LDN and Autistic Children

July 24, 2005

LDN and Autistic Children...

If you haven't seen it, this might be of interest to you:

s=0c6c788431306f2094a112aa30155615 & p=755934#post755934

.... and here is an abstract of a study called " Low-dose naltrexone

effects on plasma chemistries and clinical symptoms in autism: a

double-blind, placebo-controlled study. "

cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=8570775 & dopt=Abstract

Also this, which is about a report called " Brief Report: Case

Reports on Naltrexone Use in Children with Autism: Controlled

Observations Regarding Benefits and Practical Issues of Medication

Management " ... it doesn't have the report itself but tells you how

to purchase a copy:

klu/jadd/2001/00000031/00000001/00294532

Here is an article from the American Journal of Psychiatry,

called " Naltrexone Treatment for a 3-Year-Old Boy With Self-

Injurious Behavior " . This is an interesting story of

a " developmentally delayed child " :

The study above notes that " The self-injurious behavior showed clear

worsening over a 2-week period after the addition of naltrexone

(i.e., a probable extinction burst) but completely disappeared over

months. "

An " extinction burst " is a behavioral psychology term... but I

wonder if it's biological. Like when some of us MSers get

temporarily worse, then get better.

Also, in case you didn't know, naltrexone is widely used in

veterinary medicine to stop habitual, self-injurious behavior in

animals.

Also interesting ... The FDA has awarded orphan drug status to

naltrexone to treat symptoms of childhood autism. Another FDA

orphan grant has been issued to naltrexone as a therapy for self-

injurious behaviors.

Hope this helps...

Maureen

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