Dosage



What dosage and frequency should my physician prescribe?
The usual adult dosage is a maximum of 4.5 mg taken once daily, usually at night. It used to be thought that because of the rhythms of the body's production of master hormones, LDN is best taken between 9pm and 3am. We are finding now that as long as the LDN is not covering the receptor sites between about 2-4 am, the up regulation of endorphins happens whether you take it in the morning or the evening. If you are one of the rare ones with sleep disturbances, then simply take it in the morning.

Notable exceptions:
People who have multiple sclerosis that has led to muscle spasms are advised to start at 1.5 mg per day or even lower, rising to 3 mg daily after a month and to maintain that dosage, not higher.

Those patients who are taking thyroid hormone replacement for a diagnosis of Hashimoto's thyroiditis with hypothyroidism ought to begin LDN at the lowest range (1.5mg for an adult). Be aware that LDN may lead to a prompt decrease in the autoimmune disorder, which then may require a rapid reduction in the dose of thyroid hormone replacement in order to avoid symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

The best place to start is with your doctor. Talk to your doctor about low dose naltrexone. Many people have better luck getting a prescription from their primary care doctor than their neurologist.

Do your research and print out information that will help you make your case that this is a cheap, approved drug that has zero side effects at the tiny dose that is used for treatment for Multiple Sclerosis. This works well for many.

If you get a prescription, send it to a trusted pharmacy (see on the right.)

Years ago, reports were received from patients that their pharmacies have been supplying a slow-release form of naltrexone. Pharmacies should be instructed NOT to provide LDN in an "SR" or slow-release or timed-release form. Unless the low dose of naltrexone is in an unaltered form, which permits it to reach a prompt "spike" in the blood stream, its therapeutic effects will be inhibited.

IMPORTANT: The 50 mg pills are all rapid release, but fillers can cause the compounded form to be delayed release. The pharmacies on the right know how to formulate capsules properly.

FILLERS
Capsules of LDN necessarily contain a substantial percentage of neutral inactive filler. Dr. Skip Lenz, recommends either Avicel, lactose (if lactose intolerance is not a problem), or sucrose fillers as useful fast-release fillers.

IMPORTANT
Make sure to fill your prescription at a compounding pharmacy (see right) that has a reputation for consistent reliability in the quality of the LDN it delivers.

If you cannot get a prescription from your doctor, LDN is available over the internet at this pharmacy, for instance: BuyLowDoseNaltrexone.com. That is where many of us get it and they have excellent quality at a great price. This is a man from Australia, living in Thailand, who is very efficient and can ship it for less than most places can get it wholesale. The Naltrexone is shipped almost instantly and you can make up your own solution. You can read the instructions on how to dissolve a 50 mg tablet in 50 ml of water and then drink the appropriate amount each evening here. One tablet lasts from 12-30 days depending on the amount you are taking, so 10 tablets should be enough to last several months. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask Ian at that website.