the symptoms came back (some fatigue, dizziness, etc..).  I upped to 4.5 mg and it seems to be doing its job again.   Since you're already at 4.5mg, im not sure what to tell you.  Perhaps try a break and restart (i know some people follow an on / off protocol with LDN and have better results with that).
When do you take it in the day?

LDN can give relief (and possibly heal) any immune dysfunction.  It is not an immune booster, but it is an endorphine receptor blocker, so it makes the body produce more endorphines than normal (people with AI generally don't feel good due to low endorphin levels).  So in essence it makes you "feel" good, thus the immune function improves, and very often helps the problem.  

The good thing about LDN is that is has very few side effects, and not toxic to the body.   Prednisone is an extremely bad drug for the body, and cripples your immune system, and in the long run will make you very sick.  LDN can give you symptom relief at a much less cost and risk.    If you pair LDn with a great diet, for you, it can go a long way.