Is Low-dose Naltrexone an effective treatment for Multiple Sclerosis

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potential disease that impairs the brain and spinal cord – central nervous system.

In Low-dose Naltrexone, the immune system of a body attacks the protective myelin sheath covering the nerve fibers resulting in communication problems within your brain and your body. Ultimately, the disease causes lasting damage or degeneration of the nerves.

Symptoms and signs of ms range widely and are dependent on the measure of nerve degeneration and the type of nerves are affected. Some individuals with severe MS might lose the capacity to walk by themselves or at all, while some might undergo a long duration of remission with no new symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis has no cure. But, treatments can assist in speedy improvement from attacks, change the progression of the disease, and control symptoms.

Multiple sclerosis symptoms:

MS symptoms and signs of ms might vary considerably from one person to another and the onset of the disease depends upon the site of injured nerve fibers. Multiple sclerosis symptoms often influence movement, like:

• Insensitivity or weakness in the limbs that usually happens in one side of the person’s body at a time
• Electric-shock feelings that occur during certain neck motions, particularly turning the neck forward
• Shivering, loss of coordination, or irregular gait

Problems related to vision are also prevalent, such as:

• The partial or entire loss of sight, normally in one eye at a time, usually causes pain during eye movement
• Continued double vision
• Blurry sight

MS symptoms may also involve:

• Mumbled speech
• Tiredness
• Dizziness
• Tingling or discomfort in your body parts
• Difficulties with sexual, bladder, and bowel function

What causes ms?

The cause of multiple sclerosis is not known. It is regarded as an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system of the body destroys its own tissues. In MS, this malfunctioning of the immune system destructs the fatty coating, myelin, that protects nerve fibers present in the brain and spinal cord.

Myelin can be linked to the insulation layer on electrical wires. When the shielding myelin is destroyed and the fiber is uncovered, the signals that progress along that nerve fiber might become slow or blocked.

The reason why MS occurs in some individuals and not others isn’t clear. A blend of genetics and surrounding factors seems to be responsible.

Multiple sclerosis treatment with LDN:

Naltrexone is a medication that helps in managing alcohol and opioid addiction by blocking the effect produced by these substances. Though physicians also utilize low-dose naltrexone (LDN) to manage various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

The application of LDN in the case of MS is recognized as the off-label use of naltrexone. This applies to the utilization of medicine for a condition other than it is approved to be given for. It additionally suggests that medicine hasn’t undergone the corresponding amount of accurate testing to prove its safety and effectiveness for treating those different conditions.

Low-dose naltrexone is used in a dosage that is about 1/10th the size of a regular dose, normally less than 5mg per day. It delivers hormones named endorphins for an extensive period of time. Endorphins aid in decreasing inflammation, the source of various MS symptoms.

How does it work?

There is a limited study encompassing the use of LDN for MS. But, anecdotal evidence has been obtained from patients dealing with multiple sclerosis. Several say that using low-dose naltrexone advanced the reduction in their occurrence of flare-ups. Others recorded that it appeared to slow down the advancement of the condition producing fewer side effects than conventional MS medicines.

Surprisingly few inquiries about the advantages of Low Dose Naltrexone for people with MS included real participants. Rather, most depended on particular cases or information from medical facilities. While all of them suggest that low-dose naltrexone does not make symptoms of multiple sclerosis more acute, further long-term investigations involving a variety of participants are required to completely understand its benefits.

How much time does LDN take to work?

The duration LDN takes to work for symptoms of multiple sclerosis is not clearly known. This is partly because of the lack of investigation and trial regarding this off-label use. On the basis of existing evidence, it should begin working in 3 months.

Low Dose Naltrexone also seems to be reliable for long-term treatment. In a 2016 research, subjects used it for almost three to four years.

What is the dosage?

There’s no approved dosage of Low Dose Naltrexone for treating MS. Although people commonly take 3-5 mg every day. This dose can be taken at any moment of the day, but it’s most useful to take a glass full of water with it.

What does low-dose naltrexone treat?

The conditions that can be managed using LDN are various, and doctors have been utilizing it as an alternative treatment option for many years. It is evident that LDN can treat chronic diseases such as Crohn’s, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, immune system diseases, and numerous other conditions. Since the production of endorphins is bound with the immune system and several mechanisms of the body, many diseases can likely benefit from low-dose naltrexone. LDN continues to be investigated even while healthcare providers prescribe it regularly for the therapeutic effects they see in patients.

Why is it always given in a lower dose?

LDN inhibits receptors for just a few hours, and after that, it is excreted. The lower dose of naltrexone acts as an inducer of the “rebound” effect that continues for nearly one day. But with higher doses, this effect cannot be obtained. Once the medicine is excreted from the body, the sensitized receptors are capable of utilizing the increased endorphins in a better way. Low-dose naltrexone results in more efficient utilization and better production of OGF.

The recommended method of therapy:

Your physician will often begin treatment at an ultra-low dose of naltrexone and raise this slowly over weeks – until you become stable and free of side effects. The starting dosage can range from 0.5mg to 1.5mg – and is normally increased over 4 to 8 weeks to 4.5mg or even higher. Some physicians might even increase the dose to twice daily for specific medical conditions. For Autoimmune Diseases, subjects normally begin at 1mg/1.5mg and rise to 4.5mg every day over 4 to 8 weeks. But, for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Hashimoto’s, or Fibromyalgia, the recommended starting dose is normally 0.5mg to 1.0mg, and then it is raised by 0.5mg every week until the dose of 4.5mg is maintained. For Cancer, LDN can be used at similar doses, but it must not be used a week before and one week following cancer chemotherapy.

How to get doctors that provide Low Dose Naltrexone treatment?

Low Dose Naltrexone is an encouraging treatment for symptoms of multiple sclerosis having comparatively fewer side effects than the other treatments. Though, experts are still working on figuring out precisely how it changes MS symptoms. If you’re curious about a trial of LDN, wait no further. Harbor Compounding Pharmacy works with an association of practitioners who you can call out to for guidance right away. Numerous may be ready to see you over an easy and quick telemedicine visit. Harbor Compounding Pharmacy can also help you by preparing the right dose of Low Dose Naltrexone for you.

Reference article link:

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