I am currently taking low dose Naltrexone for my MS but I have read on the website that it helps with Systemic Lupus as well. I've been on it for about 16 months now and so far so good. I am so hoping that it will do what is meant to do and that is to halt progression of my disease. Perhaps it could help you all too. Perhaps it would help if I explained exactly how the low dose naltrexone works. Naltrexone taken in such a low almost homeopathic dose of 4.5mg, as opposed to the 50 mg FDA approved dose, causes the body to create a large amount of endorphins. Kind of like when you run or do aerobics. Anyway, Dr. Bihari in New York believes that all auto immune diseases are more the cause of low endorphins which compromises the immune system. The same with cancer and aids. Once you upregulate the endorphins back to normal, that in turn regulates the immune system back to normal. He has been working with this approach for many years with cancer and aids patients with great success. One can only hope that one day this therapy will get to the mainstream. I for one don't have time for a multi -million dollar clinical trial for this. Believe me it works. Just wish I was more familiar with how it might help with Systemic Lupus. Dr. Bihari was just interviewed on a radio station in NY....wbai and I was able to obtain an audio tape of it...quite fascinating. Good luck to all and I sure hope that you all find what works for you...{{{hugs}}}


[This message has been edited by JoyceF (edited 10-17-2003).]

Hello,

One has to be careful with these sort of drugs. Lupus is a disease where the immune system is overactive and thinks that "good cells" are bad so it attacks them. I am unsure as to the safety of this drug, so as in all drugs be sure to check with your doctor http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

It may work, but if it is a wonder drug wouldn't the medical community be celebrating? I never downplay homeopathic drugs because they can be beneficial in different people! I will look into this too, to see if it would help me. Thanks for the information- be very careful illuding to a search engine and searching for information; they frown upon that here and you may be reprimanded for it. Talk to you later,

~Angelic

Hi Angelic...you are very right to be concerned about any drug that you put into your body but this drug at such a low dose is completely harmless. I have heard it said that several people including Dr. Bihari are taking it themselves because of the harmless nature of it at such a low dose and its possible cancer preventing properties. It does not overstimulate the immune system but rather brings it back to a normal state....almost as if you did not have the disease. It will not repair any damage that is already there except for very recent damage but if it will halt the progress of my ms, I am a happy camper. Like I said, I am not as aware of how it helps with other diseases but it is certainly worth fighting for. As far as the medical community becoming aware...not quite sure when that will happen but it will have to happen soon I'm sure. Dr. Bihari does not have the hundreds of millions that is probably takes to do a 2 year clinical double blind placebo trial and like I said...I for one do not have that kind of time. I was happy with the many reports from people that it worked for them to try it myself. There will likely not be a clinical study soon because you see, this drug has been in use and FDA approved at a higher dose for about 19 years which means that the ability for those money hungry pharmaceuticals to get a patent has virtually run out. Kind of an orphan drug type situation? It's all about money isn't it? I wish it was not that way but sorry to say that it is and will probably never change. I say look into it...what do you have to lose. Just be very assertive and take control of your health. I simply did not take no for an answer and found a wonderful endocronologist that was wise enough to recognize it for what it was...what a great feeling...good luck to you.