Anyone now anything about the benefits/risks of taking low dose naltrexone (ldn) to treat multiple sclerosis?

Question

Thanks bella, but the cannabis won't work for me since it is my daughter that has been diagnosed (she may like the idea though, but she is only 15)

Answer 1

I don't know about that, but I am in school to be a nurse, and I had to learn about the terrible affects on the body that MS creates, it truely is sad, but I found out..

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn63...

you can look it up also, check out some medicinal journals.

*EDIT- Well, good luck in finding something to treat it, I just wanted to comment, that in a few years when she is old enough, if she wants to try it, I would suggest measuring out a small amount and baking with it (you can look up how to make canna-butter), then she would avoid the tar associated with smoking it, and would be able to strictly control how much she would be consuming (so she would be able to live normally without being 'stoned oblivious'), which is hard to tell when smoking also.

Answer 2

The risks woud be minimal, because the dose is extremely low, but there's currently no solid proof of benefit. I searched PubMed (lots of medical journals) ... and couldn't find any clinical research supporting it, or even mention of a clinical trial.

Right now, it's all "anecdotal" and with the variable course that MS follows it would be hard to tell if the naltraxone was doing something or if there was a remission.

The only publication mentioning it was "Medical Hypotheses", which is where some really wierd stuff is proposed ... it'ssortof the X-Files of medical journals.

It's being studied in Crohn's disease (clinical trial in progress).

Answer 3

rec girl,

try visiting this forum.  this is where I obtain most of the info on LDN including testimonials and progress etc etc.  It was actually thru this very forum that I found a doctor that was able to prescribe me some just yesterday.  I can't wait to get on the stuff....good luck to you.

http://ldn.proboards3.com/index.cgi

Answer 4

Here's some info on several things, LDN is listed first.

Low dose naltrexone (LDN) just finished a Phase III clinical trial for use in MS last Nov. But articles were already coming out 2 mos. before that saying more clinical trials are still needed for use in MS.

There are several clinical trials at various stages studying antibiotic therapy and MS.

Reports published in 2006/2007 showed initial benefits with Sativex (cannabis). However, reports published in April from the latest trials showed Sativex was no more effective in treating MS pain than a placebo given to half the patients. It has been approved for use in Canada and is still development in Europe and the US.

I was at an MS symposium in March, as far as any oral meds for MS there are a few, but they are still a few years down the line. There are 3 in Phase II Trials (to evaluate the effectiveness of the drug for a particular disease and to determine common short-term side effects and risks). There are 3 in Phase III Trials (to evaluate the overall benefit-risk relationship of the drug and provide a basis for physician labeling).

I'm a nurse with MS. I spent a great deal of time talking with my doctor and reviewing the literature to decide which drug was best. Copaxone is a shot everyday but no flu-like symptoms. Because I have two very active children (2 and 4), along with still working part-time, I chose Copaxone so as not to have flu-symptoms. Copaxone is an expensive drug, but my insurance covers it, so I pay $15/mo. There are days I don't want to "shoot up", and in all honesty I skip a day about once a month, a small reprieve. But I know I will get through it, even if I don't get used to it.