Re: Eczema flare really bad after starting LDN

March 28, 2011

On Sun, 27 Mar 2011 16:17:07 -0400, mercyflyer377 <graceflyer@...>

wrote:

> Hi Folks,

>

> I'm so glad to have found this forum for LDN users who have fibromyalgia.

>

> Here's my story: I'm a 56 year old female diagnosed with spinal

> arthritis and degenerative disc disease, (L5S1 ruptured in 93) Fibro.

> CFS and IC over the past 10 years.

>

> Had complete hysterectomy in 2003 due to non-cancerous lumps in uterus

> and ovaries. Also had HPV with pre-cancerous cells before hysterectomy.

>

> I also have had eczema since I was a baby and had different salves and

> creams put on it. Probably steroids. As I grew older and the eczema

> flared, I would use the prescription cream the doctor gave me for it and

> it cleared up just fine. Little did I know that it was something I was

> not supposed to use on a daily basis and that my skin would become

> addicted to it.

>

> Two years ago my ex-husband passed away and long story short, I was a

> wreck and began drinking on weekends after 20 years of zero alcohol. I

> broke out into an itchy rash all over my stomach, legs and upper body,

> but not my face, thank God.

>

> My doctors were stumped and put me on " scabies " cream (another steroid

> ointment) and prednisone. I only took 20 mg of the prednisone and weaned

> off of it by small increments. It worked but the eczema flared real bad

> on the backs on my hands, arms and neck since October 2010.

>

> I have about gone crazy with itching and the horrible sight of this

> eczema. I will not touch steroids, knowing they caused my skin to be

> addicted.

>

> I had tried LDN in 2009 for my fibro with little results and I'm not

> sure it was mixed with the right filler, so I only took it for a week

> and quit.

>

> I recently found the LDN site and thought that it would help all of my

> problems going on, so I got my doctor to prescribe the 4.5 mg for me and

> made sure the compounding pharmacy mixed it with Avicel.

>

> I started a week ago on it and my eczema seemed to get worse. I called

> the pharmacist and he said to ride it out as it was probably the steroid

> withdrawal, still.

>

> Another pharmacist told me the LDN could be making the eczema worse, so

> I was torn and decided to not take it last night and see what I could

> gather before taking it again.

>

> Along with the LDN, I've been taking Atarax for the insane itching,

> which makes me extremely sleepy along with the LDN. I also have taken a

> half of my 1 mg klonopin to relax with this pain and itching in my arms

> and hands.

>

> I'm not sure the LDN is doing this and don't want to give up on it but I

> read about the " IRIS " effect from taking it, if you have CFS? It can

> make things worse because it ramps up the immune system which then goes

> into overdrive and causes this onslaught of old symptoms?

>

> I don't know what to do because the LDN was making me relaxed and kind

> of euphoric and well and knocking me out by 10 pm when I normally would

> be awake until 3 am.

>

> Any knowledgeable advice? I do plan on calling Skip's pharmacy tomorrow

> as they were closed when I called on Saturday. Thanks. ~~

>

It sounds to me like your body is trying to get rid of toxins, big time.

I had that happen about amonth after I started LDN. Not all over my body,

but mostly on my face, and itched like the blazes.

I tried upteen things, including a couple of prescriptions.

The only thing that helped me was liberally applying virgin coconut oil to

those areas (NOT the comestic stuff, the edible kind, so it's pure -- at

room temperature it's a soft solid, and is easy to apply). That started to

clear it up. And was the only thing that did. I put it on a bunch of times

a day.

Worth a try.

BTW, you're taking a couple of relatively heavy duty drugs. Have you

researched possible natural alternatives? I know that LDN doesn't

necessarily interact with them, but whenever you take such drugs it's

going to negatively effect your immune system in some way. And LDN is

trying to normalize your immune system.

n

March 29, 2011

Hi,

LDN can activate underlying viruses, allergies or food allergies/intolerances after one starts taking it. Also, you might want to be tested for celiac disease or gluten intolerance as it has been strongly linked to various skin disorders, including ezcema - and consider going on a gluten/casein free diet.

PubMed Abstracts :

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gluten-dependent enteropathy characterized by atrophy of the intestinal villi that improves after a gluten-free diet. CD is often associated with extraintestinal manifestations. In the past few years, growing evidence has documented the involvement of skin diseases among the extraintestinal manifestations of CD. This association could be related to the impairment of intestinal absorption and motility, other than to immunological and hormonal changes. The aim of this review is to report all CD-associated skin manifestations described in the literature and to analyze the possible mechanisms involved in this association. The opportunity to evaluate the possible presence of CD in patients affected by skin disorders is discussed.

Celiac disease: from gluten to skin. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20477697

Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2009 Nov;5(6):789-800.

PMID: 20477697 Nov 2009

Eczema

But the results of treatment with a gluten-free diet are sufficiently rewarding to

justify investigation of any patient in whom malabsorption is even suspected. Accordingly the possibility of an abnormality of the intestine should be kept in mind in all patients with

intractable eczema.

If an abnormality of either structure or function of the gut is discovered a therapeutic

trial with a gluten-free diet is indicated.

ECZEMA AND GASTRO-INTESTINAL MALABSORPTION.

PMID: 14260617 April 1965

Full Text: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2165669/pdf/brmedj02389-0019a.pdf

Psoriasis

We found a significantly higher level of AGA in patients with psoriasis than in controls, but levels of

http://sites.google.com/site/jccglutenfree/psoriasis%2Curticaria%2Candotherskinconditions

Dr. McCandess "Seldom is LDN a Stand-Alone Treatment"

As usual, I need to emphasize that seldom is LDN a stand-alone treatment, but accompanies other strategies their body needs, especially a healthy diet. No sugar, dairy or gluten.

If you are having adverse symptoms caused by LDN....

Would you be willing to stop all casein (milk products) and gluten (wheat, rye, barley and oats) for a week and see if you feel better? A study done several years ago showed that 30% of us have some degree of celiac disease(intolerance/allegy to wheat) even though the clinical symptoms may not be obvious enough to alert most people to that. When anyone in that 30% of persons stops eating wheat, they feel a lot better. The LDN may be acting like the opioid antagonist it is and causing a withdrawal reaction from taking away your fix, even if only for a few hours.

There is a phenomenon that happens to some people that as the immune system is shifting (usually from T2 to T1) right after starting LDN, the immune system drops and people get an infection, cold, flu, cold sore, etc. which is usually short lived. Candida tends to overgrow or a virus will flare up. These infections are usually short-lived unless something like candida and gut bacteria needs treatment.

As usual, I need to emphasize that seldom is LDN a stand-alone treatment, but accompanies other strategies their body needs, especially a healthy diet.

Are you a big bread/carbohydrate/sugar eater?

Ever been tested for candida (yeast) or gut bacterial infestation?

Good luck!

Nola LDN 2 years for Hep C gluten/dairy free diet

http://nolahepper.blogspot.com/

[low dose naltrexone] Eczema flare really bad after starting LDN

Hi Folks,

I'm so glad to have found this forum for LDN users who have fibromyalgia.

Here's my story: I'm a 56 year old female diagnosed with spinal arthritis and degenerative disc disease, (L5S1 ruptured in 93) Fibro. CFS and IC over the past 10 years.

Had complete hysterectomy in 2003 due to non-cancerous lumps in uterus and ovaries. Also had HPV with pre-cancerous cells before hysterectomy.

I also have had eczema since I was a baby and had different salves and creams put on it. Probably steroids. As I grew older and the eczema flared, I would use the prescription cream the doctor gave me for it and it cleared up just fine. Little did I know that it was something I was not supposed to use on a daily basis and that my skin would become addicted to it.

Two years ago my ex-husband passed away and long story short, I was a wreck and began drinking on weekends after 20 years of zero alcohol. I broke out into an itchy rash all over my stomach, legs and upper body, but not my face, thank God.

My doctors were stumped and put me on "scabies" cream (another steroid ointment) and prednisone. I only took 20 mg of the prednisone and weaned off of it by small increments. It worked but the eczema flared real bad on the backs on my hands, arms and neck since October 2010.

I have about gone crazy with itching and the horrible sight of this eczema. I will not touch steroids, knowing they caused my skin to be addicted.

I had tried LDN in 2009 for my fibro with little results and I'm not sure it was mixed with the right filler, so I only took it for a week and quit.

I recently found the LDN site and thought that it would help all of my problems going on, so I got my doctor to prescribe the 4.5 mg for me and made sure the compounding pharmacy mixed it with Avicel.

I started a week ago on it and my eczema seemed to get worse. I called the pharmacist and he said to ride it out as it was probably the steroid withdrawal, still.

Another pharmacist told me the LDN could be making the eczema worse, so I was torn and decided to not take it last night and see what I could gather before taking it again.

Along with the LDN, I've been taking Atarax for the insane itching, which makes me extremely sleepy along with the LDN. I also have taken a half of my 1 mg klonopin to relax with this pain and itching in my arms and hands.

I'm not sure the LDN is doing this and don't want to give up on it but I read about the "IRIS" effect from taking it, if you have CFS? It can make things worse because it ramps up the immune system which then goes into overdrive and causes this onslaught of old symptoms?

I don't know what to do because the LDN was making me relaxed and kind of euphoric and well and knocking me out by 10 pm when I normally would be awake until 3 am.

Any knowledgeable advice? I do plan on calling Skip's pharmacy tomorrow as they were closed when I called on Saturday. Thanks. ~~

March 30, 2011

That must be how it gets rid of them, it â€˜activatesâ€™ to try to heal.

ALL my food allergies were gone when I was re-tested 4 years after starting LDN, half my environmentals were gone too.

Still havenâ€™t had a â€˜coldâ€™ since 4/2003

http://www.larrygc.com/mystory

From: smalk50@...

Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 15:53 PM

graceflyer@... ; low dose naltrexone

Subject: Re: [low dose naltrexone] Eczema flare really bad after starting LDN

Hi,

LDN can activate underlying viruses, allergies or food allergies/intolerances after one starts taking it.

March 30, 2011

I am sure it is stirring up the whole bottom of the pool toxins and my eczema is

one big one! I've had it since I was a baby and the steroids made my skin

addicted so bad. My hands look like raw meat right now.

I did the Maker's Diet back in 2005 after some bad bowel infections and they

found polyps but never said if I had celiac or IBS. I just figured I had one of

them and eat very little carbs now.

Skip's pharmacy suggested that I cut back from 4.5 to half of that or lower

since I just started out a week ago. So, I am doing that and hopeful for some

relief! Thanks everyone.

>

> That must be how it gets rid of them, it â€˜activatesâ€™ to try to heal.

>

> ALL my food allergies were gone when I was re-tested 4 years after starting

LDN, half my environmentals were gone too.

>

> Still havenâ€™t had a â€˜coldâ€™ since 4/2003

>

> http://www.larrygc.com/mystory

>

> From: smalk50@...

> Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2011 15:53 PM

> graceflyer@... ; low dose naltrexone

> Subject: Re: [low dose naltrexone] Eczema flare really bad after starting LDN

>

> Hi,

>

> LDN can activate underlying viruses, allergies or food allergies/intolerances

after one starts taking it.

>

April 2, 2011

I have been doing the gluten-free diet and also trying to do the low oxalate

diet which really limits what I eat. After talking to Skip's pharmacy, I lowered

my LDN to 1.5 and my eczema continues to flare like bright red and really

cracked on the back of my hands. It hurts pretty bad and I'm really wondering if

the LDN is stirring it up. It was flaring when I started the LDN because of

years of steroid cream, but this is really bad. I heard that CF or lyme disease

could be the problem and that LDN can't help those issues? All my bloodwork and

thyroid looked normal a few months ago.

crack worse, it's bad now. Help...

So today, I called Skip's again and she said to take my prednisone at 10 mg to

get the eczema under control and keep taking the LDN, but I'm concerned that my

skin will

>

> Hi,

> Â

> LDN canÂ activate underlying viruses, allergies or food allergies/intolerances

after one starts taking it.Â Also, you might want to be tested for celiac

disease or gluten intolerance as it has been strongly linked to various skin

disorders, including ezcema - and consider going on a gluten/casein free diet.

> Â

> PubMed Abstracts :

>

> Â

> Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gluten-dependent enteropathy

characterized by atrophy of the intestinal villi that improves after a

gluten-free diet. CD is often associated with extraintestinal manifestations. In

the past few years, growing evidence has documented the involvement of skin

diseases among the extraintestinal manifestations of CD. This association could

be related to the impairment of intestinal absorption and motility, other than

to immunological and hormonal changes. The aim of this review is to report all

CD-associated skin manifestations described in the literature and to analyze the

possible mechanisms involved in this association. The opportunity to evaluate

the possible presence of CD in patients affected by skin disorders is discussed.

>

> Celiac disease: from gluten to skin.Â Â

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20477697

>

> Â

> Expert Rev Clin Immunol. 2009 Nov;5(6):789-800.

>

> PMID: 20477697Â Nov 2009

>

> Eczema

>

> But the results of treatment with a gluten-free diet are sufficiently

rewarding to

> justify investigation of any patient in whom malabsorption is even suspected.

Accordingly the possibility of an abnormality of the intestine should be kept in

mind in all patients with

> intractable eczema.

>

> If an abnormality of either structure or function of the gut is discovered a

therapeutic

> trial with a gluten-free diet is indicated.

>

> ECZEMA AND GASTRO-INTESTINAL MALABSORPTION.Â Â

>

> PMID: 14260617 April 1965

>

> Full Text:Â

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2165669/pdf/brmedj02389-0019a.pdf

>

> Psoriasis

>

> We found a significantly higher level of AGA in patients with psoriasis than

in controls, but levels of

> Â

>

http://sites.google.com/site/jccglutenfree/psoriasis%2Curticaria%2Candotherskinc\

onditions

> Â

> Dr. McCandess " Seldom is LDN aÂ Stand-Alone Treatment "

>

> As usual, I need to emphasize that seldom is LDN a stand-alone treatment, but

accompanies other strategies their body needs, especially a healthy diet. No

sugar, dairy or gluten.

>

> If you are having adverse symptoms caused by LDN....

>

> Would you be willing to stop all casein (milk products) and gluten (wheat,

rye, barley and oats) for a week and see if you feel better? A study done

several years ago showed that 30% of us have some degree of celiac

disease(intolerance/allegy to wheat) even though the clinical symptoms may not

be obvious enough to alert most people to that. When anyone in that 30% of

persons stops eating wheat, they feel a lot better. The LDN may be acting like

the opioid antagonist it is and causing a withdrawal reaction from taking away

your fix, even if only for a few hours.

>

> There is a phenomenon that happens to some people that as the immune system is

shifting (usually from T2 to T1) right after starting LDN, the immune system

drops and people get an infection, cold, flu, cold sore, etc. which is usually

short lived. Candida tends to overgrow or a virus will flare up. These

infections are usually short-lived unless something like candida and gut

bacteria needs treatment.

>

> As usual, I need to emphasize that seldom is LDN a stand-alone treatment, but

accompanies other strategies their body needs, especially a healthy diet.

>

> Are you a big bread/carbohydrate/sugar eater?

> Ever been tested for candida (yeast) or gut bacterial infestation?

>

> Good luck!

> Â

> Nola ChrisÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â LDN 2 years for Hep CÂ Â gluten/dairy free diet

> Â

> http://nolahepper.blogspot.com/

> Â

>

> [low dose naltrexone] Eczema flare really bad after starting LDN

>

> Â Hi Folks,

>

> I'm so glad to have found this forum for LDN users who have fibromyalgia.

>

> Here's my story: I'm a 56 year old female diagnosed with spinal arthritis and

degenerative disc disease, (L5S1 ruptured in 93) Fibro. CFS and IC over the past

10 years.

>

> Had complete hysterectomy in 2003 due to non-cancerous lumps in uterus and

ovaries. Also had HPV with pre-cancerous cells before hysterectomy.

>

> I also have had eczema since I was a baby and had different salves and creams

put on it. Probably steroids. As I grew older and the eczema flared, I would use

the prescription cream the doctor gave me for it and it cleared up just fine.

Little did I know that it was something I was not supposed to use on a daily

basis and that my skin would become addicted to it.

>

> Two years ago my ex-husband passed away and long story short, I was a wreck

and began drinking on weekends after 20 years of zero alcohol. I broke out into

an itchy rash all over my stomach, legs and upper body, but not my face, thank

God.

>

> My doctors were stumped and put me on " scabies " cream (another steroid

ointment) and prednisone. I only took 20 mg of the prednisone and weaned off of

it by small increments. It worked but the eczema flared real bad on the backs on

my hands, arms and neck since October 2010.

>

> I have about gone crazy with itching and the horrible sight of this eczema. I

will not touch steroids, knowing they caused my skin to be addicted.

>

> I had tried LDN in 2009 for my fibro with little results and I'm not sure it

was mixed with the right filler, so I only took it for a week and quit.

>

> I recently found the LDN site and thought that it would help all of my

problems going on, so I got my doctor to prescribe the 4.5 mg for me and made

sure the compounding pharmacy mixed it with Avicel.

>

> I started a week ago on it and my eczema seemed to get worse. I called the

pharmacist and he said to ride it out as it was probably the steroid withdrawal,

still.

>

> Another pharmacist told me the LDN could be making the eczema worse, so I was

torn and decided to not take it last night and see what I could gather before

taking it again.

>

> Along with the LDN, I've been taking Atarax for the insane itching, which

makes me extremely sleepy along with the LDN. I also have taken a half of my 1

mg klonopin to relax with this pain and itching in my arms and hands.

>

> I'm not sure the LDN is doing this and don't want to give up on it but I read

about the " IRIS " effect from taking it, if you have CFS? It can make things

worse because it ramps up the immune system which then goes into overdrive and

causes this onslaught of old symptoms?

>

> I don't know what to do because the LDN was making me relaxed and kind of

euphoric and well and knocking me out by 10 pm when I normally would be awake

until 3 am.

>

> Any knowledgeable advice? I do plan on calling Skip's pharmacy tomorrow as

they were closed when I called on Saturday. Thanks. ~~

>

April 3, 2011

Well, I launched a war on yeast after reading all the info people put on here

about it, thank you. I figured I was pretty yeast-free after years of the

no-grain diet, but then I thought about the sugar I still eat and the steroid

cream antibiotics I used over the years.

The Causes of Candida Overgrowth can be antibiotics, steroids such as cortisone,

prednisone, birth-control pills, and estrogen replacement therapy, poor diet,

chemotherapy, radiation, stress, and alcohol over-use. Avoid all chemical foods

and drugs. Strong antibiotics, steroids, cortico-steroids and tobacco must be

avoided. This diet is necessary for the first critical weeks. This is the only

way to deprive the yeast of nutrients and kill it off.

So, I'm eating no grains or sugar, using strong oregano oil, coconut oil, eating

raw coconut, free-range beef, free-range eggs, drinking kombucha (probiotics)

and raw milk, Alaskan salmon, borage oil, clove oil, wheat grass drink and spray

on my eczema, soaks in epsom salts and rubbing pure coconut oil on my arms and

hands, then wearing lightweight plastic gloves at night. I'm staying with the

1.5 LDN, 100 mg flucanazole three times a day, and low 10 mg prednisone for a

week and tapering that off, again. Today is a much better day and hopefully will

continue.

> >

> > Hi,

> > Â

> > LDN canÂ activate underlying viruses, allergies or food

allergies/intolerances after one starts taking it.Â Also, you might want to be

tested for celiac disease or gluten intolerance as it has been strongly linked

to various skin disorders, including ezcema - and consider going on a

gluten/casein free diet.

> > Â

> > PubMed Abstracts :

> >

> > Â

> > Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune gluten-dependent enteropathy