Miracle Drug Gives Chronic Patients Hope


Some are calling it a miracle drug. A new way to treat cancers, HIV, and Lou Gehrig's disease. The drug Low Dose Naltrexone may very well be the most important therapeutic breakthrough in over 50 years. So why isn't everyone talking about it? Well for one thing LDN has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. So is it a miracle drug or false hope?

Most of us take for granted simple tasks like sitting at the computer. "If you were to crawl into my body right now; you would be screaming 'let me out of here'."

Brenda Powell has multiple sclerosis, diagnosed in 1989 at the age of 26. "I was in a massive amount of pain." It's a chronic, inflammatory disease that affects the central nervous system. "The only ear I can hear any words out of is my left ear," says Powell.

People with MS experience muscle weakness, muscle spasms, difficulty moving, and problems with vision, hearing, and speech. And there's no cure. But now Brenda is better at coping with the pain. The 45 year old says it's because she's taking Low Dose Naltrexone.

"Before my Low Dose Naltrexone, I hated the thought of each new day," said Powell.

The drug Naltrexone has been around for years, but the federal government has only approved Naltrexone to treat narcotic and alcohol addiction. The "low dose" version is new and has not been approved by the FDA. But Brenda and others who take the lower dosage swear by it.

"Even though it's not approved by the FDA for treatment of these diseases, doctors are writing prescriptions off-label," said Powell. Off-labeling is not unusual among doctors. It's the practice of prescribing approved medications for uses other than what's its intended for.

"There can be a reluctance to prescribe a drug for an off-label use because malpractice insurance can be a problem. If something small goes wrong, it's likely someone will sue," said Dr. Ann Arouh.

Dr Arouh is a Little Rock doctor who is licensed to prescribe LDN in the state of Oregon but not in Arkansas.

"It looks promising from what I've seen so far," said Dr Arouh.

Dr. Arouh and Brenda went to a conference in Nashville last year to learn more about clinical trials taking place all around the country. Researchers, doctors, and patients explained how the drug has worked for them. Books have also been written on LDN. And an illustration on the manufacturer's web site shows how LDN was used to successfully treat Crohn's disease. However, medical professionals will tell you LDN only stops the progression of a disease it cannot reverse permanent damage.

"It is not a cure for MS," said Powell.

And while some people can just walk into their doctor's office and request to take the drug off-label. Brenda wants Low Dose Naltrexone approved for treating her multiple sclerosis and other diseases.

"Without it, I would probably be totally bed-ridden and totally deaf," said Powell.

We want to make sure you understand that Low Dose Naltrexone is not a cure it's not the new "miracle drug." More clinical studies and trials are needed before the FDA can approve LDN for these uses.

For more information on LDN visit: LDNInfo.org
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