Re: Need info for our doc/naltrexone

[Guest guest]

There is mostly stuff for AIDs and cancer, but the list is getting quite

long, and I think fibromyalgia is on the list, not autism yet. I and many

other docs have used the Naltrexone in regular 50mg doses with no or even

negative responses, even though theoretically it was supposed to work. I

did not learn until now why that happens; too much floods the system and

shuts it down, a tiny bit stimulates it to activate the immune system. I

will send you some sites privately. Dr. JM

Need info for our doc/naltrexone

>

>

> Is there anything in writing (study, hypothesis, anything) that I can

> send to our new doctor about using this for fms and asd immune

> dysfunction?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

> > I should think this would be good for anyone, and it is non-toxic and

> > inexpensive, so why not? However, the dose for adults is 4.5mg, and

> for

> > children 3 mg. Dr. JM

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at

<http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com/default.aspx>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Google it, it is all there.

Need info for our doc/naltrexone

Is there anything in writing (study, hypothesis, anything) that I can

send to our new doctor about using this for fms and asd immune

dysfunction?

Thanks,

> I should think this would be good for anyone, and it is non-toxic and

> inexpensive, so why not? However, the dose for adults is 4.5mg, and

for

> children 3 mg. Dr. JM

Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at

<http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com/default.aspx<http://forums.autism-rxguideb\

ook.com/default.aspx>>

[Guest guest]

Low Dose Naltrexone

FDA-approved naltrexone, in a low dose, can boost the immune system -

helping those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) Home Page

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

For announcements and discussion about Low Dose Naltrexone,

subscribe to the LDN Yahoo Group:

Join

The LDN Yahoo Group is an announcement and discussion group for those

interested in LDN, and who wish to be notified about updates to this website. We

expect that official announcements to the group will be fairly infrequent,

typically not more than one per month. Group members not wishing to receive

general discussion e-mail from other members may set their message delivery

option to " Special Notices " when joining, or by logging on to the LDN Yahoo

Group site<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lowdosenaltrexone> and clicking on

" Edit My Membership. "

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

> On this page you can find answers to these questions:

a.. What is low-dose naltrexone and why is it

important?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#What_is_low_dose_naltrexone>

b.. How does LDN

work?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#How_does_LDN_work_>

c.. What diseases has it been useful for and how effective is

it?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#What_diseases_has_it_been_useful_for>

d.. How can I obtain LDN and what will it

cost?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#How_can_I_obtain_LDN>

e.. What dosage and frequency should my physician

prescribe?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#What_dosage_and_frequency>

f.. Are there any side effects or cautionary

warnings?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#Are_there_any_side_effects>

g.. When will the low-dose use of naltrexone become FDA

approved?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#When_will_LDN_be_approved>

h.. What can I do to spread the word about

LDN?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#What_you_can_do>

i.. Who sponsored this

website?<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/#about_this_website>

> You can go to more detailed information on these linked pages:

a.. The Latest News Concerning

LDN<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_latest_news.htm>

b.. Clinical Trials for

LDN<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_trials.htm> NEW!

c.. LDN in the Treatment of Autoimmune

Disease<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_and_ai.htm>

d.. LDN in the Treatment of

Cancer<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_and_cancer.htm>

e.. LDN in the Treatment of

HIV/AIDS<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_and_hiv.htm>

In-depth historical reports on LDN for HIV/AIDS:

a.. " Low Dose Naltrexone in the Treatment of Acquired Immune

Deficiency Syndrome<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_aids_1988.htm>, " a

paper presented in 1988 to the International AIDS Conference in Stockholm,

Sweden, describing in detail the 1986 LDN HIV/AIDS clinical study.

b.. " Low Dose Naltrexone in the Treatment of HIV

Infection<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_hiv_1996.htm>, " an informal

description of the results in Dr. Bernard Bihari's private practice through

September, 1996.

f.. LDN in the Treatment of Multiple

Sclerosis<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_and_ms.htm>

g.. What Others Are Saying About

LDN<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/others.htm>

h.. Further Questions and Answers about

LDN<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/further_q_and_a.htm>

i.. Reliability Problem With Compounding

Pharmacies<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/comp_pharm.htm>

j.. The Developing Nations

Project<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/developing_nations.htm>

k.. LDN Events<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/events.htm>: NEW! FIRST

ANNUAL LDN CONFERENCE, JUNE 11, 2005

<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/events.htm>

l.. Curriculum Vitae for Bernard Bihari,

M.D.<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/bbihari_cv.htm>

m.. Excerpts from Patient Interviews:

a.. LDN and

HIV<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ldn_and_hiv.htm#Quotes>

b.. The Developing Nations

Project<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/developing_nations.htm#Quotes>

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What is low-dose naltrexone and why is it important?

> Low-dose naltrexone holds great promise for the millions of people

worldwide facing a possible death sentence from virtually incurable cancers and

other diseases.

> In the developing world, LDN could provide the first low-cost, easy to

administer, and side-effect-free therapy for HIV/AIDS.

Naltrexone itself was approved by the FDA in 1984 in a 50mg dose for the

purpose of helping heroin or opium addicts, by blocking the effect of such

drugs. By blocking opioid receptors, naltrexone also blocks the reception of the

opioid hormones that our brain and adrenal glands produce: beta-endorphin and

metenkephalin. Many body tissues have receptors for these endorphins and

enkephalins, including virtually every cell of the body's immune system.

In 1985, Bernard Bihari, MD, a physician with a clinical practice in New

York City, discovered the effects of a much smaller dose of naltrexone

(approximately 3mg once a day) on the body's immune system. He found that this

low dose, taken at bedtime, was able to enhance a patient's response to

infection by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. [Note: Subsequently, the optimal

adult dosage of LDN has been found to be 4.5mg.]

In the mid-1990's, Dr. Bihari found that patients in his practice with

cancer (such as lymphoma or pancreatic cancer) could benefit, in some cases

dramatically, from LDN. In addition, people who had autoimmune disease (such as

lupus) often showed prompt control of disease activity while taking LDN.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

How does LDN work?

> LDN boosts the immune system, activating the body's own natural

defenses.

Up to the present time, the question of " What controls the immune system? "

has not been present in the curricula of medical colleges and the issue has not

formed a part of the received wisdom of practicing physicians. Nonetheless, a

body of research over the past two decades has pointed repeatedly to one's own

endorphin secretions (our internal opioids) as playing the central role in the

beneficial orchestration of the immune system, and recognition of the facts is

growing.

Witness these statements from a recent review article of medical progress

in the November 13, 2003 issue of the prestigious New England Journal of

Medicine: " Opioid-Induced Immune Modulation: .... Preclinical evidence indicates

overwhelmingly that opioids alter the development, differentiation, and function

of immune cells, and that both innate and adaptive systems are affected.1,2 Bone

marrow progenitor cells, macrophages, natural killer cells, immature thymocytes

and T cells, and B cells are all involved. The relatively recent identification

of opioid-related receptors on immune cells makes it even more likely that

opioids have direct effects on the immune system.3 "

The brief blockade of opioid receptors between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. that is

caused by taking LDN at bedtime each night is believed to produce a prolonged

up-regulation of vital elements of the immune system by causing an increase in

endorphin and enkephalin production. Normal volunteers who have taken LDN in

this fashion have been found to have much higher levels of beta-endorphins

circulating in their blood in the following days. Animal research by I. Zagon,

Ph.D., and his colleagues has shown a marked increase in metenkephalin levels as

well. [Note: Additional information for Dr. Zagon can be found at the end of

this page.]

Bihari says that his patients with HIV/AIDS who regularly took LDN before

the availability of HAART were generally spared any deterioration of their

important helper T cells (CD4+).

In human cancer, research by Zagon over many years has demonstrated

inhibition of a number of different human tumors in laboratory studies by using

endorphins and low dose naltrexone. It is suggested that the increased endorphin

and enkephalin levels, induced by LDN, work directly on the tumors' opioid

receptors - and, perhaps, induce cancer cell death (apoptosis). In addition, it

is believed that they act to increase natural killer cells and other healthy

immune defenses against cancer.

In general, in people with diseases that are partially or largely

triggered by a deficiency of endorphins (including cancer and autoimmune

diseases), or are accelerated by a deficiency of endorphins (such as HIV/AIDS),

restoration of the body's normal production of endorphins is the major

therapeutic action of LDN.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

What diseases has it been useful for and how effective is it?

> Bernard Bihari, MD has described beneficial effects of LDN on a variety

of diseases:

Cancers: Other Diseases:

a.. Breast Cancer

b.. Carcinoid

c.. Colon & Rectal Cancer

d.. Glioblastoma

e.. Liver Cancer

f.. Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell)

g.. Lymphocytic Leukemia

h.. Lymphoma (Hodgkin's and

Non-Hodgkin's)

i.. Malignant Melanoma

j.. Multiple Myeloma

k.. Neuroblastoma

l.. Ovarian Cancer

m.. Pancreatic Cancer

n.. Prostate Cancer (untreated)

o.. Renal Cell Carcinoma

p.. Throat Cancer

q.. Uterine Cancer

a.. ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)

b.. Alzheimer's Disease

c.. Behcet's Disease

d.. Celiac Disease

e.. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

f.. Crohn's Disease

g.. Emphysema (COPD)

h.. Fibromyalgia

i.. HIV/AIDS

j.. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

k.. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

l.. Parkinson's Disease

m.. Pemphigoid

n.. Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)

o.. Psoriasis

p.. Rheumatoid Arthritis

q.. Sarcoidosis

r.. Systemic Lupus (SLE)

s.. Ulcerative Colitis

t.. Wegener's Granulomatosis

> LDN has demonstrated efficacy in hundreds of cases.

Cancer. As of mid-2004, Dr. Bihari reports having treated over 300

patients with cancer that had failed to respond to standard treatments. Of that

group, some 50%, after four to six months treatment with LDN, began to

demonstrate a halt in cancer growth and, of those, over one-third have shown

objective signs of tumor shrinkage.

Autoimmune disease. Within the group of patients who presented with an

autoimmune disease (see above list), none have failed to respond to LDN; all

have experienced a halt in progression of their illness. In many patients there

was a marked remission in signs and symptoms of the disease. The greatest number

of patients within the autoimmune group are people with multiple sclerosis, of

whom there are now some 400 in Dr. Bihari's practice. Less than 1% of these

patients has ever experienced a fresh attack of MS while they maintained their

regular LDN nightly therapy.

HIV/AIDS. As of September 2003, Dr. Bihari has been treating 350 AIDS

patients using LDN in conjunction with accepted AIDS therapies. Over the past 7

years over 85% of these patients showed no detectable levels of the HIV virus -

a much higher success rate than most current AIDS treatments, and with no

significant side effects. It is also worth noting that many HIV/AIDS patients

under Dr. Bihari's care have been living symptom-free for years taking only LDN

with no other medications.

> How is it possible that one medication can impact such a wide range of

disorders?

The disorders listed above all share a particular feature: in all of them,

the immune system plays a central role - and low blood levels of endorphins are

generally present, playing a role in the disease-associated immune deficiencies.

Research by others - on neuropeptide receptors expressed by various human

tumors - has found opioid receptors in many types of cancer:

a.. Brain tumors (both astrocytoma and glioblastoma)

b.. Breast cancer

c.. Endometrial cancer

d.. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

e.. Myeloid leukemia

f.. Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell)

g.. Neuroblastoma and others...

These findings suggest the possibility for a beneficial LDN effect in a

wide variety of common cancers.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

How can I obtain LDN and what will it cost?

> LDN can be prescribed by your doctor, and prepared by your local

pharmacy.

Naltrexone is a prescription drug, so your physician would have to give

you a prescription after deciding that LDN appears appropriate for you.

Naltrexone in the large 50mg size, originally manufactured by DuPont under

the brand name ReVia, is now sold by Mallinckrodt as Depade and by Barr

Laboratories under the generic name naltrexone.

LDN is now being made available by hundreds of local pharmacies, as well

as by some mail-order pharmacies, around the US. Some pharmacists have been

grinding up the 50mg tablets of naltrexone to prepare the 4.5mg capsules of LDN;

others use naltrexone, purchased as a powder, from a primary manufacturer.

One of the first pharmacies to do so was Irmat Pharmacy in Manhattan.

Their recent price for a one-month's supply of 4.5mg LDN (30 capsules) was $38.

Irmat will ship it anywhere, in the US or to other countries, and will accept

prescriptions from any licensed physician.

> Pharmacies that are good sources of LDN:

Irmat Pharmacy, New York, NY

Gideon's Drugs, New York, NY

The Compounder Pharmacy, Aurora, IL

The Medicine Shoppe, Canandaigua, NY

Skip's Pharmacy, Boca Raton, FL

's Pharmacy, Toronto, Canada

> IMPORTANT: Make sure to specify that you do NOT want LDN in a

slow-release form.

Reports have been received from patients that their pharmacies have been

supplying a slow-release form of naltrexone. Pharmacies should be instructed NOT

to provide LDN in an " SR " or slow-release or timed-release form. Unless the low

dose of naltrexone is in an unaltered form, which permits it to reach a prompt

" spike " in the blood stream, its therapeutic effects may be inhibited.

> IMPORTANT: Make sure to fill your Rx at a compounding pharmacy that has

a reputation for consistent reliability in the quality of the LDN it delivers.

The FDA has found a significant error rate in compounded prescriptions

produced at randomly selected pharmacies. Dr. Bihari has reported seeing adverse

effects from this problem. Please see our report, Reliability Problem With

Compounding Pharmacies<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/comp_pharm.htm>. Please

see the above list of recommended pharmacies for some suggested sources.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

What dosage and frequency should my physician prescribe?

The usual adult dosage is 4.5mg taken once daily at night. Because of the

rhythms of the body's production of master hormones, LDN is best taken between

9pm and 3am. Most patients take it at bedtime.

People who have multiple sclerosis that has led to muscle spasms are

advised to use only 3mg daily and to maintain that dosage.

Rarely, the naltrexone may need to be purchased as a solution - in

distilled water - with 1mg per ml dispensed with a 5ml medicine dropper. If LDN

is used in a liquid form, it is important to keep it refrigerated.

The therapeutic dosage range for LDN is from 1.75mg to 4.5mg every night.

Dosages below this range are likely to have no effect at all, and dosages above

this range are likely to block endorphins for too long a period of time and

interfere with its effectiveness.

> IMPORTANT: Make sure to specify that you do NOT want LDN in a

slow-release form (see above).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are there any side effects or cautionary warnings?

> Side effects:

LDN has virtually no side effects. Occasionally, during the first week's

use of LDN, patients may complain of some difficulty sleeping. This rarely

persists after the first week. Should it do so, dosage can be reduced from 4.5mg

to 3mg nightly.

> Cautionary warnings:

Because LDN blocks opioid receptors throughout the body for three or four

hours, people using medicine that is an opioid agonist, i.e. narcotic medication

- such as Ultram, morphine, Percocet, Duragesic patch or codeine-containing

medication - should not take LDN until such medicine is completely out of one's

system. In addition, LDN should probably not be taken during pregnancy.

Full-dose naltrexone (50mg) carries a cautionary warning against its use

in those with liver disease. This warning was placed because of adverse liver

effects that were found in experiments involving 300mg daily. The 50mg dose does

not apparently produce impairment of liver function nor, of course, do the much

smaller 3mg and 4.5mg doses.

People who have received organ transplants and who therefore are taking

immunosuppressive medication on a permanent basis are cautioned against the use

of LDN because it may act to counter the effect of those medications.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

When will the low-dose use of naltrexone become FDA approved?

> Although naltrexone itself is an FDA-approved drug, LDN still awaits

clinical trials.

The FDA approved naltrexone at the 50mg dosage in 1984. LDN (in the 3mg or

4.5mg dosage) has not yet been submitted for approval because the prospective

clinical trials that are required for FDA approval need to be funded at the cost

of many millions of dollars.

All physicians understand that appropriate off-label use of an already

FDA-approved medication such as naltrexone is perfectly ethical and legal.

Because naltrexone itself has already passed animal toxicity studies, one could

expect that once testing is able to begin, LDN could complete its clinical

trials in humans and receive FDA approval for one or more uses within two to

four years.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

What You Can Do

> Talk to your doctor.

If you are suffering from HIV/AIDS, cancer, or an autoimmune disease, LDN

could help. In AIDS and cancer therapy, LDN is often used in conjunction with

other medications.

Cancer. Anyone with cancer or a pre-cancerous condition should consider

LDN. Many use LDN as a preventive treatment. Post-treatment, others have been

using LDN to prevent a recurrence of their cancer. LDN has been shown in many

cases to work with virtually incurable cancers such as neuroblastoma, multiple

myeloma, and pancreatic cancer.

HIV/AIDS. As an AIDS drug, LDN leads to far fewer side effects than the

standard " AIDS cocktail " . When used in conjunction with HAART therapies, LDN can

boost T-cell populations, prevent disfiguring lipodystrophy, and lower rates of

treatment failure.

Do not be afraid to approach your doctors - physicians today are

increasingly open to learning about new therapies in development. Tell your

doctors about this website, or print out and hand them the information, and let

them weigh the evidence.

> Tell others.

If someone you know has HIV/AIDS, cancer, or an autoimmune disease, LDN

could save them from a great deal of suffering. If they use e-mail, send them

the address of this website (www.lowdosenaltrexone.org). Or, print out the site

and mail them the information.

> Help spread the word to the media, the medical community, and to

developing countries.

Low-dose naltrexone has the potential to reduce the terrible human loss

now taking place throughout the globe. It is a drug that could prevent millions

of children from becoming AIDS orphans. It is a drug that could be a powerful

ally in the war against cancer.

If you or someone you know has connections in the media, the medical

community, or to those in developing countries involved in AIDS policy or

treatment, please let them know about LDN.

> Raise funds to help run clinical trials.

If possible, consider contributing to the Foundation for Immunologic

Research (FFIR), a 501©(3) non-profit organization, founded by Bernard Bihari,

MD, in order to help assist the implementation of clinical trials for LDN. The

goal is to achieve general scientific acceptance of LDN. This, in turn, should

lead to international availability for people everywhere. See the Foundation's

website<http://www.ffir.org/>.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

About This Website

> This is a not-for-profit website.

This website is sponsored by Advocates For Therapeutic Immunology. The

purpose of this website is to provide information to patients and physicians

about important therapeutic breakthroughs in advanced medical immunology. The

authors of this site do not profit from the sale of low-dose naltrexone or from

website traffic, and are in no way associated with any pharmaceutical

manufacturer or pharmacy.

> Consult your doctor.

This website is not intended as a substitute for professional medical help

or advice. A physician should always be consulted for any medical condition.

> Contact us.

For information on how to contact us with questions or comments, click

here<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/contact_us.htm>.

Please note that no response can be given to individual questions

concerning medical symptoms or treatment.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Information

a.. Bernard Bihari, MD, 29 W. 15th Street, New York, NY 10011; (212)

929-4196.

Click here to see Dr. Bihari's curriculum

vitae.<http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/bbihari_cv.htm>

b.. Ian S. Zagon, Ph.D., Professor of Neuroscience and Anatomy,

Pennsylvania State University, Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy, H-109,

The M.S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033; office phone: (717)

531-8650; email: isz1@... (click

here<http://www.genetics.psu.edu/Faculty/detail.asp?pkey=61> and

here<http://www.hmc.psu.edu/depts/cgi-bin/faculty.pl?name=zagon.html & folder=facu\

lty & code=neuroanatomydept> for Dr. Zagon's websites).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnotes

<>

1.. Roy S, Loh HH. Effects of opioids on the immune system. Neurochem

Res 1996;21:1375-1386

2.. Risdahl JM, Khanna KV, PK, Molitor TW. Opiates and

infection. J Neuroimmunol 1998;83:4-18

3.. Makman MH. Morphine receptors in immunocytes and neurons. Adv

Neuroimmunol 1994;4:69-82

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Need info for our doc/naltrexone

Is there anything in writing (study, hypothesis, anything) that I can

send to our new doctor about using this for fms and asd immune

dysfunction?

Thanks,

> I should think this would be good for anyone, and it is non-toxic and

> inexpensive, so why not? However, the dose for adults is 4.5mg, and

for

> children 3 mg. Dr. JM

Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at

<http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com/default.aspx<http://forums.autism-rxguideb\

ook.com/default.aspx>>

[Guest guest]

This was written before the whole low dose information was available, and

since it is only available in 50mg tabs unless compounded, that was the dose

we used to use in our kids. Dr. JM

Re: Need info for our doc/naltrexone

>

> Naltrexone and Autism

>

>

> Written by M. Edelson, Ph.D.

> Center for the Study of Autism, Salem, Oregon

> In the past year, naltrexone has received a great deal of media attention.

Although there have only been a handful of studies on the effectiveness of

naltrexone, these reports are quite encouraging.

>

> Naltrexone blocks the action of endogenous opioids at opiate receptors;

endorphins are opiate-like substances in the brain and are associated with

pleasure (e.g., runners' 'high,' sexual activity) and/or an anesthetic-like

feeling. One theory states that autistic individuals have too much

beta-endorphins in their central nervous system. This theory goes on to

posit that naltrexone blocks the action of opiate receptors, and thus,

reduces the level of endorphins.

>

> Some of the improvements noted in autistic individuals who have taken

naltrexone include: increased socialization, eye contact, and general

happiness; normalized pain sensitivity; and a reduction in self-injury and

stereotypic (self-stimulatory) behaviors.

>

> There are no known side-effects of naltrexone although possible long-term

effects are difficult to assess given the relatively short amount of time

since naltrexone has been used for autistic individuals. However, there is

one report that some vision loss may occur when naltrexone is given with

Haldol. In addition, naltrexone may intensify social problems when given to

people suffering from schizophrenia.

>

> Naltrexone is listed in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) and is an

approved treatment for substance use disorders such as heroin addiction and

alcoholism. Since it is listed in the PDR, physicians may use their own

judgment in deciding whether to prescribe naltrexone to other individuals,

such as those with autism.

>

> Dr. Jaak Panksepp of Bowling Green University, one of the leading

investigators into the effects of naltrexone on lessening the symptoms of

autism, feels that those individuals who cry rarely, lack pain sensitivity,

and enjoy eating hot and spicy food may benefit most from naltrexone.

>

> If you would like to obtain more information about naltrexone, you may

want to contact Dr. Panksepp at the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green

State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0228.

>

>

> The Autism Research Institute distributes an information packet

> on drugs which includes articles on naltrexone.

> Click here<http://www.autism.com/ari/ari/pubs.html#p-6> to learn how to

obtain this packet.

>

>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

------

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Naltrexone and Autism

Written by M. Edelson, Ph.D.

Center for the Study of Autism, Salem, Oregon

In the past year, naltrexone has received a great deal of media attention.

Although there have only been a handful of studies on the effectiveness of

naltrexone, these reports are quite encouraging.

Naltrexone blocks the action of endogenous opioids at opiate receptors;

endorphins are opiate-like substances in the brain and are associated with

pleasure (e.g., runners' 'high,' sexual activity) and/or an anesthetic-like

feeling. One theory states that autistic individuals have too much

beta-endorphins in their central nervous system. This theory goes on to posit

that naltrexone blocks the action of opiate receptors, and thus, reduces the

level of endorphins.

Some of the improvements noted in autistic individuals who have taken naltrexone

include: increased socialization, eye contact, and general happiness; normalized

pain sensitivity; and a reduction in self-injury and stereotypic

(self-stimulatory) behaviors.

There are no known side-effects of naltrexone although possible long-term

effects are difficult to assess given the relatively short amount of time since

naltrexone has been used for autistic individuals. However, there is one report

that some vision loss may occur when naltrexone is given with Haldol. In

addition, naltrexone may intensify social problems when given to people

suffering from schizophrenia.

Naltrexone is listed in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) and is an approved

treatment for substance use disorders such as heroin addiction and alcoholism.

Since it is listed in the PDR, physicians may use their own judgment in deciding

whether to prescribe naltrexone to other individuals, such as those with autism.

Dr. Jaak Panksepp of Bowling Green University, one of the leading investigators

into the effects of naltrexone on lessening the symptoms of autism, feels that

those individuals who cry rarely, lack pain sensitivity, and enjoy eating hot

and spicy food may benefit most from naltrexone.

If you would like to obtain more information about naltrexone, you may want to

contact Dr. Panksepp at the Department of Psychology, Bowling Green State

University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0228.

The Autism Research Institute distributes an information packet

on drugs which includes articles on naltrexone.

Click here<http://www.autism.com/ari/ari/pubs.html#p-6> to learn how to obtain

this packet.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Would you recommend this to a high functioning kid who isn't self

injurious?

thanks

roz

> This was written before the whole low dose information was

available, and

> since it is only available in 50mg tabs unless compounded, that

was the dose

> we used to use in our kids. Dr. JM

> Re: Need info for our doc/naltrexone

>

>

> >

> > Naltrexone and Autism

> >

> >

> > Written by M. Edelson, Ph.D.

> > Center for the Study of Autism, Salem, Oregon

> > In the past year, naltrexone has received a great deal of media

attention.

> Although there have only been a handful of studies on the

effectiveness of

> naltrexone, these reports are quite encouraging.

> >

> > Naltrexone blocks the action of endogenous opioids at opiate

receptors;

> endorphins are opiate-like substances in the brain and are

associated with

> pleasure (e.g., runners' 'high,' sexual activity) and/or an

anesthetic-like

> feeling. One theory states that autistic individuals have too much

> beta-endorphins in their central nervous system. This theory goes

on to

> posit that naltrexone blocks the action of opiate receptors, and

thus,

> reduces the level of endorphins.

> >

> > Some of the improvements noted in autistic individuals who have

taken

> naltrexone include: increased socialization, eye contact, and

general

> happiness; normalized pain sensitivity; and a reduction in self-

injury and

> stereotypic (self-stimulatory) behaviors.

> >

> > There are no known side-effects of naltrexone although possible

long-term

> effects are difficult to assess given the relatively short amount

of time

> since naltrexone has been used for autistic individuals. However,

there is

> one report that some vision loss may occur when naltrexone is

given with

> Haldol. In addition, naltrexone may intensify social problems when

given to

> people suffering from schizophrenia.

> >

> > Naltrexone is listed in the Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) and

is an

> approved treatment for substance use disorders such as heroin

addiction and

> alcoholism. Since it is listed in the PDR, physicians may use

their own

> judgment in deciding whether to prescribe naltrexone to other

individuals,

> such as those with autism.

> >

> > Dr. Jaak Panksepp of Bowling Green University, one of the leading

> investigators into the effects of naltrexone on lessening the

symptoms of

> autism, feels that those individuals who cry rarely, lack pain

sensitivity,

> and enjoy eating hot and spicy food may benefit most from

naltrexone.

> >

> > If you would like to obtain more information about naltrexone,

you may

> want to contact Dr. Panksepp at the Department of Psychology,

Bowling Green

> State University, Bowling Green, OH 43403-0228.

> >

> >

> > The Autism Research Institute distributes an information packet

> > on drugs which includes articles on naltrexone.

> > Click here<http://www.autism.com/ari/ari/pubs.html#p-6> to learn

how to

> obtain this packet.

> >

> >

> > -----------------------------------------------------------------

---------

> ------

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

This was written before the whole low dose information was available, and

since it is only available in 50mg tabs unless compounded, that was the dose

we used to use in our kids. Dr. JM

Yeah, I figured that out after doing more reading. Sorry about that.

jennifer

[Guest guest]

One more question. What kinds of improvements are they seeing in patients with

autism who are given naltrexone?

Need info for our doc/naltrexone

>

>

> Is there anything in writing (study, hypothesis, anything) that I can

> send to our new doctor about using this for fms and asd immune

> dysfunction?

>

> Thanks,

>

>

>

> > I should think this would be good for anyone, and it is non-toxic and

> > inexpensive, so why not? However, the dose for adults is 4.5mg, and

> for

> > children 3 mg. Dr. JM

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at

<http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com/default.aspx>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Please ask me again in one month.

Need info for our doc/naltrexone

>

>

> >

> >

> > Is there anything in writing (study, hypothesis, anything) that I can

> > send to our new doctor about using this for fms and asd immune

> > dysfunction?

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

> >

> > > I should think this would be good for anyone, and it is non-toxic

and

> > > inexpensive, so why not? However, the dose for adults is 4.5mg, and

> > for

> > > children 3 mg. Dr. JM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Many frequently asked questions and answers can be found at

> <http://forums.autism-rxguidebook.com/default.aspx>

> >

> >