I have been taking Low Dose Naltrexone 3 mg caps since November (15). I found out about it on a BlogTalkRadio show titled The Mary Bradley Show
This was a little known, off label use, drug that seems to have multiple uses at low doses and a specific use at 50 mg.
I just asked the VA to write a Rx for 4.5 mg for a year for me and they did, without hesitation. I was very surprised because I usually have to beg and scream to get anything that I request from them. It seems that if they suggest it, no problem, but if the patient requests it, they have to justify it a dozen ways to Sunday and then it's only a maybe.
Regardless, the primary care told me to keep a log and this I thought would be more appropriate since the medication needs to get much more attention from doctors and patients. . . . So . . .
Entry 1
Since starting the medication at 3 mg last November 2009, I have found no negative effects to this point. Remembering to take it at bedtime was a problem until I left the supply in the bathroom so that it was the last thing I see before going to bed. After taking it I lay the bottle on it's side as a message to myself that I have taken it for the night. In the morning I return it to the upright position for the new day's routing.
On the positive side . . . I have found that I don't arise as frequently in the middle of the night to urinate. At worst, I was arising almost a dozen times every night. Now I arise a maximum of 5 times, and that's a bad night.
Additionally, my wife, son, daughter in law and grand daughter all had the flu or cold at about the same time . . . I never got sick. This was surprising to me because I have an autoimmune condition and would expect to be the most vulnerable. Obviously, I can't give LDN the credit for avoiding the flu but I thought it worth mentioning because it was my observation.
One observation should be noted and it may or may not be associated with LDN. I have found myself nodding off when stationary. This has never happened before and it only started after Christmas 2009. It could be nothing, it could be a side effect of high blood pressure medication or it could be my adapting to the LDN and the effects of the high blood pressure medication.
I mentioned it to my primary care and she said that it was probably the high blood pressure medication. Regardless the cause, I find it very pleasant and if I could get away with it, I might want to invoke the nodding off when my wife is rumbling on about nothing important or when my granddaughter gets over active.
January 9. 21010
Entry # 2 Naltrexone log
ReplyDeleteLast night I took a 1 mg melatonin just after I took my 3mg of Naltrexone. My dreams were slightly on the voilent side and I had to get up about 8 times to visit the bathroom.
From this I conclude that the combination of Melatonin and Naltrexone is not a wise move. I believe that the Melatonin might interfer with the Naltrexone's function.
It is for this reason that I will not take Melatonin again while I'm on Naltrexone, of any dose.
I also have been experiencing a strange growth of what I think is a wart on my left hand index finger. It began as a blood blister and kept bleeding on me. I was finally able to stop the bleeding with Hydogen Peroxide, Alchohol swab and a bandaid (multiple times). This has been going on for about 3 weeks. The last time I had any warts was when I was about 13 years old and my family doctor removed it with Liquid Nitrogen. I'm not sure what I will do about this one . . . I guess I'll let it develope for a couple of months before I decide what to do.
Entry # 3 Naltrexone Log
ReplyDeleteI got a muscle cramp (charlie horse or muscle pain) in my left leg the other night. It may have been an isolated incident or perhaps I ate something that day that caused the problem. I hope that I'm correct because it was very painful and I don't want to go thru that again. I don't think that Naltrexone had anything to do with it but who knows . . . time will tell.
Entry #4 Naltrexone Log
ReplyDeleteI went to the doctor today to remove the remnants of a wart that I had growing on my finger. The doctor was a (what I call) "a no bullshit personality". Without any numbing applications, he ripped the growth of my finger. Needless to say there was some pain but not intolerable. Once the growth was off the bleeding was a little hard to stop so he cortirized it with a silver-nitrate stick. Again, more pain, but withing tolerable limits. The entire problem was my own fault for trying to chemically burn off the beginnings of a wart. I don't believe that the Naltrexone had anything to do with this minor problem but if it did, I suspect that my body's immune system is working again and it's trying to expel some toxins from my body. If this is correct, I will have to withstand more of this irritating crap for some time to come.