Some small studies have shown that LDN can be effective for fibro pain, you'd have to ask the Dr. or pharmacist about drug interactions. One article I read about LDN, a doctor called it a 50-50 drug, that it worked on 50% of patients for 50% of the pain, on average. I'll take 50%! One other article I read said that fibro pain doesn't occur on the main pain receptors. The best way I can explain it is if you think of your pain receptors as an oak tree, the trunk and main branches are the major receptors (which respond to opioids or other stronger meds) and the smaller branches are the minor receptors (which respond better to low dose meds). The article said that the fibro pain actually occurs in the minor receptors, so is best treated with something like LDN, which targets them. I know I'm not using the medical terms, bet my brain didn't retain them, just the basic idea of how it works!

My concern is that right now with what I take (percocet & oxycontin) my TMJ pain is finally manageable, though still pretty significant every morning and excruciating 4-5 evenings a week. For me this is REALLY good pain coverage. So I'm a little concerned about losing some of that relief by giving up the oxycontin for the LDN. However, it leaves my (usually) secondary pain of FMS coming to the front, because without the TMJ pain I really feel the full effects of my hip, leg and foot pain, along with the fatigue. My pain brain also seems to be cleared a good amount due to the opioids, so that's good.

OMG, I can't imagine not taking oxycodone. I need my pain meds day and night. If I have to up the pain meds, than my energy decreases. So I'm careful to get deep sleep with Xyrem every night, twice a night.

I've heard that nalt. helps with energy, but I am too afraid to stop the opoids or the Xyrem.

Just wanted to share...

I had an appointment with my PMD today and told her that I am very interested in the LDN for my FMS pain, but that I'm concerned about giving up my OxyContin in order to use it. She had previously told me that I would still be able to keep my Percocet. To my surprise she told me that I would be able to take all three together! She basically said that the naltrexone would be such a small dose that it wouldn't completely block the receptors or cause any withdrawal symptoms.

I know that this contradicts a lot of what we see on the internet, including official websites. Here is a link to the article that I mentioned previously, which discusses naloxone as well as naltrexone for pain management - this article clearly backs up what she said about being able to take opioids and LDN together.

http://pain-topics.org/pdf/OpioidAntagonistsPPM2009.pdf

Hope that helps! I'm going to do a little more research, but I think next month I will ask her to prescribe it to me.

I can't wait to get started on naltrexone, since I don't take any pain killers I won't have this worry. I have two more weeks until my follow up at my doctor. I am printing the study info and compounding pharmacy info. I hope she agrees with no argument. Trying not to build this up to be a super drug for me, so many others have been tried and cast aside due to side effects.

Thanks Trix007 for the article. When I go to my doc appt on the 22nd I can bring this article with me. Since I'll be starting with a new doc I'll have no idea what to expect.

I so hope that this helps others they way it has helped me!

I bought a bracelet that tracks my steps and my light/deep sleep. It also wakes me during light sleep so that I feel better when I get up. Being awoken from deep sleep is dreadful. By waking up from light sleep and being sure to get enough sleep, yesterday I was able to walk 10,564 steps! Could NOT believe it. Best of all I woke up feeling great. In addition to the sleep I attribute it to the naltrexone.

The bracelet is called UP and it is made by Jawbone. I have NO association with the company, and there are other products out there that do the same thing.

My new rhematologist prescribed me Naltrexone 50mg 1tab every day. The bottle reads Naltrexone Hydrochloride USP I read the pamphlet but very conflicted therefore I have yet to take it. I currently take Nucynta ER 100mg and 50 mg for breakthrough pain. Very sleepy still in pain but no dr is willing to prescribe Percocet. :( SOOO pain is my daily struggle to get outta bed. I'm usually willing to try anything but afraid to take this Naltrexone if its the antagonist to opiods. Duh wont I then be in pain even after taking g my Nucynta??? Idk I c my Dr 2moro but do u think I shud try it????

50 mg of Naltrexone is the dosage used for alcohol or opioid addiction! The max dose for using Naltrexone for PAIN is 4.5 mg per day. If you take the 50 mg it will send you into rapid withdrawals if you are using any narcotic medications!

IMHO your doctor should be shot. It's completely irresponsible to prescribe 50 mgs if you are taking any kind of narcotics. On mgs you even have to be careful of any OTC meds that contain alcohol or narcotics in any form.

Sorry - I should clarify - I don't REALLY think you should shoot your doctor. However, I would not trust anything further that this doctor says, since he/she is clearing prescribing a medication without fully understanding it.

I agree with Trix, don't take it. That doctor sounds ignorant. Go to a different doctor and ask for a dosage like Emily's: 1.5 mg.

I too am very eager to try this medication. I take Tylenol 3 for my pain, but not every day. And if it's true that I can still take it while on the lowest dosage of naltrexone, then I'm all in. I was going to call my doctor last month to make an appt to talk about it, but I got caught up in figuring out other issues. So much is always going on around here.

I started LDN August 2009 at a once nightly dose of 1.5mg...titrated up slowly to 3.0mg, and after finding tremendous relief, worked up to 4.5mg. I found that the 4.5 was a bit much for me (slight insomnia and elevated heartrate) so moved back to the 3.0mg once at night.

This medication has truly changed my life.

I also changed my diet to exclude dairy, gluten and soy, and had been sugar free for almost 2 yeas previous. There are some studies that suggest that the protein molecules(peptides) in these foods can interfere with the absorption of LDN, as the casein in diary products. Sugar can promote candida growth, and the candida is never good...especially when taking LDN.

If anyone is considering this medication, do your research as there are so many differing opinions out there. I found what has worked for me and am actually able to exercise again, and if I listen to my body, get back to doing some of the things that I thought were gone forever. I take a naproxen based pain med called Vimovo when I really overdo and need something, but am able to handle most pain with heating pads and movement.

All the best

Oops, forgot to add that I have tried the liquid, and a capsule with the wood based filler, but now take a capsule that is compounded with acidophilus. It is much easier on my stomach, but needs to be refrigerated, as does the liquid.

I read about LDN a few years ago, but every dr. I asked about it said it was for heroine addiction. My new-er dr. told me about it last year. I started at 1.5 and am up to 4.5mg. It says to take it between 9:30 pm-3:30 am. I don't really know about the pain relief. I have acute tendenitis of the hamstring and that dr. says the pain is being locked in by the fibro (?) I've had 3 PRP injections that were supposed to help, but they didn't. I stopped taking the LDN last week for 2 days, but the pain got worse. My dr. once mentioned increasing it a little, but I haven't done that yet.

I pay $110 for a 3 month supply from a compounding pharmacy. I should probably check out a cheaper place. This guy is about 35 miles away, but he mails it out.

I just don't know about LDN. I hoped it would be the answer, but I"m still in pain. I'll probably go back to taking motrin because nothing but tylenol doesn't do the trick. I had to stop anti-inflammatories because of the PRP injections. I'm just confused about it all.

I am totally with Trix on the physician issue. This person heard "low dose," looked up the medication, found that the smallest pill is 50 mg and voila! That is what s/he prescribed. I would be very concerned about someone who is willing to act without deeper knowledge because she may be excellent in her areas of expertise, but I would never know if she is in or out of her area.

An update on me. I am SO happy. This week I was able to walk over 10,000 steps one day, next day walked about 9,000 and then the next day was tired and had to cut back to 4000. But the next day did 8,000. No flare up

NOW comes the big test. I ran out of anti inflammatory meds . They have been prescribed for me by various doctors, initially an ortho. My GP only gave me another month's worth. Let's see if I can do without.

I also think the naltrexone works on my sleep. Sleep better. Rather, I am sleeping better and I don't know if it is the naltrexone directly, or indirectly because I am exercising more an d exercise and sleep are closely linked.

Oh! And although i always eat very healthy, i have been able to watch what I eat more carefully and with the exercise I have lost about 4 pounds in this last month. Very happy about this and hope to get rid of a few more.