Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives AS Pharmacy LDN Started last night!

Sorry to hear that the pain is back - but at the same time it does confirm that the LDN was working.

Perhaps when you reach your goal weight, you will be able to re-focus on LDN.

I read your HCG blog, so very interesting.

Re Armour: - Yes the smelly soft pinkish one that dissolved in the mouth is old armour, the 'hard' whitish, uncrushable chalky one is the 'new' armour.

You will definitely notice the difference.

JennyF

I reported that after first week of 1.5mg LDN with mild relief of hip, thigh and neck pain that I was upping to 3gr last night - well, cant wait a week and just have to report HUGE improvement in pain relief this morning. I would say that I have had 50% pain relief. Plus more energy......woohoo and its only 9am.........

So thrilled, feel I can stand straighter and stronger, if you know what I mean. Still very early days, but I am soooo encouraged.

I still have alot of room for improvement, but this is so good. (I also have had a LSD for years) and I keep editing as I notice more good 'stuff' happening. YES!!!! GOD IS GOOD
- Thank you, thank you thank you.............
JennyF

7 weeks on LDN and I am having new areas of involvement and more pain (shockingly) than I have yet experienced. I am taking celebrex and cyclobenzaprine (muscle relaxer) in conjunction with the LDN. Does an nsaid counter-effect the LDN? Still no colds or other sicknesses of any kind. I am hurting so bad right now that I am weakening on the LDN as I can't take any pain meds. I see the rheumy next week who was opposed to LDN, he will suggest biologic number 2 and I am weak. I fasted for 17 hours today just to get whatever is flaring me out of my system. I felt moderately better but by 4 p.m. was pretty darn hungry. I always fail at the no starch diet but I am very sure that would help me. Any advice? I REALLY don't want to do another biologic!! But the new pain in my left knee and right collar bone is deadly. This chest pain is a killer!!

Help.

-Donette

Hi Donette, my heart goes out to you - you sound pretty desperate. I too struggled to stay with LDN when I really, really wanted/needed opioid painkillers for my pain. Acetaminophen just doesn't cut it. LDN didn't turn out to be a good match for me and I didn't have access to a new biologic after enbrel started wearing off on me. I didn't have much of a choice but to go with the NSD. It's hard to do, but every time I cheat on it, I'm reminded why I keep with it. Give it a try - just a few weeks and see how you do. Hope things ease up for you soon.

Donette,

I'm sorry to hear that you are currently experiencing difficulty. Here is a piece about why some may experience increased symptoms in the first few months on LDN. The information references cases of MS, but it may allow some insight into this phenomenon. Also, I think Molly has been in contact with this Dr. Bob Lawrence. Therefore, you may wish to go back through some of her LDN-related posts. You may be able to pose some question(s) for him that may allow you greater insight.

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.

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

Day 10

• Insomnia still persists, but is not as significant as when I started the medication
• Still good on my feet (no pain in hips, ankles, knees)
• Good energy (relatively speaking)
• Feel more connected...or coordinated...or somewhere in between
• Can take smoother, fuller/deeper breaths (no interruption from pain...greater expansion of chest perceived)

Megan and Jay: Thanks for the kind words, they really helped. I plan to ask the Rheumy for some Voltaren Gel and try to tough it out for a few more months. I really need to wrap my brain around the NSD and just do it. When I am in this much pain, I don't eat much anyway, but when I do eat, the starchy stuff is always easier to find/prepare in a hurry. Plus I have children at home and so emptying my kitchen of all starches is not an option.

By the way, my one experience with insomnia on LDN was when I took it at 9 p.m. and then stayed up until midnight. It is easier if I take it right at bedtime, which is anytime between nine and eleven and I am alright, unless a kid wakes me up before morning and then its TUFF getting back to sleep. I kind of like it though, after 2 years of only wanting to sleep, sleep, sleep, insomnia is kind of refreshing. Weird.

I started LDN last night. After reading all the info on here and other LDN websites plus emailing Dr Lawrence (thank you to everyone who posted links to the info- very helpful!) I decided to make the jump.

Day 1-
Sleep was good, woke up at 5:30. Less stiffness, less pain in SIs, nice general feeling of well being. Still ouchy in knees, neck, arms.
I am mixing up my LDN from 50 mg tablets. Started at 3mg.
Also taking:

AM- fish oil 1200mg
D 1000
B complex
aleve - 2
PM- trazdone 50mg (for sleep)
aleve- 2

Can't wait to see how this goes- thanks again for all the great info and the sharing of each person's experiences.