MS Speaks

Multiple Sclerosis => TREATMENTS => Topic started by: agate on October 11, 2016, 02:36:28 pm

Title: LDN overview by Dr. Jack Burks of MSAA
Post by: agate on October 11, 2016, 02:36:28 pm
The current issue (Summer/Fall 2016) of the MSAA Motivator includes a Q&A section where Dr. Jack Burks answers questions. One of them in this issue is about LDN:

Quote
Q: After 11 years on different diseasemodifying therapies, I was not able to tolerate the side effects. After discontinuing these treatments, I have been on 3 mgs of Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) for the last four years. I have several symptoms, but no major exacerbations. MSAA’s MS Research Update listed 32 medications and not one mention of LDN. Why is there no research on this drug?

A: This is a great question that involves many facets related to MS research. First, LDN may have some positive effects on some MS symptoms, according to various small pilot research trials. However, it is not believed by most MS experts to have significant diseasemodifying effects in MS.

Economics play a role in decisions to test drugs. Since clinical trials in MS leading to FDA approval may take five to 10 years at a significant cost, the risk of failure or only marginal symptom relief with LDN is not likely worth this costly investment to the pharmaceutical companies. Some pilot MS research on LDN several years ago was encouraging for some symptoms, but it did not appear to have the “blockbuster” effect to risk a huge financial investment. Patent issues and other factors also play a role in the decisions to pursue clinical trials for any drug. Therefore, LDN is not FDAapproved and is only used by a small percentage of patients, most with progressive forms of MS, where no FDA-approved drugs are available at this time. My experience is that some people feel better and some do not. It is not expensive and does not appear to be harmful, although unknown risks might appear with closer scrutiny.

MSAA’s MS Research Update reports on current clinical trials. The update covers recently published research in neurology journals with data presented at major MS meetings. LDN research data has been lacking in recent MS meetings and no new LDN research is available to discuss. In the meantime, I’m pleased that you are benefitting by taking LDN and hope that these positive effects continue for you.