Are you as ready as I was to try LDN?

The best place to start is with your doctor.

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 MS. This works well for many.

If you get a prescription for compounded LDN, the best pharmacy is Skip's Pharmacy in Florida. Dr. Skip, as he is known by the LDN community, has worked tirelessly to increase the awareness of LDN, and is always available to help on the LDN newsgroups.

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 with good customer service. 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, but can take two weeks to get here, so order early. You can make up your own solution. They are even happy to send instructions on how to dissolve a 50 mg tablet in 50 ml of water and then drink the appropriate amount each day. This is the way that I have taken it for over nine years now. One tablet lasts from 10-30 days depending on the amount you are taking, so 10 tablets should be enough to get you started. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask Ian at that website.

Step 1
The therapeutic dosage range for LDN is from 1.75 mg to 4.5 mg every day. Dosages below this range might have no effect at all, and dosages above this range are likely to block endorphins for too long a period of time, and interfere with its effectiveness.

Ideal dosage when treating most illnesses is 3 mg to 4 mg, however many people prefer to start with the lower dose of 1.5 mg. It is recommended that those with Multiple Sclerosis, who have spasms, begin with 1.5mg and slowly work up to 3 mg and no more, since starting at the higher dosage may cause worsening of the spasms. Those who take thyroid medicine need to keep track of their symptoms, since LDN can help lower the dose of thyroid medication that you need, and it may need to be lowered. Less LDN is not the answer, but less thyroid medication.

If you have spacicity, it is a good idea to start as low as 1.5 mg per day, or even lower, as the first flush on Naltrexone can increase the spacicity for up to two weeks. Don't increase your dose until the stiffness starts to subside.

Step 2
Begin by taking 1.5 mg each day, whether using compounded tablets or liquid LDN. Continue taking 1.5 mg daily for 1-4 weeks. If you experience side effects of hyperness, or sleep disturbances, do not increase the dosage until side effects disappear. The usual adult dosage is 3 to 4 mg taken once daily. Most patients take it at bedtime but we are now finding that any time of the day can work, so experiment to find what is best for your lifestyle.

Step 3
When any mild side effects subside, increase dosage gradually to 4 mg each night. After a couple of weeks, you will know if the 4 mg dose is better for you, or if you want to drop down to slightly less. Some people end up taking as little as 2 or 2.5 mg. You can experiment to find what is best for you. Less is more with LDN, so taking the lowest dose that still gives you the relief that you wanted, is the right dose.

Step 4
Keep a simple symptom log. Track all MS symptoms and LDN side effects, so you can see at a glance how the Low Dose Naltrexone effects you. When you start feeling better it is easy to forget just how sick you were. A written log is a great help.

Step 5
The usual warning is to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about each dosage increase. If you do not have a doctor to help, there is a great deal of experience and wisdom on the LowDoseNaltrexone Yahoo Newsgroup. There is also a very active Facebook group called "Got Endorphins? LDN"