Those Who Suffer Much, Know Much: Low Dose Naltrexone Book
Author: Cris Kerr - Contact: Contact Details
Published: 2010/08/21 - Updated: 2023/09/13
Publication Type: Literature / Review
Topic: Disability Publications - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main
Synopsis: Low dose naltrexone (LDN) benefited sufferers of immune system diseases including Multiple Sclerosis HIV Crohn's Disease Hepatitis cancer arthritis and Primary Lateral Sclerosis. Some sufferers treated with LDN do not benefit at all, but a recent patient survey by Dr Skip Lenz, a Florida Pharmacist specializing in the compounding of LDN, revealed 83% of his LDN/MS patient population had not had a relapse or progression in over 3 years.
Introduction
Through my latest book revision, I again introduce you to an international group of patients suffering from a range of immune system diseases who continue to benefit from a little known, low cost treatment. These patients and other international advocates have been doing their best to raise awareness amongst others in need, hoping they might also benefit. Unfortunately, for the most part, they are being ignored because patient testimony is denigrated and afforded no value, and the treatment they use does not present a compelling patent or profit opportunity.
Main Item
In the interim, patients are suffering without ever learning of a treatment that might help them. The treatment involves low doses of an old drug with a good safety profile, naltrexone. Taken nightly, this low dose naltrexone (LDN) treatment has been benefiting sufferers of numerous immune system diseases, including Multiple Sclerosis, HIV, Crohn's Disease, Hepatitis B & C, cancer, arthritis, Primary Lateral Sclerosis, etc.
As naltrexone is an old drug, long out-of-patent and without profit potential, large double-blinded clinical trials by commercial pharmaceutical sponsors have not happened and are unlikely to ever happen. And so it has been left to patients to raise awareness of this treatment in the interest of helping other patients.
My 2010 5th book revision contains 51 patient testimonies of health success presented as case studies, an explanatory article, and interviews with 19 professionals familiar with this treatment:
51 Case Studies
30 Multiple Sclerosis case studies
2 HIV/AIDS case studies
1 Hepatitis B case study
1 Hepatitis C case study
1 Primary Lateral Sclerosis case study
4 Cancer case studies
4 Crohn's Disease case studies
3 Fibromyalgia case studies
1 Rheumatoid Arthritis
1 Parkinson's Disease
3 Multiple Benefits case studies
19 Interviews & Perspectives
Dr Bernard Bihari, USA
Dr David Gluck, USA
Dr Tom Gilhooly, Scotland
Dr Jaquelyn McCandless, USA
Dr Skip Lenz, Compounding Pharmacist, USA
Dr Bob Lawrence, UK
Dr Burton M Berkson, New Mexico
Prof Jill Smith, Pennsylvania State Univ, USA
Dr Phil Boyle, Ireland
Antony Condina, Compounding Pharmacist, Australia
Larry Frieders, Compounding Pharmacist, Australia
Dr Pat Crowley, Ireland
Dr Terry Grossman, USA
Dr Ian S Zagon, USA
Dr Edmond O'Flaherty, Ireland
Maira Gironi, MD, PhD, Italy
Dr Julian Whitaker, USA
Professor George Jelinek, Australia
Paul Battle, PA-C (Physician Assistant), USA
The book is entitled "Those Who Suffer Much, Know Much".
The first article in the book is an easy read and I commend it to anyone who wants to better understand how it is that patient's can be denied a treatment that's working for others, even after all other treatment options have failed.
There's a comprehensive reference list including clinical trials and research conducted to date - a list of patient advocates, and links to the last few years of patient conference videos - in the USA and Scotland - both patient and professional testimony.
Some sufferers treated with LDN do not benefit at all, but a recent patient survey by Dr Skip Lenz, a Florida Pharmacist specializing in the compounding of LDN, revealed 83% of his LDN/MS patient population had not had a relapse or progression in over 3 years.
This treatment may not be for everyone, but everyone should, at the very least, be made aware of it as a treatment option, especially where all other treatments have failed.
No-one should be given an end-of-life prognosis without ever learning of this treatment.
To learn more about the work of researcher, Dr Ian S Zagon, who first discovered the potential of low doses of naltrexone in mice with cancer in the 80s, please visit the website of Pennsylvania State University in the USA where his profile and 249 publications are featured.
I learned of this treatment option because I valued patient testimony, and I urge others to do the same. It is my greatest hope patient testimony will one day make a valuable contribution to e-health data systems around the world.
Twenty years have passed since Dr Bernard Bihari first began clinically trialling this treatment yet it is still not available as a treatment option for those most in need, and this is why patients and advocates are focused on raising awareness as best they can.
Other Resources and Reading
(1) PILOT TRIAL NEWS - 1: Mult Scler. 2008 Sep;14(8):1076-83
A pilot trial of low-dose naltrexone in primary progressive multiple sclerosis.
Gironi M, Martinelli-Boneschi F, Sacerdote P, Solaro C, Zaffaroni M, Cavarretta R, Moiola L, Bucello S, Radaelli M, Pilato V, Rodegher M, Cursi M, Franchi S, Martinelli V, Nemni R, Comi G, Martino G.
Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE) and Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy; Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
A sixth month phase II multi-center-pilot trial with a low dose of the opiate antagonist Naltrexone (LDN) has been carried out in 40 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).
The primary end points were safety and tolerability. Secondary outcomes were efficacy on spasticity, pain, fatigue, depression, and quality of life. Clinical and biochemical evaluations were serially performed. Protein concentration of beta-endorphins (BE) and mRNA levels and allelic variants of the mu-opiod receptor gene (OPRM1) were analyzed.
Five dropouts and two major adverse events occurred. The remaining adverse events did not interfere with daily living. Neurological disability progressed in only one patient.
A significant reduction of spasticity was measured at the end of the trial. BE concentration increased during the trial, but no association was found between OPRM1 variants and improvement of spasticity. Our data clearly indicate that LDN is safe and well tolerated in patients with PPMS.