Fwd: [jjworld] Re: LDN

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In a message dated 01/11/2004 6:45:40 AM Eastern Standard Time, gramee@... writes:

Tom, you asked what are endorphins. This extract is from www.thisisms.com. I have been on LDN for about 6 months now with very good results, and the best thing is no needles. It is becoming very popular in Australia as well now.The following explains Low Dose Naltrexone (also known as LDN) from a layperson's perspective that everyone should be able to understand. Please note that we are not medical doctors, and that there is no formal proof of the following statements; they are merely informed hypotheses. You should always do your own research and consult with your doctor before undertaking any medical treatment. The simple explanation:Naltrexone is an FDA approved drug (1984) that was originally intended to treat people suffering from opium (e.g., heroin) addiction. It treated these addictions by blocking the "pleasant" effects from the drug, so addicts who took it did not get "high" anymore. How does it block the "high?" There are receptors in our brain that an opioid like heroin would use to get into the cell and do its deed. Naltrexone blocks those receptors, so the heroin can't have an effect. Think about it like a puzzle piece-- some brain cells have a piece that accepts opium and its derivatives, and the Naltrexone simply matches that piece. When the heroin floats around, it has no where to go. OK, that's all well and good, but what relevance is there to Multiple Sclerosis? Well, those opiod receptors in our brains are not JUST for receiving drugs like heroin-- our bodies actually produce opiods every day, among other things, we produce a set of hormones called endorphins. So if you were to take Naltrexone, you would actually block the reception of something your body produces. These hormones, as it turns out, play a very important part in controlling the immune system. Keep this in mind for what we'll talk about below. The FDA-approved dosage for heroin addicts was 50 milligrams per day. This ensured that those receptors were blocked all day and there was no chance that any heroin could connect with a cell and give the user a "high." BUT a medical doctor named Dr. Bihari found that if you give someone a much lower dose, say THREE milligrams instead of 50, you would not block the receptors all day, but just for a couple of hours. After that, everything would function as normal. But the human body is funny-- when you block something, it often responds by producing more. In other words, if you were to take Naltrexone at a low dose (Low Dose Naltrexone, even!) you would block the receptors for a couple hours. The body would notice that it was not receiving the endorphins it produced, so it would think "Since they're not getting through, I must not be producing enough-- turn it up!" The gland responsible for producing the endorphins, called the pituitary, would respond by producing significantly more. Not enough to cause any problems, but enough to make a difference. So how can this all matter for Multiple Sclerosis? Remember how we discussed above that the endorphins actually regulate the immune system? Well, in Multiple Sclerosis, the immune system is malfunctioning-- it's attacking it's own body. Anything that helps regulate, control, and tame the immune system could potentially have a positive effect on MS. And that's exactly what some people who take LDN report-- a halt of the progression of the disease, and even some improvement in symptoms. Adding some scientific validity are studies that show that in MS patients, the pituitary gland (which produces endorphins) shrinks as the disease progresses. This shrinkage can be assumed to correspond with less endorphin production, though the link is not concrete. The million dollar question is: is the pituitary gland shrinking BECAUSE of the MS, in which case fixing the pituitary is more like treating a symptom rather than the cause, OR is the pituitary smaller in people who have multiple sclerosis and could potentially be a, if not the, cause of the disease in the first place? In other words, is a shrunken pituitary a cause of MS or is it an effect? If it's a cause, making up for the lower endorphin output by taking something like LDN could have significant positive implications. There is a catch to all of this-- there are no formal, clinical trials on taking low dose naltrexone for multiple sclerosis (though one just got underway for Crohn's disease--remarkable because Crohn's is an autoimmune disorder like MS). All there is is speculation, a few doctors backing it, and most remarkably, many positive testimonials from patients. If you would like to copy and paste this article, please credit the source: This Is MS Unbiased Multiple Sclerosis Communityhttp://www.thisisms.comCheersGraham aka Hennry> A Page of Reading on Low Dose > Naltrexone and MS> > bcmeikle@s... Nov 15.2003> > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------> > There is not enough work done in this area. Dr. Bihari's work needs to be > > replicated over and over, and a lot more publishing and tests need to go on. > > The first page for anyone to read when looking at this topic is here > > This is Doctor Bihari's page of information and findings.(although he's not directly linked to it) > > The specific area for MS and LDN is here . > > > So if you've read that far, you see a claim of 98% efficacy in MS treatment. These numbers> > are not even backed up by the anecdotes I've collected, but there's still a LOT of success. > > A useful repository of anecdotes is at remedyfind > > As I write this up, Naltrexone is the number one medicine there for people with MS. > > This is clearly misleading, but it shows the support this medicine is getting from patients. > > I mean have you read these reports ? > > So, we have support from patients, and some anecdotes, is that all? > > I find this quote from a pharmacist supportive: > > As I have said before, if I had MS, the only drug that I would absolutely be> taken is LDN. I wouldn't care what it took, or who I had to insult. In 4> years of dispensing LDN, with over 10,000 patient months, I have heard of> only three cases of exacerbation. I am wainting for our new resident to come> in and I will have exact numbers, but this is truely a no-brainer. I would> find some one to prescribe it no matter the cost or effort.> Dr.Skip> > > ...and these two mp3 radio interviews(turn down your volume!): first part , second part > > A VoyForums discussion group.> A discussion group> Yet another discussion group. > > What are endorphins ? > > It looks like the British are replicating Bihari's work nicely. > > A real test by real scientists on LDN and Crohns ...> > Here's a paper by White on LDN and MS . > > So is this work being replicated and used elsewhere? Sites like goodshape suggest it is. Another page there. > > An article on the Irish government's interest in the cost savings associated. Would they back a study? > What other governments/ agencies would gain from a cheaper,more effective MS medications, and would back > a study? > > An article on other re-use of existing medications for MS > > Endorphins and chili ? and TV ? chemical structure ? and stress ?and acupuncture ?> and excercise ? and the chemistry of sex ?and Birth Labour ...> Here's a paper on Endorphins and Anelgesia > > Here's a paper on ultra low dose naltrexone > > > These guys are selling a drug that claims to boost your endorphin levels...> same with this ...> > Alternative medicine's look at how endorphins restore balance in body ...> > > Naltrexone's battle to become a treatment for alcoholism .> > This page has a list of Healthy ways to raise beta-endorphins> > Dutch site on LDN (english paragraphs too...) > > > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------------> PAPERS> > > I am not a doctor, this is just patient-to-patient info. > > If we look at a list of Bihari's claims, the first is that people with MS have fewer endorphins. > > In this paper, Italian Researchers look at endorphin levels in relation to MS in a scholarly, scientific way. > this paper is recent and important...> > > So if MS patients don't have enough endorphins, does that mean that the petuitary gland that makes > them is broken in people with MS? > > > Dysregulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis is related to the clinical course of MS > > > > So LDN tricks the body into creating a lot of endorphins. > But endorphins are mostly known for their painkilling, euphoric nature, they don't > actually balance the immune system do they? > > Enkephalins are a kind of endorphin .> > Another paper :Enkephalins, brain and immunity: modulation of immune responses by methionine-enkephalin injected into the cerebral cavity.> > The animal model of MS is EAE. (experimental allergic encephalomyelitis)> > This paper discusses > Changes of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis by methionine-enkephalin injected into lateral ventricles of the rat brain.> > This paper discusses Enkephalins and immune inflammatory reactions.> > Another paper looking at Enkephalins and autoimmunity > > another > > Rat behaviour studies. Escape attempts. > I had to include this because it talks about 'learned hopelessness' > something I worry that many MS patients have... > > > The pituitary gland makes our endorphins... > > > THE IMMUNOMODULATING EFFECTS> OF SPECIFIC OPIOID ANTAGONISTS > AFTER THEIR INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR APPLICATION> > A google search on endorphins and immune modulation > All articles at medline by Jankovic and Maric > > LDN addictive? This paper says no. Unlike drugs, however, activation of the opiate receptors by the body's endorphins does not lead to addiction or dependence. > > Cool looking book on NeuroImmunoModulation > > > > conclusion:> I personally feel fairly confident that Bihari's claims may be true. > I would guess at more like 80% efficacy though, from the anecdotes. > > Perhaps there are some patients whose petuitaries are atrophic or damaged > so even with the naltrexone tricking the switch to' on'> the glands can't produce more. > > From the literature,I'm fairly confident that MS patients have lower endorphins,'> and more dysregulation in the petuitary. > > It seems certain that boosting the endorphins will relieve pain, provide euphoric mood, and in general, make the patient happier. Bihari's regimen seems to do most of it's mind altering while the patient sleeps so the patients don't feel stoned while they're awake. But we ARE mucking with the brain's natural opium. > > Will it stop MS progression?That's the interesting question. There is a body of work that suggests an immunomodulatory effect of endorphins. Most of the MRI's are coming back with no change... > > The tests on Crohns are a good thing. > > I'd like to see the same for MS. > > Time will tell... > > Addendum(Dec.12 2003): > > I found a few new papers. > > The same Italian team that published the paper on endorphins and MS above > published a paper on an increase in endorphins in people on interferons > > A paper on endorphins and their flow seasonally in lambs... > > supplies some great references regarding circadian links here...> > Here's an american paper that measures the immune systems abilities > with added endorphins... > It's good to know that rather than just eae there is murine coronavirus> > More h/p/a axis stuff, and this > > the immunomodulatory effects of some opiate antagonists . > > > Test your endorphin levels.> > > Got feedback? I have a discussion forum . with a thread on LDN > > > Here's Bihari's Pa tent on LDN and MS > > There are 2 new collections of anecdotes. One here and one here . > > Also I had to write a disclaimer/skepticism/doubt page. > > Are endorphins really created between 2 and 4? > > > > > > > > > > > > >