| WONDER DRUG NALTREXONE |
A drug, which has been around for over twenty years, may very well prove to be the drug of choice for
the future. Although, Low dose Naltrexone (LDN) has been a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approved drug since 1984, many, including physicians, are unaware of its great benefits to the sufferers of
immune, deficiency diseases.
Naltrexone was originally approved in 50mg dosage for the use of assisting heroin and opium addicts. It
has recently been in the news for its approval for the use of alcohol, related dependencies. LDN works by
blocking the endorphin levels that the brain and the adrenalin glands produce. It was known that the brain
contained receptors for chemical produced by the poppy plant.
In the 1970’s while researching drug addition, scientist learned that the brain produced neurochemicals
which are more potent than morphine, opium and heroin and which share the same neural receptors with
these drugs. These brain chemicals, endorphins or natural painkillers, are produced by the body in times
of stress and to induce mood elevations.
Some natural means to stimulate the release of endorphin is by strenuous running, cycling, swimming,
and eating foods which contain the amino acid L-Phenylalanine such as almonds, bananas, cheese, lima
beans, peanuts, pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds.
Every cell of the immune system has receptors for these agents. It was discovered that people who
suffer from immune disorders such as cancer, Aids, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, chronic fatigue syndrome,
fibromylagia, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus and others have low endorphins levels which
causes poor immune function.
When the immune function is low, the body forgets to attack the bacteria, fungi, viruses and cancer
cells. Also, when this happens, the body may begin to attack itself causing a host of problems. LDN
restores the endorphin levels to normal, so that the immune system may do the job, that it was designed to
do.
LDN boosts the immune system by elevating the body’s endorphin levels thus allowing the body to fight
diseases which are characterized by inadequate immune function. This is done without side effects, without
drug resistance, it’s non-addictive, safe, inexpensive (about $25/month) and simple to take. Optimum
immune effects are seen in several months of use.
Dr. Bernard Bihari, a New York City physician who is qualified in Neurology, Psychiatry and Internal
Medicine, first pioneered the use of LDN for immune, deficiency diseases 1985. Dr. Bihari discovered that
smaller doses of LDN, 3 mg, enhanced the body’s ability to increase helper T-cells or CD4 cells. Later he
determined that 4.5mg was a more effective dosage.
In the mid 1990’s he found LDN to be effective in the treatment of certain cancers such as, lymphoma
and pancreatic cancer and other immune diseases such as lupus. In studies with humans and rats, cancer
has been inhabited by using endorphins and LDN. It is suggested that the increased levels of endorphins
induced by LDN, causes death of the cancer cells.
LDN reduces the activity of multiple sclerosis by reducing spasms and fatigue, improves bladder control,
heat tolerance, improvements in mobility, sleep, pain, tremor and other symptoms. Since most of the
endorphins are produced at night between 2a.m. and 4a.m., the dose is taken at bedtime between 9p.m. to
midnight. This triples the endorphin levels in the body and all of the next day the levels are restored to
normal.
In the early 1990’s LDN was studied in autism with positive results. The positive results were in the
areas of mood, cognition, language and socialization. LDN has also been prescribed for irritable bowel
syndrome and for frequent urination with great success. An added benefit of LDN is in the area of pain
relief. Some other diseases which this drug has been used for are the following: various cancers, non-
Hodgkin’s lymphomas rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Celiac Disease, emphysema, Behcet’s Disease,
Parkinson’s and more.
How can one, tiny pill do so much for so many different disorders? All of the above named disorders
have something in common, the immune system, in which low, blood levels of endorphins play a role in the
disease progression. While the opioid receptors are blocked between 2a.m.– 4a.m. with LDN, this causes
a prolonged increase of endorphins to circulate in the blood for days. The major value of LDN is to restore
the body’s normal production of endorphins thus improving the immune function of the body.
LDN, a prescription drug, should be filled by a “compounding pharmacy”, one in which medicines are
specially prepared by pharmacists to meet patient’s individual needs. It should “not” be in a slow release or
timed-release form so to ensure the proper effect of the drug. The LDN website www.lowdosenaltrexone.
org has a list of compounding pharmacies. This site has further information about the work of Dr. Bihari.
Since LDN will not make tons of money for drug companies, it is doubtful that a drug company will spend
millions of dollars required to perform the effectiveness of this drug for immune deficiency diseases.
Nevertheless, many physicians have had great result with this drug and physicians may legally prescribe
the drug by what is termed “off label”, meaning that if the FDA has approved the drug for use, they may
prescribe it.
Hopefully, for the many sufferers of immune, deficiency diseases, the future is here with LDN and for
many, it's none too soon. I can personally vouch for this wonderful drug. Since being on LDN, I haven't
had as much as a cold.
