LDN history/Bihari's 1st trials w/LDN, Please Read

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Background

> History

LDN has been in use in the treatment of HIV/AIDS since the completion of a

double-blinded placebo-controlled trial in 1986. The trial showed significant

immune system protection from HIV in the group given the active drug.

The development of LDN was based on several biological facts. One was the fact

that naltrexone, which had been licensed in 1984 as an adjunct in treating

heroin addiction, has the ability to induce increases in the endorphin levels in

the body. Another was the fact that endorphins are the primary supervisors or

(homeostatic) regulators of the immune system, representing 90% of immune system

hormonal control. Ninety percent of the day's endorphins are produced by the

pituitary and adrenal glands between 2a.m. and 4a.m.

Dr. Bihari and his colleagues then showed that endorphin blood levels averaged

less than 25% of normal in people with AIDS. These facts all provided the

background for the discovery of the value of LDN in HIV/AIDS. The nocturnal

production of endorphins allowed Dr. Bihari and his colleagues to experiment

with small doses of naltrexone taken at bedtime in order to jump-start endorphin

production. They found that LDN increased endorphin production when taken at

bedtime in doses of 1.5mg to 4.5mg. Doses lower than 1.5mg had no effect on

endorphin production. Doses higher than 4.5mg produced no more of an endorphin

boost, but did block endorphins for significantly longer, thereby reducing the

benefit of increased endorphin levels.

Dr. Bihari and his colleagues carried out a placebo-controlled trial of low dose

naltrexone in 1985-1986 in 38 patients with AIDS. This followed publication of

considerable laboratory research in basic immunology done by Plotnikoff and

others that had shown how endorphins play a central role in regulating the

immune system. LDN was chosen for its ability to induce increased production in

the body of two endorphins, beta endorphin and metenkephalin. A dose was chosen,

3.0 mg at bedtime, that raised endorphin levels without blocking them for more

than a few hours. The elevated endorphin levels persisted for 20 to 24 hours.

The Official LDN website, the above is written in the LDN HIV/AIDS section

http://www.ldninfo.org