Guest guest Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 hi, I'm not making any claims as I have no personal experience, but this sounds kind of promising! Just sharing this group which my friend just sent me Liora ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: Autism_LDN Moderator <Autism_LDN-owner > Autism_LDN-owner{at} visit <Autism_ldn/> to join > > > Date: Sat, May 22, 2010 at 9:19 AM > Subject: File - LDN for Immunomodulation > > > > > > LDN - LOW-DOSE NALTREXONE FOR IMMUNOMODULATION > > > > Naltrexone is an FDA-approved drug used as an opiate antagonist for > treating > > opiate drug and alcohol addiction since the 1970's, available in generic > > form as well as ReVia in 50mg tablets. At regular dosing, usually 50mg a > > day, it blocks the euphoric response to opiate drugs such as heroin or > > morphine. I as well as many other DAN! doctors have tried Naltrexone with > > our ASD children hoping to offset the " opioid " effects of the large > peptides > > in wheat, milk and soy. I found it mostly ineffective and abandoned this > > therapy long ago. Naltrexone has always been considered very safe and has > > never been reported as being addicting. > > > > Opioids are known to operate as cytokines, the principal communication > > signalers of the immune system, creating immunomodulatory effects through > > opioid receptors on immune cells. A popular immune classification method is > > referred to as the Th1/Th2 balance; Th1 cells promote cell-mediated > immunity > > while Th2 cells induce humoral immunity. The inability to respond > adequately > > with a Th1 response can result in chronic infection and cancer; an > > overactive Th2 response can contribute to allergies and various syndromes > > and play a role in autoimmune disease, which most ASD children show on > > immune testing. > > > > Bernard Bihari, MD, a New York physician studying the immune responses in > > AIDs patients, discovered that a very low dose of naltrexone in less than > > one-tenth the usual dosage boosts the immune system and helps fight > diseases > > characterized by inadequate immune function. Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) > tends > > to normalize the immune system by elevating the body's endorphin levels and > > accomplishes its results with virtually no side effects or toxicity. Since > > endorphins are an integral part of the immune system, when a tiny dose of > > naltrexone is given between 9-12pm at night the body attempts to overcome > > the opioid block and the endorphins rise, to stay elevated throughout the > > next 18 hours. > > > > LDN had been studied in ASD children using from 5-12.5mg daily or every > > other day in the early 90s; researchers were looking for opioid antagonism. > > Results were equivocal with non-compliance because of the bitterness of the > > drug. Dr. Tyrus at Coastal Compounding agreed to create a transdermal > > cream for my study; that way we could adjust the dose easily (some of the > > smaller kids did better with only 1-1/2mg), the bitter taste was no > problem, > > and it could be put on their bodies while they slept. The cream is put into > > syringes, ? cc providing 3mg, with a month's supply of the child dose (3mg) > > costing $19, the adult dose (4.5mg) $30, plus shipping, no refrigeration > > required. Dr. has offered to share this very effective formula with > > any compounding pharmacist who wishes to call him, 912-354-5188. > > > > I have completed an 8-week informal clinical study on 15 of my ASD patients > > using 3mg of LDN transdermally between 9-12pm. Several adults participated > > also, one with Crohn's Disease and one with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome using > > 4.5mg nightly. Parents reported weekly; 8 of the 15 children had positive > > responses, with five of these 8 having results considered quite phenomenal > > according to their parents. The primary positive responses have been in the > > area of mood, cognition, language, and socialization. 5 of the children had > > equivocal results and three children dropped out, one because of no > response > > after 4 weeks, the other two for personal family reasons. Two very small > > children did better when changed to 1-1/2mg dosing. No allergic reactions > > were noted to the cream, with the primary negative side effect being > > insomnia and earlier awakening when first taking it, usually lasting 3-5 > > days. The two adults in the study, one with Crohn's and the other with > > Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, have had very positive responses; the Crohn's > > participant says she has been in remission since starting LDN (almost 3 > > months now). All participants who completed my study have indicated they > > wish to continue, and hundreds of other ASD kids have started this > > non-toxic, non-invasive, inexpensive intervention by now. > > > > All my study children were on well-controlled dietary restriction. I am > > receiving reports from the e-lists I monitor of about 5% of other children > > besides those in my study having side effects such as irritability, > > agitation, and restlessness. Side effects subside as soon as the drug is > > withdrawn. I am querying these parents about gluten/casein/soy in diet, as > > this could be withdrawal symptoms of opioid block. I suspect that children > > on a strict GF/CF/SF diet may demonstrate the positive immune modulation > > effect sooner than the child who needs to go through opioid withdrawal > > first, but I assume it is possible for the block to stimulate withdrawal > > effects and also have the endorphin rush if parents want to stick out the > > side effects. > > > > It may be a while before a formal study can be conducted, so although I > > assume the positive effects are due to up-regulation of the immune system, > I > > do not yet have studies to prove it. I suspect we will get lots of informal > > clinical data long before we can get a formal study conducted. I am hoping > > this will be another weapon in our ever-expanding arsenal to help the > > children get as immune-efficient as possible. I want to thank those who > > participated in the study for being trusting enough to go along with me in > > trying something new, and I thank Dr. Tyrus at Coastal Compounding > for > > helping devise a successful form to use in our children. This list > has > > been started for reporting and discussion of this intervention. Jaquelyn > > McCandless, M.D. 7-18-05 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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