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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Jimmyboy on December 26, 2006, at 9:00:20
has anyone tried a small dose of Naltrexone to treat their depression?
Supposedly if you take a very small dose , like 1.5-4 mg at bed it blocks your endorphin receptors for a few hours and by the time you wake up, more endorphins are around, thus it has the efect of raising endorphins..
Seems like that would be helpful for some with depression.
JB
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 26, 2006, at 11:02:44
In reply to Low dose Naltrexone??, posted by Jimmyboy on December 26, 2006, at 9:00:20
An interesting point. But it also depends on what opioids (or the lack of) are doing to sleep architecure...
Posted by Jimmyboy on December 26, 2006, at 11:09:41
In reply to Re: Low dose Naltrexone?? » Jimmyboy, posted by jimmygold70 on December 26, 2006, at 11:02:44
Anyone know how lack of endorphins would contribute to such things as:
1. mood
2. fatigue
3. sleep quality
4. sex drive
5. motivationetc etc..
I honestly know very little about endorphins and how a lack of them would effect someone .
JB
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 26, 2006, at 11:36:33
In reply to Re: Low dose Naltrexone??, posted by Jimmyboy on December 26, 2006, at 11:09:41
Effects of chronic treatment with methadone and naltrexone on sleep in addicts
Journal European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Publisher Steinkopff
ISSN 0940-1334 (Print) 1433-8491 (Online)
Subject Medicine
Issue Volume 246, Number 6 / October, 1996
Category Original Paper
DOI 10.1007/BF02189023
Pages 305-309
SpringerLink Date Friday, September 30, 2005
Original Paper
Effects of chronic treatment with methadone and naltrexone on sleep in addicts
J. Staedt1 , F. Wassmuth1, G. Stoppe1, G. Hajak1, A. Rodenbeck1, W. Poser1 and E. Rüther1(1) Department of Psychiatry, Georg August University, D-37075 Göttingen, Germany
Received: 22 December 1995 Accepted: 3 June 1996
Abstract Previous studies have described sleep disturbance secondary to chronic opiate use and abuse. Drug-dependency insomnia is of interest because chronic sleep disturbances can promote depressive symptoms which could lead to a drug relapse. For the first time we compared the polysomnographic parameters of 10 methadone-substituted outpatients and 10 naltrexone-treated outpatients. Methadone (-opioid agonist) produced a marked fragmentation of the sleep architecture with frequent awakenings and a decrease in EEG arousals. In comparison with methadone and controls, the naltrexone (-opioid antagonist) group showed the shortest sleep latency and the longest total sleep time. These data indicate that -agonists and -antagonists have different effects on sleep. The implications, especially the involvement of opioid-dopamine interactions on sleep and movements during sleep, are discussed.
Posted by Phillipa on December 26, 2006, at 12:11:06
In reply to Re: Low dose Naltrexone?? » Jimmyboy, posted by jimmygold70 on December 26, 2006, at 11:36:33
And if l percocet at night helped you does that mean this would? Love Phillipa
Posted by laima on December 26, 2006, at 12:31:46
In reply to Re: Low dose Naltrexone?? » Jimmyboy, posted by jimmygold70 on December 26, 2006, at 11:36:33
I read this same thing about low dose Naltrexone-but only LOW DOSE. I don't think it itself is an opiod though.
Posted by jimmygold70 on December 26, 2006, at 13:01:26
In reply to Re: Low dose Naltrexone??, posted by laima on December 26, 2006, at 12:31:46
This field of getting things just to enjoy their withdrawal is gaining popularity in core medical journals. See, the effect of nictine is totally opposed of what you see in smokers like high blood pressure. The logic is that tissue uptake of nicotine is so fast that even haeavy smokers are under constant nicotine withdrawal...
Posted by Jimmyboy on December 26, 2006, at 13:53:03
In reply to Re: Low dose Naltrexone??, posted by laima on December 26, 2006, at 12:31:46
I have seen quite afew people who have used it for MS or other autoimmune problems, has anyone actually tried this ? If so, what was the effect?
JB
Posted by blueberry1 on December 26, 2006, at 15:25:24
In reply to Anyone actually tried this?, posted by Jimmyboy on December 26, 2006, at 13:53:03
> I have seen quite afew people who have used it for MS or other autoimmune problems, has anyone actually tried this ? If so, what was the effect?
>
> JBI tried low dose naltrexone many years ago, along with several other people here at pbabble when the naltrexone topic was hot for a while. It supposedly enhances ssris and prevents poopout, especially with prozac. I was on prozac.
The ultra low dose you are looking at is where most of us started because naltrexone has serious nausea as a startup side effect. We would literally break a tab in tiny chunks and start with the littlest chunk and work our way up. I don't remember whether my final dose was 25mg or 50mg. I was on it about a month.
The only effect I remember from it was a vague sense of being more comfortable in a crowd. I was looking for more pleasure because of anhedonia, and it didn't address that except maybe in a vague tiny way. I do not remember how it was for sleep.
I don't drink except maybe a couple times a year. I went out to dinner and ordered a glass of wine, very much looking forward to the alcohol buzz. No buzz at all. It was like drinking koolaid. Naltrexone completely blocked the alcohol buzz. Anyway, it wasn't helping in any big way and it was very expensive so I stopped.
Whether it would provide some benefit at a real low dose over a longer period of time I do not know. If you do try it, the nausea should go away in two or three days.
Posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 11:10:12
In reply to Anyone actually tried this?, posted by Jimmyboy on December 26, 2006, at 13:53:03
> I have seen quite afew people who have used it for MS or other autoimmune problems, has anyone actually tried this ? If so, what was the effect?
>
> JBI took 50 mgs of Naltrexone for awhile and it did nothing for me at all. Nada. I am an ex-heroin addict so my endorphin receptors are probably a little screwy.
Posted by med_empowered on December 27, 2006, at 11:36:50
In reply to Re: Anyone actually tried this? » Jimmyboy, posted by mattye on December 27, 2006, at 11:10:12
I've read about it for MS and HIV/AIDS...apparently, for these indications, you need to cap the dosage @ 4.5 mgs or so..above that and you apparently cause an actual blockade and reduction in endorphins, instead of the partial blockade and increase.
Anyway, I'm thinking about trying it. You can apparently take one 50mgs tab, plop it in some water in a dropper, and have about 10+ days worth of dosage. Not a bad deal. Some docs will RX for compounded low-dose naltrexone, and certain pharmacies specialize in filling it. I think @ those places it works out to anywhere from 20s-40/month for the treatment.
Posted by laima on December 27, 2006, at 11:46:33
In reply to Re: Anyone actually tried this?, posted by med_empowered on December 27, 2006, at 11:36:50
I'm trying it- just specks which I estimate are in the 2-5 mg neighborhood. Not sure it's doing much endorphin-wise (hard to say), but that tiny bit surprisingly is enough to have squelched alcohol cravings near completely.
Posted by Jimmyboy on December 27, 2006, at 15:06:44
In reply to Re: Anyone actually tried this?, posted by laima on December 27, 2006, at 11:46:33
Laima and Med-empowered, please keep me posted on how that is working out for you , I am very interested.
Good luck !
JB
Posted by laima on December 27, 2006, at 15:54:23
In reply to Re: Anyone actually tried this?, posted by Jimmyboy on December 27, 2006, at 15:06:44
Thanks, I'll let you know- I only have one 50mg tablet though. I am starting to wonder if I shouldn't try smushing the remainder up into smaller bits- maybe smaller bits would be more likely to produce the desired effect (of some endorphins)?> Laima and Med-empowered, please keep me posted on how that is working out for you , I am very interested.
>
> Good luck !
>
> JB
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