Low Dose Naltrexone

[George999]

Naltrexone and Low Dose Naltrexone are completely different drugs with differing effects.  A complete overview of LDN can be found here:  http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/ along with a list of diseases that respond favorably to it.  ED is not listed.  Personally, I found LDN very beneficial in terms of erections because LDN causes deep satisfying REM sleep.  But that is NOT the same pathway as conventional Naltrexone uses.  - George

[snowydreams]

Personally, I found Low Dose Naltrexone very beneficial in terms of erections because Low Dose Naltrexone causes deep satisfying REM sleep.

Is that the only biochemical cause improving erections or are there other reasons it improves erections?  How soon do you notice an improvement in erections and at what dosage?  Have you taken it with other medications?  Does it interact with Pentox, the PDE5 inhibitors or L-arginine?

[George999]

LDN interacts with almost nothing.  Exceptions are mainly narcotic type pain meds.  I take it will Pentox and BP meds.  It causes an improvement in erections right away since its effects come pretty quickly.  I am sure there are a lot of reasons for ED and thus different treatments would be appropriate in different cases.  - George

[crashbandit]

What time do you take your LDN George? I've read people taking LDN in the late morning at around 10-11 and others before bedtime. Whats the difference between these two times?

[George999]

LDN should always be taken just before bedtime.  - George

[crashbandit]

Thanks george, if you don't mind a couple more questions:) Do you take the LDN right before bed? How do you store your LDN? Do you get your supply from a compounding pharmacist? Or do you make your own batch from 25mg or 50mg tabs?

[skunkworks]

Do you take the Low Dose Naltrexone right before bed?

Low Dose Naltrexone should always be taken just before bedtime.  - George

[George999]

I get capsules from a compounding pharmacist that I store just like any other med.  - George

[crashbandit]

Do you take the Low Dose Naltrexone right before bed?

Low Dose Naltrexone should always be taken just before bedtime.  - George

Whoops, don't know what I was thinking there.

I mix 25ml distilled water with a 25mg Nevia tab in a 65ml bottle. I keep this bottle under my sink in the bathroom. Should I store this solution in the fridge you think?

You have 1mg LDN tabs George, or something like that?

[skunkworks]

I mix 25ml distilled water with a 25mg Nevia tab in a 65ml bottle. I keep this bottle under my sink in the bathroom. Should I store this solution in the fridge you think?

If you're mixing it yourself, best to refridgerate it.

[George999]

I mix 25ml distilled water with a 25mg Nevia tab in a 65ml bottle. I keep this bottle under my sink in the bathroom. Should I store this solution in the fridge you think?

I believe that once you mix it with water, it *should* be refrigerated.

You have 1mg Low Dose Naltrexone tabs George, or something like that?

LDN is a compounded prescription drug.  The way it works is that you work out with you doctor what strength works best for you as an individual.  The doctor then writes out a script for that exact amount and the pharmacist produces the pills to order.  Of course you can do the same thing by customizing how you cut your solution.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOekLFIvR7I

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51YirTASydo

Be sure to watch the above presentations for more info.  - George

[BentYoung]

This topic has died somewhat. Anyone seeing anything positive from Naltrexone for Peyronies Disease? I am thinking of trying this route next, but need to find out how to get some.  

[George999]

Actually, I am still taking Low Dose Naltrexone.  It has obviously helped me in several ways.  First of all it has revolutionized my sleeping patterns.  I now sleep sounder and feel more rested in the daytime.  Secondly it has eliminated any trace of irritable bowel issues.  But in terms of Peyronies, I would attribute little, if any, direct benefit.  It also was not of significant benefit for peripheral neuropathy, which is one thing I hoped it would help with.  DHEA has proven to be the answer to that one at this point.  - George

[goodluck]

George,

Just a few observations and questions.

I scaned the link to the LDN website.  There is a lot there to take in.  I noticed they list sleep disturbances as a side effect.  Yet, you say it helps you sleep better with deeper sleep.  Some of the testimonials say simmilar things.

I wonder if you can comment on why you take it and how it is now working overall.

Did you have any issues getting it scriptied by your MD?  Any issues getting it compounded in your region?

It appears to be very safe.  I don't know of any bad reactions or longterm concerns.  It is relatively inexpensive so no Large companies are in any hurry to see it studied for auto immune conditions which people are now disabled and on very expensive drugs to deal with symptoms.

Thanks for you comments.

GoodLuck

[George999]

In my case, it certainly is helpful in terms of sleep.  I think whether it helps or hinders is probably an individual reaction.  In my case, I had sleep problems when I began taking it.  Those went away rather dramatically with the LDN.

I initially began taking it in an effort to deal with my peripheral neuropathy symptoms.  I was also looking at what it might accomplish related to my other health issues.  As it turns out, it did not help noticeably with my neuropathy OR my Peyronie's issues, but it helped dramatically with my irritable bowel issues which where probably largely responsible for my sleep disruptions.  Because of that huge benefit, I have kept taking it until now.  Now that I have my blood sugar under control, I may try to stop taking it at some point in the future and see how I do from there.

Most MDs will not prescribe LDN because it is an off label use AND it is a compounded drug.  It is typically prescribed by Functional Medicine doctors, Anti-Ageing specialists, and Naturopaths.  In my case, I was able to get a prescription from my Naturopath ND who works in joint practice with a Functional Medicine MD.

LDN does not work for everything or for everybody, but in cases where it works, it tends to work dramatically.  I think a lot depends on what is causing the metabolic problems in the first place in each individual case.  And yes, the better part of the medical industry hates cheap and effective treatments like LDN because they are threatening to eat their lunch or at least a significant part of it.

[pizzaman]

I've been interested in LDN for several reasons. It may provide a boost to my testosterone replacement therapy, improve nocturnal erections, improve sleep quality, deal with the Peyronie's pain/inflammation. I already have the Naltrexone, and I'll probably start it later this week at 2mg. One worry I have is that if it will help erection quality too much when stacked with my 5mg daily Cialis. Priapism would be horrible. Does that seem like a valid concern, or am I worrying too much?

[George999]

I don't think that LDN would contribute to Priapism in any way.  It simply does not work like that.  It does tend to induce deep dream states that lend themselves to erections, BUT, those dream states don't continue forever.  They come and go, thus erections should do the same.  The erections however might well be more robust, given the deep dream state experienced with LDN.  - George

[pizzaman]

Thanks. I guess I was concerned it would have an effect like trazodone, but it sounds like it's much more natural than that.

[swolf]

Thanks. I guess I was concerned it would have an effect like trazodone, but it sounds like it's much more natural than that.

What effect does trazodone have that you are referring to?  

[pizzaman]

Thanks. I guess I was concerned it would have an effect like trazodone, but it sounds like it's much more natural than that.

What effect does trazodone have that you are referring to?

Priapism. It's uncommon, but very serious.

[funnyfarm]

George do you think there is any chance low dose naltrexone might reduce pain/soreness from peyronies, or urethral/prostate inflammation due to chronic abacterial prostatitis ?   So far diet / blood sugar control has helped somewhat, but I still suffer.

[George999]

I doubt it, but who really knows?  Every person is a unique case.  What LDN REALLY does well is to give one a REALLY GOOD nights sleep.  It is not so much about inflammation as it is about relaxation.  And profound relaxation can be helpful for a lot of conditions even if inflammation itself is not directly addressed.

The thing that really helped me most in this area was getting my vitamin D levels up to the high end of the range.  But I still have some ideopathic urethral inflammation at times.  What I like to do in these situations is look for innovative formulas and roll through them and see what happens.  That way I discover what works for me.  You might want to look at these two products and their ingredients and perhaps give one or both a try.  - George

http://www.drwhitaker.com/mens-health/prostate-health

http://www.lef.org/Vitamins-Supplements/Item01695/Ultra-Natural-Prostate-with-ApresFlex-and-Standardized-Lignans.html

[funnyfarm]

Hi george, Thanks for getting back to me.  I think the Low Dose Naltrexone may be helpful because I am not sleeping well.  I directly attribute this to the pentox which disrupts my sleep.  And yes I know my inflammation is always lower on the rare night I manage to sleep well.   However my scar tissue is much softer so I don't want to stop taking the pentox after only 2.5mo.

I have tried all of the prostate formulas but most make me pee more, which just makes the situation worse, and none have benefited me after a 90day trial.  As I mentioned though, mod carb, no sugar diet does help quite a  bit.  

My vitamin D level is 40ng/ml, should I supplement at a higher dosage, or is this enough ?     thanks !

[LMP]

That recommened prostate formula contains saw palmetto, an 5ar2 inhibitor, not the best choice in our position. SP has the same mechanism as propecia, the reason I'm here and is banned in some countries, hopefully propecia goes the same way, pure poison.  

[funnyfarm]

Yes unfortunately most of those formulas are geared toward guys with enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating, which I do not have.   I have never seen a supplement for a painful/inflammed prostate unfortunately.  Yes I have read the horror stories about Propecia, the fact that it is still on the market even though it may cause Peyronies Disease or permanent ED which really makes me wonder about big pharma and lack of government response when profits are at stake.

[George999]

That recommened prostate formula contains saw palmetto, an 5ar2 inhibitor, not the best choice in our position. SP has the same mechanism as propecia, the reason I'm here and is banned in some countries, hopefully propecia goes the same way, pure poison.

Surely you are not suggesting that we eliminate all 5ar2 inhibitors from our diet?  The number of supplements and foods that are 5ar2 inhibitors is long.  In fact coconut oil is believed to inhibit 5ar2 by exactly the same mechanism as saw palmetto.  The list of specific pathways that are implicated in Peyronie's is even longer.  Practically every nutrient has some bad effect on the body when used in isolation.  When you start trying to eliminate all of these you will end with little left to eat.  Peyronie's is caused by a metabolic imbalance in the body, NOT all of the legion of common and natural substances found in our environment.  Here is a list of things that are known 5ar2 inhibitors:

alizarin
alpha-linolenic acid
angelica koreana
azelaic acid
bitter root
black pepper leaf extract
Chinese knotweed
coconut oil
curcumin
dodder
eastern arborvitae
euphorbia jolkinii
fast plants
field mustard
gamma-linolenic acid
garden balsam
green tea catechins
Japanese climbing fern
Japanese hedge parsley
lingzhi mushroom
linoleic acid
myristoleic acid
northern whitecedar
oleic acid
palm oil
pine
pollen of turnip
polyphenols
red stinkwood
reishi mushroom
rose balsam
saw palmetto
turnip mustard
turnip rape
zinc
β-sitosterol

[George999]

I have tried all of the prostate formulas but most make me pee more, which just makes the situation worse, and none have benefited me after a 90day trial.  As I mentioned though, mod carb, no sugar diet does help quite a  bit.  

My vitamin D level is 40ng/ml, should I supplement at a higher dosage, or is this enough ?     thanks !

I would try bringing the vitamin D level up a little higher for one thing.  I keep mine at around 80ng/ml, but that is considerably higher than most docs are comfortable with.  But I would aim for 50 or 60, I think that is perfectly reasonable.  Aside from that, the only major option left that I see is driving down blood sugar further with something like Berberine.  Of course, both of these strategies require some degree of medical supervision.  - George

[funnyfarm]

Interesting george, at the advice of my naturopathic dr I give myself a daily prostate massage using coconut oil on my finger, it provides temporary relief.

Also I know based on Ayurvedic Medicine, coconut oil has the greatest cooling effect of all oils.    And the lack of omega six and high smoke point makes it excellent for cooking.

Thanks for the advice on Vit D.  I recently found out the body makes thousands of types of Vit D besides D3, so possibly supplementation is not a replacement for adequate sunlight, and good diet.