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Confused: Is LDN an immunosuppressant or immunostimulator?

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Posted 6/27/2011 4:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've been reading so many threads regarding LDN and everyone says, LDN is an immunostimulator.
But I found something recently and this is what Dr. Zagon, who works with the LDN trial studies, stated,

"There are so many misconceptions about LDN that we could spend an hour correcting all of this ancedotal information. The problem is that patients do not read the literature, and offer their “opinions” as if this is true. LDN is a great example of the good and bad about the internet.

LDN is an immunosuppressant – it works through the opioid growth factor – opioid growth factor receptor axis

OGF (LDN) acts as an inhibitor of the cell cycle, increasing p16 and p21 in the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitory pathway. We are in the midst of writing all of this up for publication. On a practical basis, you would not recommend an immunostimulant to someone with MS or Crohn’s Disease (we just finished a Phase II trial on LDN and Crohn’s right now – worked nicely)."

So... it's an immunosuppressant??? but why did it become so popular for having immunostimulating effects?
Posted 6/27/2011 7:33 PM (GMT 0)
I am not sure if it truly is a immune stimulator or suppressor. But how it was always explained to me is it was neither, it was an immune regulator, helping get your immune system back to its happy place, whether it needed suppression or stimulation.
Posted 6/27/2011 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
I want to try this drug very bad..maybe i can get off my sulfasazine then. and it appears to be a 'mircle" drug

 

Posted 6/27/2011 8:17 PM (GMT 0)

cupcakespinkgal said...
I am not sure if it truly is a immune stimulator or suppressor. But how it was always explained to me is it was neither, it was an immune regulator, helping get your immune system back to its happy place, whether it needed suppression or stimulation.


Yea, that's probably why some people don't get flu/colds as much when they are on LDN. But the published studies from Penn state University claims that LDN suppresses T and B cell proliferation hence, suppressing the immune system.

And Noah77, I don't think you'd want to get off the maintenance meds. There are no complications if you go on LDN and people who have been on it for years recommend that you stay on maintenance meds together because you get better results. Also, others recommend making dietary modifications while on LDN, however it's not mandatory if you can tolerate whatever you are eating b/c everyone is different and tolerates different types of food. You just can't be on pain meds like codeine.

In another Crohn's forum, I was able to get in touch with someone who sent an email about going on 6mp and LDN at the same time to Dr. Zagon. It seems that Dr. Zagon knows more than anyone else about the LDN studies and combining different meds with LDN because he was one of the doctors at Penn state who supervised the LDN trial studies and he is one of the founders of LDN. So I will let you know when he replies.

It could be your miracle drug for some people but after flipping through some forums to read about people's experiences with it, there is some blunt hype behind LDN. I say this because they say you get the full effect from LDN after staying on it for more than 12 weeks or 6 months and even if you don't go on any meds or stay on just maintenance meds, some people just randomly go into remission unexpectedly or or get near remission, which happened to me a few times.

I think of LDN as just one of the maintenance drugs. Maybe this thought might change if I do well over the next couple of months or years.
Posted 6/27/2011 8:27 PM (GMT 0)
First off I'd like to say that this is my opinion. Secondly, I rarely comment on LDN anymore since the last time I was accused of being 'wrong' and 'ignorant' of the drug.
I believe more research needs to be done, especially for LDN and other treatments. Independently and such. I also believe that it isn't a miracle drug. Some drugs work well for others, some don't.
From my research I'm not very sure if it's a suppressant or stimulator. But I haven't researched it extensively as some have. I would be willing to try LDN, but I'm not risking my remission for a drug.
Posted 6/27/2011 8:47 PM (GMT 0)
See i was hoping to get off all maintance drugs because of taking LDN? Does anyone know for sure that this can be done.  If not, why even try it, if your maintance drugs are working fine. I would like to get off my pred for sure
Posted 6/27/2011 9:07 PM (GMT 0)
CollegeStudent,

Dr. Zagon explains it well. However, I think it somehow still acts as an "immuno-booster" however scientifically you get there... How else would you explain the side effect of feeling good, and the fact that people don't seem to get sick with the flu or colds - seems to me if their immune systems wouldn't have been "boosted" then they'd get sick, no?

Regarding: I think of LDN as just one of the maintenance drugs.

IMO it's more than that, however if you want to look at LDN as a maintenance drug - that's ok as long as you realize that in comparison to most big guns, i.e. 6mp, humira, remicade, etc.... it has none of the side effects and as much if not more ability to get you into remission.

Posted 6/28/2011 2:51 AM (GMT 0)

InSoFla said...
CollegeStudent,


Dr. Zagon explains it well. However, I think it somehow still acts as an "immuno-booster" however scientifically you get there... How else would you explain the side effect of feeling good, and the fact that people don't seem to get sick with the flu or colds - seems to me if their immune systems wouldn't have been "boosted" then they'd get sick, no?



Regarding: I think of LDN as just one of the maintenance drugs.



IMO it's more than that, however if you want to look at LDN as a maintenance drug - that's ok as long as you realize that in comparison to most big guns, i.e. 6mp, humira, remicade, etc.... it has none of the side effects and as much if not more ability to get you into remission.

I can't tolerate Asacol at all because it gives me fever and literally makes me crap out blood but pentasa doesn't. I think this applies to the big gun meds. I can't tolerate Imuran and have allergic reactions to Remicade/6mp. The side effects came out within 1-2days of taking these drugs and apparently, with Humira I'm not experiencing any. Some people go on years of remission with one of these drugs b/c it fits them.
Increased chance of lymphoma is higher on Humira but my GI says it's 1 in 30,000.
I won't truly know what LDN is doing for me yet since it's been only about 3 weeks.
I think it's helping though. I'm going to change my filler to acidophilus. I'm on the lactose filler with no problems.
Posted 6/28/2011 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
This video is excellent for explaining how LDN works.

www.ldnscience.org/
Posted 6/28/2011 12:11 PM (GMT 0)
BabeintheWoods,

Thanks so much for posting this video, it must be new as I hadn't seen it before.

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