my experience with LDN
When I first got really sick, I tried to treat my illness the conventional way. My doctors gave me everything from Lyrica to Cymbalta to try and minimize my pain, but not only did these medications not work, they gave me unpleasant side effects. Eventually, one of my doctors recommended I take Low Dose Naltrexone, a drug used in high doses for people addicted to drugs, but in low doses for inflammatory/immune disorders.
As Dr. Amy Meyers describes it, "These lower doses of Naltrexone actually increase the level of endorphins in your body by only partially blocking your opioid receptors briefly when your endorphin levels are typically highest (around 3AM to 4AM). This signals to your brain that your levels are low, so it ramps up the production of endorphins, increasing your overall levels."
I started on a super low dose and it didn't make a difference (at first I did experience vivid dreams but overtime that diminished) so I slowly increased it to 4.5mg, the highest of the LDN. After a few months I noticed a difference and was pleasantly surprised that my inflammation and pain reduced as did my anxiety.
This went on for several months, until something in my body shifted again and it stopped working. I still take it because anything that helps with inflammation or immunity even the slightest bit, I'm in! I'm no doctor, but what I feel is that if your body is being supported by other treatments and supplements that are working, the LDN can be a great addition to a protocol. But, if your body is in severe distress, as mine is currently, then it just is not going to work as well. And, even if you are feeling good, you can still flare with the LDN.
Many conventional doctors not in pain management, neurology or rheumatology do not know about LDN. In-fact most doctors give me a sort of concerned look when I list my medications and "naltrexone" is one of them, as though they are judging and thinking I'm some kind of drug addict who is imagining the Lyme diagnosis. The worst are the ER doctors and nurses, who after looking over my list of meds try to figure out, with a slew of questions, if I am a drug addict checking myself into the ER for my fix of pain meds. I've been through this so many times that now, before they can even finish the questions, I assure them I take naltrexone for pain and not because I have a drug addiction. For this reason, I ALWAYS call it Low Dose Naltrexone and not just Naltrexone!
If you are thinking about taking this, obviously speak to your doctor. Questions/concerns to bring up are:
What is my option if I need to take a pain killer? (Remember that LDN blocks the receptors for those drugs, so the pain killer won't work if LDN is in your system.)
When should I increase/decrease my dosage?
Does it interact with any of my other medications or supplements?
What is the best time to take my dose? (My doctor told me 9PM is the best time to take this. The idea is that taking it at this time allows for the medication to reach peak effectiveness at 4am, right when your endorphin levels should be highest. This being said, speak with a medical professional before taking LDN and for guidelines of how to take it. )
