I take just symptom management drugs. I will be starting LDN soon and was wondering how many mg to start with.

Too, isn't 4.5mg the typical dose after you have been on LDN for awhile?

Thanks for your help!

Stacy

Skip from Skip's pharmacy told me to start out at 1.5 mg. He said most people who quit taking it, quit because of side effects and have started out at too high of a dose. Yes, 4.5 mg is the optimal and highest dose they say to take. Some people only take 3 mg though. Good luck! As soon as mine gets here from Skip's, I'll be starting it ( again..I tried it for 3 months in 2005, but didn't notice any improvement. I think I started @ 3mg though that time.) I'm also on Copaxone too.

Desinie is right in that most people start at 1.5mg, and eventually end up on either 3.0mg or 4.5mg. Men and small women seem to have a harder time getting up over 3.0mg.

I started at 3.0mg and the side effects were not really bad. I had nausea (until I started downing a glass of water with it, which you should do when you are starting out anyway). I also had a mild headache for a few weeks, not much sleep for several days (but I still felt good during the day), and a "buzz" for about 30 min after I took it. I think that was it .

I've heard of others who've started on 4.5mg and had no problems, but I am very sensitive to meds so I probably should have started at 1.5mg.

The improvements were amazing for me though (symptom-wise), which I was not expecting. I definitely didn't mind those initial side-effects for the benefits I got.

I think some people go off because they don't get symptom improvement, so they think it isn't working. Not everyone gets symptom improvement, and sometimes the improvements are insidious (don't notice over several months, until you look back). The main "goal" of LDN is to slow disease progression and reduce relapses . . . symptom improvement should be looked at as a bonus that fortunately many of us have seen.

Good luck and feel free to join in on the LDN stickie to let us know how you are getting along:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread50240.html

Cherie

If you aren't real sensitive, start at 3mg..... but you may want to get the script for increments of 1.5mg, in case you feel the need to go down a notch.

Good luck... and be sure to check into the LDN thread, to let us know how it goes for you..

Welcome to the LDN club, Stacy!

Yes, 1.5 is good to start with. It kinda messed with me (a few sx) and I nearly quit, but decided I hadn't made my best effort.

Now I take 4.5 mg. with no bothersome side effects. The dreams can be pretty vivid from time to time, though!

I do think it has made my blood pressure rise and I have packed on some more unwanted lbs. But it can also cause you to LOSE weight (naturally, that wouldn't happen to ME!)

Good luck with it. Take it easy and don't rush to increase your dose. Give it a month or so for your body to adjust between upping the doses.

Thank you for all the information. This should prove interesting for I'm now bipolar (manic/depressive). I was told by my psychiatrist that MS people are twice as likely than the general population to be bipolar.

I think it would be best for me to start at 1.5mg

[QUOTE=Twinkletoes;434898I do think it has made my blood pressure rise and I have packed on some more unwanted lbs. But it can also cause you to LOSE weight (naturally, that wouldn't happen to ME!) [/QUOTE]


Ugh, for I'm on two different bp meds since MS at age 32. Thanks!

This whole LDN thread has me wondering about asking the apocathary here if it's a possibility... research time I'm thinking!

But I have decided against LDN for me.

I have had two mini-strokes because of high blood pressure; before I was prescribed bp medications.

Too, I'm bipolar; manic right now and not sleeping. I don't need another drug to help make me manic.

0357

What makes you think LDN might cause you to be manic, Stacy?

(BTW, I'm very sorry to hear of your recent dx in addition to the MS. )

You have to do what you feel comfortable with, and I wouldn't want to try to twist your arm . . . but I personally know several people with Bipolar and MS who are responding well to LDN.

Cherie