LDN and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

[Guest guest]

I subscribe to Medscape.com and found this section on LDN and IBS..

for reading interest.

Friday

Effect of Low-Dose Naltrexone for IBS

Naltrexone* is an opioid antagonist that blocks excitatory but not

inhibitory opioid receptors. It has been speculated that an

alteration in the opioid system may play a pathophysiologic role

underlying the abdominal pain and other symptoms in IBS.

The efficacy of PTI-901 (low-dose naltrexone at 0.5 mg orally daily

for 4 weeks) was evaluated for the treatment of IBS in 37 patients

positive by Rome II criteria (23 women and 14 men; mean age 48.5

years) in an open-label study.[25] An improvement in global

assessment score occurred in 76% of patients. The average weekly pain-

free days increased from 0.4 to 1.24 (P = .05). No drug-related

adverse events were reported. These results are very preliminary, but

suggest that naltrexone may have a beneficial effect on IBS. Large,

randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are needed.

[Guest guest]

Elliot,

I have not seen your info before. What amazes me about the study is the tiny dosage used. This could be called micro-dose naltrexone.

Its too bad they didn't make an effort to determine an optimum dose.

Victor

On Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:08:34 -0000, Elliot wrote:

>LDNers,

>

>I just noticed an abstract of a study on LDN published in December

>of

>2006. Global improvement was noted in 76% of 42 patients with IBS

>and

>a significant improvement in pain-free days.

>

>Was this posted previously?

>

>Elliot

>

>Preclinical studies have shown that a very low dose of naltreoxone

>hydrochloride (NTX), an opiate antagonist, can block excitatory

>opioid receptors without affecting inhibitory opioid receptors,

>resulting in analgesic potency without side effects. The present

>study assessed the efficacy and safety of PTI-901 (low-dose NTX)

>treatment in Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients. Forty-two IBS

>patients participated in an open-label study. Participants received

>0.5 mg PTI-901/day for 4 weeks and were evaluated during baseline,

>during treatment, and at 4-week follow-up. Patients recorded degree

>of abdominal pain, stool urgency, consistency, and frequency.

>Primary

>outcomes were number of pain-free days and overall symptom relief,

>evaluated by a global assessment score. Data were analyzed per

>protocol. Global assessment improved in 76% of 42 patients. During

>treatment, the mean weekly number of pain-free days increased from

>0.5±1 to 1.25±2.14 (P=0.011). There were no significant adverse

>reactions. PTI-901 improves pain and overall feeling, and is well

>tolerated by IBS patients. A large, randomized, double-blind,

>placebo-

>controlled study is justified.

>

>Kariv R, Tiomny E, Grenshpon R, et al. Low-Dose Naltreoxone for the

>Treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Pilot Study. Journal

>Digestive Diseases and Sciences Issue 2006;51:2128-33

>