Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple sclerosis

[Guest guest]

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple sclerosis

http://tinyurl.com/48jx3

The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple

sclerosis has been widely publicised on the internet and is now

attracting the attention of other media.

This article was written by Dr. Alasdair Coles after a meeting in

Cambridge on the 27th May 2004 with Dr. M.R. (Bob) Lawrence, a

retired

GP who is the leading advocate of LDN use in the UK for people with

MS.

There has been no clinical trial of LDN in MS. So what do we know

about it?

Background

Naltrexone is licensed in the UK to help treat people who are

addicted

to opiates, such as heroin. It does this by blocking their actions in

the brain and making the drugs less pleasurable. It is only

prescribed

in specialised clinics and is given in doses of 50 to 150mg a day for

three days a week. There have been several hundred trials of

naltrexone in various other forms of addiction including alcohol,

cocaine and gambling. Advocates of its use in MS suggest it should be

given at a much lower dose of 3 to 4.5 mg daily, hence the term

low-dose naltrexone.

Why should naltrexone work in MS?

In laboratory experiments, naltrexone increases the proliferation of

immune cells. In people with AIDS, naltrexone may help standard

antiretroviral drugs boost the function of the immune system.

Advocates say that this would be a good thing in multiple sclerosis.

However, many neurologists disagree. The standard approach to the

treatment of MS is to suppress the immune system because the disease

is believed to be due to excessive and inappropriate immune activity.

Current use of LDN in MS

Some people with MS in the UK may have been prescribed LDN by their

own GPs. Between 300 and 400 people with MS have bought the drug from

Dr M.R. Lawrence, a retired GP in Wales. But no-one is collecting

information on its possible benefits and side-effects. A neurologist

in Dublin has used LDN in a few people with MS and found it

ineffective. However, the drug's advocates say that the wrong

formulation of LDN was used.

Dr Lawrence does not see the patients to whom he prescribes and sells

the drug. He does not record any of their medical details or seek

confirmation that people asking for LDN have MS. Nor does he consult

with their GP or neurologist. This falls short of the normal

standards

for prescribing a drug in this country, where most people would

expect

to see the prescribing doctor and trust there was liaison between the

various doctors involved in their care. Attempts to rectify these

shortcomings are currently taking place.

Naltrexone and beta interferon

Advocates of LDN suggest that it does not work when taken in

conjunction with beta interferon. There is no scientific basis for

this. It is very unwise to give up an approved licensed treatment,

which is of proven value in MS and has been used by tens of thousands

of people with the disease, in favour of a drug, which has been used

by a few hundred people and for which there is no evidence of benefit.

Should there be a trial of LDN in MS?

There are some striking stories about the beneficial effects of LDN

for a few people with multiple sclerosis. Unfortunately, experience

has repeatedly shown anecdotal evidence to be an unreliable way of

gauging the true effect of a new drug in MS. The best test for LDN

would be a clinical trial. However, we understand the drug's

manufacturers are not prepared to undertake one, and few neurologists

would wish to conduct a trial of a drug, which boosts the immune

system, when immue cells are already overactive. An alternative would

be for the advocates of LDN to set up a study and resource it. There

are many bodies in the UK to which people can apply for funds for

clinical trials, including the MS Society. The Society would be happy

to advise on drafting a grant application.

Summary

* There is growing interest among people with multiple sclerosis

in the use of LDN.

* The current arrangements for receiving LDN in the UK fall short

of most people's expectations of a doctor prescribing a drug.

* No-one is gathering information on the effects of LDN in

multiple sclerosis among those currently taking it.

* The logic of using LDN in multiple sclerosis – that it

boosts

immune function – goes against the conventional view that the

immune

system is inappropriately active and needs to be suppressed.

* It is unwise to stop taking licensed medications, such as beta

interferon, in order to take LDN.

* The advocates of the use of LDN in MS should be encouraged to

set up a clinical trial of its use, applying for funds in the same

way

as all people seeking to do medical research.

Last updated

11 June 2004

Dr Alasdair Coles

Dr. Coles is a Lecturer in Neuroimmunology and Consultant Neurologist

at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge and Hinchingbrooke Hospital,

Cambridgeshire. Dr. Coles is an advisor to the MS Society on matters

relating to academic and clinical research on MS

[Guest guest]

LDN is working for many of us. It is helping me, and that is the only

proof I need.

[Guest guest]

---I agree 100%! I've been SPMS for 10 years and LDN is the only

thing that has helped me, why? I really don't care how or why! It

just does!

Steve

In low dose naltrexone , KELLY E COBURN

<bonsai4jesus@j...> wrote:

> LDN is working for many of us. It is helping me, and that is the

only

> proof I need.

[Guest guest]

Do you ever feel like you're spitting into the wind?

JT

----- Original Message -----

From: bills944

low dose naltrexone

Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 12:59 AM

Subject: [low dose naltrexone] Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple sclerosis

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple sclerosishttp://tinyurl.com/48jx3The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple sclerosis has been widely publicised on the internet and is now attracting the attention of other media. Unfortunately, experience has repeatedly shown anecdotal evidence to be an unreliable way of gauging the true effect of a new drug in MS. The best test for LDN would be a clinical trial. However, we understand the drug's manufacturers are not prepared to undertake one, and few neurologists would wish to conduct a trial of a drug, which boosts the immune system, when immue cells are already overactive. An alternative would be for the advocates of LDN to set up a study and resource it. There are many bodies in the UK to which people can apply for funds for clinical trials, including the MS Society. The Society would be happy to advise on drafting a grant application.

[Guest guest]

Every article about MS seems to have the following in it,However,

many neurologists disagree. The standard approach to the

treatment of MS is to suppress the immune system because the disease

is believed to be due to excessive and inappropriate immune activity.

Note the words " is believed " .

They say there is no proof that LDN works, So then having words

like " is believed " in there articles to me would fall into that they

are not sure themselves. So what's the problem with trying LDN and

just see what happens. The drug is suppose to be so cheap. You really

wouldn't need a formal trial sponsored by a big name drug company.

Just prescribe the thing and track it. Of course if LDN works which

it looks like it dose, the CRAB four would most likly loose the butts

on it.

Food for Thought.

ADJ

[Guest guest]

Re UK Ms Society

We live in the UK and whilst researching LDN for my wife I wrote 2 emails to

the UK MS society and they did not reply to either.

Have they publised what they belive - who knows.

Have they publised what they have to help MS poeple - if they had an

interest in helping I think they would have replied to at least one of my

emails.

My wife has been on LDN fo about 6 month with very good results.