low dose naltrexone - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

rone327 · 06-02-2007, 08:11 AM

Have you heard about low dose naltrexone?
There are 30 years of "anecdotal evidence" that it stops the progression of MS with only positive side effects (like less fatigue, less pain, more physical stamina). The cost is less than $20 per month. The recommendation of LDN supporters is to get your GP to write a script and get the LDN from a compounding pharmacy by mail. This sounds like a light in a dark room.

lilc · 06-02-2007, 10:18 AM

I've not only heard of it but asked my neuro for a scrip and gave her some stuff I printed about it. She says "no", but I keep meaning to find a doctor who WILL prescribe it for me.

My guess is that nobody wants to fund clinical trials on a drug that costs so little...

Bearygood · 06-02-2007, 10:22 AM

I've read about it as well but not extensively. I've actually seen it mostly come up in places that talk about alternative medicine. I'd be very interested in hearing any answers from neuros about this. lilc, do you know what your doctor thinks about this or why she said no?

MSNik · 06-02-2007, 10:22 AM

I too, have read about it...there are hundreds of posts on this board alone on LDN....no neuro in the USA will prescribe this for MS....its not approved in this country for MS usage...however, in Canada among other places you can get a script for this drug. I have been to holistic doctors, and alternative medical centers, they still wont prescribe it for me being that I am dx for MS....intersting, huh?

Bearygood · 06-02-2007, 10:29 AM

Think you might have hit the nail on the head, Nikki. Could reluctance to prescribe be because it's not approved for this use and could make docs susceptible to liability?

If that's the case though, I'd still love to hear any doc's "thoughts", even if they won't prescribe it!

Last thought -- if it hasn't been medically dismissed in the U.S. as being effective for MS, one can only speculate why research hasn't been supported....