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Originally Posted by Mark in Idaho
Wow, an interesting 'way off the label' use of Naltrexone. Its value at low doses ( one low dose before bed) is to enhance the immune system by causing a short increase in dopamine and enkephalin. I can see how it might give very short term pain relief but am confused as to how it can effect PCS systems besides pain.
There would be a small mood enhancing from the endorphins which are also helpful for relaxation.
At present time, there is no drug approved for the treatment of PCS. Doctors often try to treat individual symptoms such as depression or anxiety or head ache.
Bud, Topamax and depakote are both for seizures. Are you being treated for seizures? Topamax is sometimes used for migraines, too.
What new meds has your neuro put you on? Have you done anything to improve your brain's nutrition? Omega 3's, B-6, B-12, folic acid, D3, anti-oxidants, etc? The injured brain is polluted with the byproducts of the injury and needs extra help and purging itself of these toxins before it can do much to recover/heal.
Your concussion history suggests that your brain has hit its critical mass of injury and will need serious nutritional and behavioral discipline to get better.
Your Verapamil is just a blood pressure medication likely prescribed to help lessen your head aches which are often due to blood pressure levels that the brain is not tolerant of. PCS can cause the body to mis-regulate blood pressure and be overly sensitive to even moderate levels of blood pressure.
Ask your neuro if you can take a couple baby aspirin before bed? It will thin your blood so that you will be less prone to morning head aches that result from early morning blood pressure increases.
Let us know how you are doing. There are plenty here who have lived with your symptoms.
My best to you.
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Hi Bud and Mark,
Bud, I hope the PT helps. I was also on the meds you are taking even though I wasn't having active seizures. This was a long time ago and when I questioned the dr about it, he told me the meds would help to stabilize brain wave activity. I didn't find the meds helpful but apparently other people do.
I understand what you mean about needing to get better before working. I had been working for several years but this past spring the neurological symptoms and misalignments etc intensified to a point where I was unable to work. And since then I have been doing all sorts of rehab etc to decrease symptoms, correct the misalignements and build up my strength. I have found rehab to be helpful.
Mark, Low Dose Naltrexone has supposedly been extremely helpful with some people who have MS since it can reportedly strengthen the immune system, decrease pain, and increase energy. My doctor reccomended it to me and I asked him about how this medication relates to brain injury that is not caused by a disease. He had an answer that seemed to make sense at the time but I don't recall all of it now- I think the main point was that it could help increase my energy, decrease pain and brain fog because brain injuries can alter hormones and endorphins etc and LDN raises endorphins. So I thought it was worth a try.
I'd been taking the lowest of the low dose for a month and increased it over the weekend. The adjustment wiped me out for days, I'm still recovering. I had to go back to the lower dose. I appreciate what you wrote about blood pressure- a big problem I had with this medication was that it seemed to make my blood pressure drop and I was having all sorts of difficulties from this. I hope the med will be more helpful at the lower dose now that I'm not taking the other pain/sleep meds as much (which may have intensified the blood pressure problems.)
I find your posts to be very helpful- thank you!
-Hazzell