Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Minor sleep disturbance is a common side-effect upon first starting LDN and should subside over time. Art -- > > Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been > increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did > not sleep at all last night. > Any ideas or tips? > Lorna > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Hi Lorna, I also had MAJOR trouble sleeping, during about the first 2 mos. of my taking LDN. I would be so tired that I could hardly function and then I'd take the LDN and BAM! I was wide awake! I took Tylenol PM or Benadryl along with the LDN (or even a little before) and that did the trick. After those first couple of months, however, the sleep problems subsided and now I don't need anything to help me sleep. So hang in there and do what you need to do to help you sleep for now, knowing that the problems won't last forever. Hope this helps, > > Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been > increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did > not sleep at all last night. > Any ideas or tips? > Lorna > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Introductory Side-effects: There may be some initial transient, though temporary, increase in MS symptoms during the adaptive period when the LDN is first introduced. This usually lasts no more than one week but if symptoms are severe, or more prolonged, then the initial dose of 1.5 for a month, 3 for a month, then 4.5 until the anticipated improvements begin to develop. Introductory symptoms, on starting this treatment, may include such as disturbed sleep, occasionally with vivid, bizarre and disturbing dreams, tiredness, fatigue, spasm and pain. Symptoms related to increased endorphins: These may include such as nausea or constipation. These symptoms diminish naturally as the body adjusts to the increased endorphin level. Symptoms related to previous Opiate use: On starting LDN the recent use of opiate analgesics will result in an opiate withdrawal syndrome, with increased pain, spasm, vomiting and diarrhea. These symptoms may be prevented by stopping all opiate analgesics at least two weeks before starting the LDN. Introductory LDN Symptoms For those of you in the first 3 months of LDN therapy Dr. Bob Lawrence from the UK who has MS & uses LDN himself explains why the temporary increase in MS symptoms.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.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. This temporary increase in symptoms may also perhaps be explained when we consider the manner in which this drug is expected to work.Initially, MS occurs due to a reduction in the activity of the controlling influence of the suppressor T-cells within the immune system. During an acute relapse, the overall number of T-cells is reduced, the normal balance of helper T-cells and suppressor T-cells is disrupted and the damaging helper (CD-4) T-cells tend to predominate. This is the situation most pronounced during an acute relapse but occurs similarly, but to a lesser extent, in chronic progressive MS. Under the influence of LDN there will be an expected increase in the overall numbers of T-cells but, because the CD-4, helper T-cells tend to predominate at this time, an increase in their numbers will expectedly tend to increase MS symptoms. It is only when the numbers of suppressor T-cells effectively "catch up" that the normal balance is restored and symptoms once again diminish and improve. 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 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 that any opiate-like drugs be discontinued at least two weeks before this treatment is initiated. When starting the treatment it is essential that any untoward or adverse side-effects are reported immediately so that the treatment process can be further assessed and, if necessary, modified. Dr. M R Lawrence Hugs & Blessings, Crystal LDN_Users Group Owner Diagnosed November 2004 with Secondary Progressive MS, Transverse Myelitis and an Advocate for LDN!! 2 years & 4 months on LDN with Skip's Pharmacy..... Crystal's MS,TM & LDN Website Crystal's LDN Gift Shop Crystal's LDN Support Group Skip's Compounding Pharmacy [low dose naltrexone] ldn for ms & sleep Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did not sleep at all last night.Any ideas or tips?Lorna Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Thanks for your help. Now I will expect bad sleep & hope it is only for 2months. I will take benedryl & I think I may take a gulp of something stronger. I really want whatever benefit I can get Lorna > > > > Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have > been > > increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel > like I did > > not sleep at all last night. > > Any ideas or tips? > > Lorna > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2008 Report Share Posted January 20, 2008 Hi Lorna, I think it can be confusing for some people to call it “minor” sleep disturbance. I know in my case it was not minor at all and actually scared the crap out of me after about a week on LDN when I got so exhausted I felt “altered” during the day. I stopped taking it for a day or two – thinking I would probably not be able to take LDN - and then resumed after talking to a pharmacist who reassured me that even major sleep disturbance was common and would go away. In my case I actually thought I was getting sleep at night, but was still completely exhausted during the day. It was explained to me that the quality of deep sleep is disturbed so that even if you think you’re sleeping ok, you’re not and may be exhausted. I cut back from 3 to 1.5mg for a few weeks, then went back up to 3mg. I took 5HTP to help me get over the hump, but the side effects from that (chronic diarrhea in my case) ended up getting me to stop. It did help me sleep, though. I know someone has a list of sleep aids you can use. FYI, I’m in my 7th week with LDN, now at 3mg, and not having much problem sleeping at all anymore without needing any sleep aids. I intend to move up to 4.5 soon. Take naps when you need them and persevere through this problem if you can. It will go away, and if your experience is anything like mine or that of all the people I read about on this list, will be worth it. Judy From: Art Hansen <rtee54@...> Reply-<low dose naltrexone > Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:26:53 -0000 <low dose naltrexone > Subject: [low dose naltrexone] Re: ldn for ms & sleep Minor sleep disturbance is a common side-effect upon first starting LDN and should subside over time. Art -- > > Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been > increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did > not sleep at all last night. > Any ideas or tips? > Lorna > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 Does anyone know a doctor who works with LDN in the andria, Va. (DC) area? My sisterinlaw would like to get info about it. thanks! [low dose naltrexone] ldn for ms & sleep Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did not sleep at all last night.Any ideas or tips?Lorna Never miss a thing. Make your homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 On the contrary, I had the tendancy to sleep more during the first month of use, while fatigue was not and has never been a problem for me. I make a comparison to homeopathy. When you first take your medical, your organism needs more sleep to regain forces in order to fight your problems. Now (second month), my sleep has come back to normal.Each organism reacts differently. Just give it some time. Katerina [low dose naltrexone] Re: ldn for ms & sleep Minor sleep disturbance is a common side-effect upon first starting LDN and should subside over time. Art-->> Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been > increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did > not sleep at all last night.> Any ideas or tips?> Lorna> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 T 7 going on 8 months I find that I have the tendency to wake up at between 2-4 with ldn. What I also discovered is that if I take the pill later and go to bed later this doesn't occur and that I have much better sleep. It is typical to go to bed earlier in the winter with it getting dark earlier so I force myself to stay up a litt;e later and no problems. Unfortuneately I am still a lot stiffer on ldn even though I feel better and I believe it has stopped any progression. Of couse that is what is important but it is a pain in the ass not to be able to walk better. B low dose naltrexone From: triadaf@...Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 08:41:55 +0200Subject: Re: [low dose naltrexone] Re: ldn for ms & sleep On the contrary, I had the tendancy to sleep more during the first month of use, while fatigue was not and has never been a problem for me. I make a comparison to homeopathy. When you first take your medical, your organism needs more sleep to regain forces in order to fight your problems. Now (second month), my sleep has come back to normal.Each organism reacts differently. Just give it some time. Katerina [low dose naltrexone] Re: ldn for ms & sleep Minor sleep disturbance is a common side-effect upon first starting LDN and should subside over time. Art-->> Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been > increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did > not sleep at all last night.> Any ideas or tips?> Lorna> Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. Get it now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2008 Report Share Posted January 21, 2008 For me, the first week or 2 was an odd sleep at 4.5mg... At times I'd wake & feel a rush & very slight nausea... & at times was even ecstasy like.. Not really sure how to explain it.. But was sleeping normal after 2 to 3 weeks... > > Wondering if anyone else has had big problems with sleep & ldn. Have been > increasing dose very slowly (1mg.) at a time & am now at2mg. Feel like I did > not sleep at all last night. > Any ideas or tips? > Lorna > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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