Dakini LDN Trial

[dakini]

I got my LDN today and took my first dose this afternoon at 3pm just after my HC.
I took 1.5mgs. I noticed a bit more energy soon after - not hyper like a thyroid dump - just alert and plenty of energy.
A few hours later I felt those endorphins kick in - and man are those NICE! Wow. It's been too long since I felt a healthy dose of those! I'm glad I didn't take it at night b/c I wouldn't want to miss that!
Also - for the first time in I don't know when my knees don't ache! Jont PAIN went away when I started HC - but I've had a lingering achiness that I've learned to take for granted. I started jumping (unheard of for me) up and down and skipping b/c I felt like my joints were actually strong and flexible. I decided to cut that short so as to not strain the body and these adrenals o' mine!

Anyway, I'll see how sleep goes this evening.
Adrenals are feeling groovy.
No noticeable thyroid reaction (I'm not on ANY THR so hopefully can bypass the dumps)

I'm so excited to see if this will indeed lower these dang Hashi's antibodies!

[dakini]

DAY 2
Slept just fine last night.
Took second dose this morning after 2nd dose of HC.
Feeling great. Achiness gone from knees again.
Endorphins doing their thing!
Adrenals behaving. In fact, I noticed I'm not getting any adrenalinne rushes during the day. I feel relaxed and alert. ow strange!
So far so good!

[dakini]

Day 3
1.5mgs again in AM.
Felt great. Endorphins not as pronounced. (miss that)
Adrenals holding up like champs - sleeping like a babe.
Some niggly knee pain in evening - wondering if it's b/c I'm doing more since i feel better - or if it's related to LDN?
Overactive brain wonders if I've got an undx'd RA or other AI something that will respond to LDN.

So far so good!
Wondering when to raise to 3mgs...

[dakini]

Still at 1.5 mgs and doing great.
Sleeping SO sound! I wasn't expecting that.
I also wasn't expecting my libido to return - but lo & behold!
I've had less of an appetite as well - feel like I've lost a bit of weight this week.
I feel like I could raise, but think I'll wait another week.

[dakini]

Day 5 and still feeling good.
I feel less buzzy and joints are looser.
Sleeping deeper. Mood is better.
Looking forward to raising soon.

[dakini]

Still doing great after one week on 1.5 mgs.
I'm eager to raise to 3 mgs when my order comes.

I wrote Dr. Gluck (from http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org) and asked him:

I am looking for information on how increased endorphin production would effect
cortisol levels in the body.
Specifically, what effect would LDN have on the adrenal glands and cortisol
production?

His Reply:

I know of no such studies. However, LDN is only a small dosage and is in the body for only a few hours daily. A direct effect is very unlikely.

The better question would be: what effect do the low endorphin levels, characteristic of all autoimmune diseases, have on cortisol levels and adrenal function before one finds LDN.

Hmmm...

[dakini]

12 days on 1.5 LDN

No hypo symptoms.

Temps steady.
I'm going longer between HC doses b/c I keep forgetting to take it! I'm wondering the lDN is helping the adrenals?

I'm going to hold at my current HC until I get stabilized on the optimal LDN dose - plus I want to ride out my seasonal allergies season - and then I may look at slowly weaning HC.

I emailed Dr. Gluck from
http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org
Hello,

I am looking for information on how increased endorphin production would effect cortisol levels in the body.
Specifically, what effect would LDN have on the adrenal glands and cortisol production?

His Response:

I know of no such studies. However, LDN is only a small dosage and is in the body for only a few hours daily. A direct effect is very unlikely.

The better question would be: what effect do the low endorphin levels, characteristic of all autoimmune diseases, have on cortisol levels and adrenal function before one finds LDN.

Here's a video clip of Dr. Gluck and other doctors talking about LDN:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAZ1fQKdOC8


I emailed Dr. Cowan from westonaprice.org and asked if he ever prescribed LDN for Hashi's patients and he wrote back and said yes, he does.

[dakini]

I got my LDN order yesterday so I can make my own liquid LDN doses.
Increased my dose from 1.5 to 3mgs today.

[dakini]

Day 1 on 3mgs did just fine - slept like a baby.

Day 2 on 3mgs had a big thyroid dump in afternoon. Strange nausea and muscle pain at bedtime that didn't last long - and I slept great afterwards. Don't know if it was related to LDN or maybe low potassium?
I've also been working to alkalinize system and have been juicing lots of veggies. I think I don't need as much salt water now - not craving salt as much and it tastes too salty when I do drink it now. Maybe the juices (which are naturally high in sodium) are enough? Perhaps the added sea salt was driving down potassium?
Who knows?
In any case, I've gone back to 1.5mgs of lDN for a bit and will bump up to 2mgs next. That's the nice thing about liquid dosing - you can customize it rather easily.

Still not feeling hypo.
Temps are steady and 98.6 (I am still in utter amazement at this - NO thyroid hormone!)

Adrenals are doing great - in fact, I forgot to take 2 doses the other day!
That never happens! I have to dose every 3 hours and now I feel I could easily go 4-5 nad not even feel it unless there were some crisis.

I'm holding HC staedy though just to be safe. I'm only on 25 mgs daily.

Great energy.
Improved mood and sense of well being.
Endorphins are goooood!

[dakini]

Increased dose to 2.5 mgs yesterday. It's really easy to customize dose w/ liquid.
No thyroid dump - did just fine.
Slept like baby.
Adrenals behaving.

No thyroid meds.
Temp is a steady 98.6 (I know! )
Great energy.
Libido has returned. (I know! )

Hair still falling a bit - but I think that's hormonal.
Started DHEA and a bit of progesterone cream 2 weeks a month.

Still eating mostly raw fruits and veggies w/ good sources of protein and juicing daily.
Gradually becoming more alkaline, which has got to be good!

[dakini]

Bumped up to 3 mgs yesterday. Did just fine.
Slept very well.
Good energy.
Steady temps.
98.6
Good mood.

[dakini]

3.5 today.

Still feeling good and sleeping well.
Mood is good and I've lost a few pounds - don't weigh myself so not sure how much.
Still have a libido too!

[articshark]

Dakini- I just got my LDN. I am going to start it next week. I have been reading your updates to see how it is working for you. I am sooooo glad that it seems to be doing the trick. I have caught the Hashi's pretty early so I got my fingers crossed that all will be well in my world and my thyroid won't have any more damage done to it. Do you think that the LDN allows the thyroid to repair itself? And since I have been on Armour, I have noticed my goiter has gotten smaller but hasn't disappeared completely. Has the LDN helped in that regard, if you in fact has an enlarged thyroid gland?

I am sooooo excited!!!!

[dakini]

Hi,

That's great you got your LDN. I've been quite happy with it so far.

Do you think that the LDN allows the thyroid to repair itself? And since I have been on Armour, I have noticed my goiter has gotten smaller but hasn't disappeared completely. Has the LDN helped in that regard, if you in fact has an enlarged thyroid gland?

I didn't have a goiter when I started LDN, had a bit of one years ago right after giving birth that went away while on synthroid.

For those of us who are hypothyroid due to blocking antibodies rather than
thyroid destruction, results can also be seen in a return to normal thyroid
levels, which will send you hyper if you are also taking thyroid
replacement.

Are you on Armour now?
I'm sure you've read this, but in case not:

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.

Good luck and keep us posted!

[Tish]

sorry I went to the wrong place