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Does anyone get side effects with low dose naltrexone?

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Posted 4/29/2016 12:25 AM (GMT 0)
I started low dose Naltrexone 2 wks ago. My first wk i did one pill at night. I had some mild stomach upset with it. Within a few days, i actually noticed improvement in my sleep and my hip pain. Finally! On wk 2 i added a second pill at night. This put my stomach over the edge, but i wanted to try to keep trying as my hip pain continued to improve even more. Then 3 days into increasing to 2 pills, i started having dizziness, nausea, and hypoglycemic symptoms like i feel like i need to increase my food intake. Once i eat, i do feel a little better. Then 2 hrs later, it starts again. I do snack regularly, but it doesnt seem to be enough. I have a very healthy well balanced diet. I backed off to 1 pill the last 2 nights, but the symptoms continue. I just have felt "off" the last few days. Im trying to figure out if its side effects of the LDN (which my LLND says doesnt have side effects) or if its a herx. I dont want to stop the LDN since it is helping the pain.
Posted 4/29/2016 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
LDN does come with side effects for a few people. Usually, the side effects come for those with Lyme and/or candida. But there are many other side effects that can happen for others also, hypoglycemic episodes are one. Can I ask what dose youre taking? As far as backing off the last 2 nights and not seeing symptoms subside, it could be your receptors arent clearing as fast as they should for you. Ride it out a couple more days if you can.
Posted 4/29/2016 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
The dose is 1.5 mg from a compounding pharmacy. I am supposed to increase to 3 per night if i can tolerate. I am one of those super sensitive people. I have a hard time introducing new things. I can never tell if its a herx or a reaction. Thanks!
Posted 4/29/2016 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lyme sufferer -

We have had several good discussions about LDN on this forum - you might want to do a search to look up more threads - lots of good info.

LDN most definitely can produce "side effects" (please forgive my bluntness but your MD must not fully understand what LDN is and how it works). In high doses, it's prescribed to opioid addicts to help their bodies through withdrawal stages, and it functions similarly at low doses to soothe nerves (a very simplistic explanation but there is a lot of info online if you want to do a search to learn more).

Typically, you're to start with .5mg dose and stay on that dose until all side effects disappear (which can often take weeks) then increase by .5mg increments to very slowly work your way up to 4.5mg, which is typically the max dose for our purposes. Not sure what dose you're on--that's pretty important to know.

Also, in order to more specifically control the incremental doses, some people have more success at a compounding pharmacy, vs a regular pharmacy. My compounding pharmacist created the dose I needed, rather than an arbitrary amount that would have forced me to double every time I wanted to increase doses.

Most people struggle at first, trying to get their body to adjust to the LDN. Usually, the symptoms or side effects are very similar to the reasons you're taking the LDN -- joint pain, muscle pain/spasms, nerve pain. It can also cause the other symptoms you mentioned--everyone is different. But the reason it's advised that you "stick it out" is that it just takes time for the body to adjust. MOST people are able to slowly work up to the optimal dose of 4.5mg and have good results keeping those symptoms under control.

Hope this helps !

-p
Posted 4/29/2016 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Youre welcome. Dosage is an individual thing. Many people can start out in the 2.5-4.5 range, but if you are the sensitive type, especially if you have many issues, 1.5 can be too much. Many in a group I belong too start out at .5 and go up from there. My personal experience, I started at .5, and increased every 2 weeks. I hit a wall at 2.5, 3 was horrible. I found another doc who had a lot of experience and he asked me to jump to 4.5. Reluctantly I did so. And it was like night and day. I felt great! Eventually my body "got used to it" and its been and up and down adventure ever since. I have found that if I skip one day a week my receptors arent as taxed and I do a lot better. Again, this is all individual. Youll have to play around to find your sweet spot.

I live very close to Dr. Ian Zagon. One of the things I learned early on after reading over his studies is LDN has a habit of kicking up some issues you never knew you had. So as a sensitive person, id take it slow. Hang out at 1.5 for a month. If you have capsules or liquid, you can split your doses and mixed with a little water increase by .5mg each time. Tablets are a little harder but you can still get around that issue and split them up for smaller increases. IF, big if, you think youd like to try 4.5 go ahead. One night will not hurt you, you may feel uncomfortable, but itll pass in a day or so if it dont go well. If it works, you just may feel great relief. Again, its individual. dont be afraid to play with dosages.
Posted 4/29/2016 1:48 AM (GMT 0)
The LDN website talks about how, by "turning on the lights" of the immune system, LDN can assist your body in regulating any number of things that may have been off... It mentions thyroid hormone on this list... I am someone who is hypothyroid, and when I started LDN, I felt as though the thyroid replacement I was taking starting working more effectively. I wonder if your increased appetite could be from thyroid hormone levels adjusting.
Posted 4/29/2016 2:13 AM (GMT 0)
Most likely its pancreatic function. Sugar levels can be effected significantly with LDN. Dr Berkson has some excellent data on combination LDN and ALA for pancreatic cancers.
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