Hashi and MS people, have you seen this drug?

[TamraW]

I was at Mary J. Shomon's blog and read about LDL, so I found this LDL link. It says that low doses have cured auto-immune diseases. People with Hashi have had to be careful while taking thyroid meds because LDL destroys the antibodies and we could swing to hyper.

Destroys the antibodies?

Could such a wonder drug be real???  Has anyone with an autoimmune disease tried this drug or even heard about this drug? I am thinking of asking my endo for a prescription.

:) Tamra

http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/

[Smilerdeb]

I have seen the posting and write up about a year ago (Elaine Moores site) and its a medication used for drug addicts usually to stop the craving.
Personally I wouldnt touch it but thats just my opinion.

[Smilerdeb]

Read this ........there is a lot more on the website link.

http://www.webspawner.com/users/sideeffectsofldn/index.html


When starting this LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) therapy in the treatment of MS, there may also be some initial transient, though temporary, increase in MS symptoms.

Experience in using this method has demonstrated most commonly, such as disturbed sleep, occasionally with vivid, bizarre and disturbing dreams, tiredness, fatigue, spasm and pain. These increased symptoms would not normally be expected to last more than seven to ten days [but your experience may vary].

Rarely, other transient symptoms have included more severe pain and spasm, headache, diarrhea or vomiting. These additional symptoms would appear to be associated with the previous frequent use of strong analgesics, which effectively create an addiction and dependency, thus increasing the body's sensitivity to pain.[Similar symptoms can also occur in people unknowingly allergic/sensitive/intolerant to gluten and/or dairy and who take those foodstuffs concurrently with LDN.]

In addition, because LDN stimulates the immune system and many of the drugs routinely used by the NHS in the treatment of MS further suppress the immune system, LDN cannot be used in company with steroids, beta interferon, methotrexate, azathioprine or mitozantrone or any other immune suppressant drug. If there is any doubt, please submit [to your doctor] a full list of the drugs you are presently taking so that their compatibility may be assessed. In addition, because LDN will also block the analgesic effects of any opiate drugs (includes codeine, dihydrocodeine, morphine, pethidine or diamorphine) presently being taken, the use of LDN will initially greatly increase the level of pain experienced. It is therefore advisable [in cases of dependency] that any opiate-like drugs be discontinued at least two weeks before this treatment is initiated [to allow a "drying out" period].

When starting the treatment it is essential that any untoward or adverse side-effects are reported immediately [to your doctor] so that the treatment process can be further assessed and, if necessary, modified.

Italian researchers conducting a four month clinical trial of LDN in the treatment of MS made this statement about side effects:

    Transitory haematological abnormalities (increase of liver enzymes, hypercholesterolemia), mild agitation and sleep disturbance were the commonest adverse events.

Because LDN tends to initially worsen MS symptoms (especially spasticity), Dr. Skip Lenz, a pharmacist who takes LDN prophylactically, recommends a nightly dose of 1.5 mg the first month, 3 mg the next month, and 4.5 mg thereafter. For life-threatening conditions such as cancer, the recommended dose is 4.5 mg from the outset. To quote Dr. Lenz:

    The reason we suggest a stepwise titration [for MS patients especially] is to AVOID SIDE-EFFECTS. Three years ago, we found that EVERY PATIENT WHO STOPPED TAKING LDN BECAUSE OF SIDE-EFFECTS STARTED AT 3.0 MG OR HIGHER! There was only one patient who started at 1.5 mg who stopped because of side effects. Our efforts here should be to help the greater population. Now, there are some tough guys who can go straight to 4.5 mg and have no problems, but I betcha someone with a headache would feel differently or someone whose legs are screwed up in knots or someone who has had the bejeebers scared out of them with nightmares (me).

[dawnangela]

Mmm have a client who went on it with MS..Was pretty rough side effects..i myself wouldn't go down that path with Hashi..

[dustybrown]

I know someone who takes this for arthritis and she also has Lyme disease that has left her for now. She says that other than some morning insomnia and vivid dreams, this medication is very effective for her arthritis.

[TamraW]

I was so hoping this would be my Hashi miracle drug!

Bummer.

I am going to print out everything positive and negative and take it to my endo. I read that I can't use  coedine while on LDL and I just took a Tylenol III pill yesterday for my awful neck swelling and chest pain.

Thanks so much for your feedback. So far, I've only seen good stuff on this drug. I hadn't read about side-effects, dreams, etc...

:) Tamra

[TamraW]

Now I'm REALLY bummed. I just reread the drugs you can't take. I thought about giving up Tylenol III, but I can't give up my steroids. I NEED my Advair two times daily for bad asthma. Breathing is kind of important. :)

:) Tamra

[dawnangela]

Haha oh well yes im with you, would prefer to breath lol:)

[Smilerdeb]

Umm yeah.,.....I'd rather breath too lol.
Tamra.....as you learn more about Hashi's and symptoms, you become more educated and one of the things I found myself doing when first diagnosed with Graves was.....searching for that wonderful miracle cure.
The secret is within you.
Research, read, read, read, take notes and eventually you wont even have to see the Doc to see whats going on with yr levels.
You will know long before he/she does and long before labs...just what is going on with you.
It does happen.....just be careful of advertised stuff on the net.
Most info is invaluable......but a lot is false.
But you are right in weighing up the 'pro's and cons'.
Great stuff !