Re: looking for confidence/mickmac1uk()

[Guest guest]

> I am a distraught dad.I have learned in the last couple of months that

> my 28 year old daughter has primary progressive MS and am totally

> devastated to see her plight.She has started LDN 3mg 6 days ago and

> after 2 days started to experience apparent aggravation of her

> symptoms.I desperately need feedback from you guys out there on the

> medication as my confidence is shot to pieces.I am obviously praying

> for this to work and halt the progression.I guess i really need to

> speak to other people in this situation as well as I am really

> struggling to cope .

> Regards:-Mick Mac

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, print this off for your daughter and give it to her.

For those of you in the first months of LDN therapy Dr. Bob Lawrence from the

UK who has MS & uses LDN himself explains why the temporary increase in MS

symptoms.

When starting this LDN(Low Dose Naltrexone) therapy in the treatment of MS,

there may also be some initial transient, though temporary, increase in MS

symptoms.

Experience in using this method has demonstrated most commonly, such as

disturbed sleep, occasionally with vivid, bizarre and disturbing dreams,

tiredness, fatigue, spasm and pain. These increased symptoms would not normally

be expected to last more than seven to ten days.

Rarely, other transient symptoms have included more severe pain and spasm,

headache, diarrhea or vomiting. These additional symptoms would appear to be

associated with the previous frequent use of strong analgesics, which

effectively create an addiction and dependency, thus increasing the body's

sensitivity to pain. This temporary increase in symptoms may also perhaps be

explained when we consider the manner in which this drug is expected to work.

Initially, MS occurs due to a reduction in the activity of the controlling

influence of the suppressor T-cells within the immune system. During an acute

relapse, the overall number of T-cells is reduced, the normal balance of helper

T-cells and suppressor T-cells is disrupted and the damaging helper (CD-4)

T-cells tend to predominate. This is the situation most pronounced during an

acute relapse but occurs similarly, but to a lesser extent, in chronic

progressive MS. Under the influence of LDN there will be an expected increase in

the overall numbers of T-cells but, because the CD-4, helper T-cells tend to

predominate at this time, an increase in their numbers will expectedly tend to

increase MS symptoms. It is only when the numbers of suppressor T-cells

effectively & quot;catch up & quot; that the normal balance is restored and

symptoms once again diminish and improve.

In addition, because LDN stimulates the immune system and many of the drugs

routinely used by the NHS in the treatment of MS further suppress the immune

system, LDN cannot be used in company with steroids, beta interferon,

methotrexate, azathioprine or mitozantrone or any other immune suppressant drug.

If there is any doubt, please submit a full list of the drugs you are presently

taking so that their compatibility may be assessed.

In addition, because LDN will also block the analgesic effects of any opiate

drugs (includes codeine, dihydrocodeine, morphine, pethidine or diamorphine)

presently being taken, the use of LDN will initially greatly increase the level

of pain experienced. It is therefore advisable that any opiate-like drugs be

discontinued at least two weeks before this treatment is initiated. When

starting the treatment it is essential that any untoward or adverse side-effects

are reported immediately so that the treatment process can be further assessed

and, if necessary, modified.

Dr. M R Lawrence

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