So, I still won't be starting the very low dose naltrexone for a few days. I've decided to call it "very low dose" because it's probably going to be somewhere in between what some people refer to as "ultra low dose" (ULDN) and "low dose" (LDN) - the "___ dose" terms are poorly-defined and are used differently by different people/sources though. I might use the acronym LDN in this blog simply because it's easier. However, for "LDN" in people not currently or recently using opioids many sites recommend a dose of 4.5mg/day and no way am I going to start with that high a dose. Being in PAWS (post-acute withdrawal syndrome from opioids) I am too scared that too high a dose could induce/worsen withdrawal-like symptoms or side effects in me because my opioid receptors and endorphin levels are still screwed up, and I am very sensitive. So I'm going to start really low and gradually increase it if I feel increasing the dose is a good idea. I'll post precise details about the exact doses I take and whether I feel any effects.
I want to reiterate that:
What I am planning is NOT the same as taking the 50mg Revia naltrexone pills, or the injection (Vivitrol) or the implant. Those are very high full-blocking doses of naltrexone and it's no wonder people don't find them effective for opioid withdrawal or PAWS, they can easily induce precipitated withdrawal if used too soon after opioids and the primary way these high doses "help" with addiction is to prevent people from getting high if they do use opiates/opioids while on them (so they only work well for a very specific subset of people). Sorry, it's just that people have been bringing up those forms of naltrexone (and how people hate it) to me and in threads about LDN - and I have to admit I was one of them too back before I understood what LDN was
And: I will be taking naltrexone specifically for PAWS and not while actively taking opioids, but I will post some info on ULDN for concurrent use with opioids because I think it's relevant and something a lot of people have expressed interest in.
Links to research about low doses of naltrexone:
- Very low dose naltrexone addition in opioid detoxification: a randomized, controlled trial
- Oxytrex (oxycodone + ultralow-dose naltrexone) Minimizes Physical Dependence While Providing Effective Analgesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Ultra-Low-Dose Naltrexone Decreases Dependence and Addictive Properties of Opioids
- Chronic very low dose naltrexone administration attenuates opioid withdrawal expression
- Ultra-low-dose naloxone suppresses opioid tolerance, dependence and associated changes in mu opioid receptor–G protein coupling and Gβγ signaling
- Early outcomes following low dose naltrexone enhancement of opioid detoxification
- Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy Improves Active Crohn's Disease
- A pilot trial of low-dose naltrexone in primary progressive multiple sclerosis [found that β-endorphin levels were increased]
- Low-dose naltrexone for disease prevention and quality of life
- Pain Tolerance in Opioid Addicts On and Off Naltrexone Pharmacotherapy: A Pilot Study
- Fibromyalgia Symptoms Are Reduced by Low-Dose Naltrexone: A Pilot Study
- Ultra-low dose naltrexone attenuates chronic morphine-induced gliosis in rats
- Ultra-low dose naltrexone enhances cannabinoid-induced antinociception
- Low dose naltrexone administration in morphine dependent rats attenuates withdrawal-induced norepinephrine efflux in forebrain
- There is a source that I can't find right now that states that low doses of naltrexone raise endorphins just as much as high doses; I'll post it when I find it. (High doses of naltrexone might potentially block the endorphins from working properly on receptors, the theory is that low doses should not).
Tomorrow I will post:
- A list of the symptoms I am currently experiencing so I can easily compare if any improve or worsen after I start the naltrexone.
- More about my drug and health history.
- Links to other people's blogs or posts about using LDN for PAWS (these are very hard to find so I figured I'd share them).
So check back if you are interested. And feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below.
[EDIT: changed title to differentiate as I will use "Day 1" etc once I actually start the naltrexone; added categories]
I want to reiterate that:
What I am planning is NOT the same as taking the 50mg Revia naltrexone pills, or the injection (Vivitrol) or the implant. Those are very high full-blocking doses of naltrexone and it's no wonder people don't find them effective for opioid withdrawal or PAWS, they can easily induce precipitated withdrawal if used too soon after opioids and the primary way these high doses "help" with addiction is to prevent people from getting high if they do use opiates/opioids while on them (so they only work well for a very specific subset of people). Sorry, it's just that people have been bringing up those forms of naltrexone (and how people hate it) to me and in threads about LDN - and I have to admit I was one of them too back before I understood what LDN was
And: I will be taking naltrexone specifically for PAWS and not while actively taking opioids, but I will post some info on ULDN for concurrent use with opioids because I think it's relevant and something a lot of people have expressed interest in.
Links to research about low doses of naltrexone:
- Very low dose naltrexone addition in opioid detoxification: a randomized, controlled trial
- Oxytrex (oxycodone + ultralow-dose naltrexone) Minimizes Physical Dependence While Providing Effective Analgesia: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Ultra-Low-Dose Naltrexone Decreases Dependence and Addictive Properties of Opioids
- Chronic very low dose naltrexone administration attenuates opioid withdrawal expression
- Ultra-low-dose naloxone suppresses opioid tolerance, dependence and associated changes in mu opioid receptor–G protein coupling and Gβγ signaling
- Early outcomes following low dose naltrexone enhancement of opioid detoxification
- Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy Improves Active Crohn's Disease
- A pilot trial of low-dose naltrexone in primary progressive multiple sclerosis [found that β-endorphin levels were increased]
- Low-dose naltrexone for disease prevention and quality of life
- Pain Tolerance in Opioid Addicts On and Off Naltrexone Pharmacotherapy: A Pilot Study
- Fibromyalgia Symptoms Are Reduced by Low-Dose Naltrexone: A Pilot Study
- Ultra-low dose naltrexone attenuates chronic morphine-induced gliosis in rats
- Ultra-low dose naltrexone enhances cannabinoid-induced antinociception
- Low dose naltrexone administration in morphine dependent rats attenuates withdrawal-induced norepinephrine efflux in forebrain
- There is a source that I can't find right now that states that low doses of naltrexone raise endorphins just as much as high doses; I'll post it when I find it. (High doses of naltrexone might potentially block the endorphins from working properly on receptors, the theory is that low doses should not).
Tomorrow I will post:
- A list of the symptoms I am currently experiencing so I can easily compare if any improve or worsen after I start the naltrexone.
- More about my drug and health history.
- Links to other people's blogs or posts about using LDN for PAWS (these are very hard to find so I figured I'd share them).
So check back if you are interested. And feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below.
[EDIT: changed title to differentiate as I will use "Day 1" etc once I actually start the naltrexone; added categories]