Julie's Low Dose Naltrexone FAQs: Dose Timing
Until pretty recently, it was widely accepted that LDN should always be taken between 9:00 pm and 3:00 am, as that is the time that natural endorphins are released. The LDN is supposed to work with these endorphins, both keeping them circulating longer and perhaps even stimulating the body to produce and release more endorphins.
However, one of the most common side effects of naltrexone is sleep disturbances, both in the form of insomnia and lucid dreams. For many people, these side effects are temporary and disappear after a week or two after starting the drug. Some people counter these effects during this short time period by taking a sleep aid, like Benadryl or a prescription medication.
For some people, the insomnia continues to be a problem long after the initial two weeks of taking low dose naltrexone, contributing the very MS-related fatigue that these people were hoping the LDN would help relieve. In most cases, sleep aids should not be used long-term unless absolutely necessary – these can also make people with MS feel drowsy during the day.
As it turns out, some docs are saying that people can take LDN in the morning and it will be just as effective as taking it at night. In fact, these docs recommend that it only be taken in the morning when it is used to treat people with chronic fatigue syndrome or people with very poor sleep quality.
Some of you have written to me to say that LDN has actually helped your sleep. As for myself, I notice that the LDN knocks me out about an hour after I take it (kind of like being hit with a sledgehammer), but that I wake up about three hours later, full of energy. I have worked to train myself to go back to sleep, but this can take as long as a couple of hours.
What do you think? Are any of you taking your LDN in the mornings? Have you noticed a difference? How do you feel during the day? Has your sleep improved? Share your experiences here – we all need to learn from each other.
I take it as close to midnight as possible (like Dr. Bihari suggested). I had a few vivid dreams but not too much of a problem sleeping. I do know Dr. Zagon does not think there is a difference as to what time you take LDN but then there are other Doctors that swear by the night dosing. I think that it may differ from person-to-person as to when the best results are had.
I have been taking LDN for about two years I take it sometime before I go to bed – I have no effects whatsoever. I sleep like a log most of the time unless something has me excited – but that is rare, I take Yoga and work on staying calm. I take it for Stage III Breast Cancer. So far – so good…
Julie…
LDN never affected my sleep at all. In fact, I didn’t notice anything when I began taking it. It felt like… nothing. Kind like taking a vitamin pill.
Of course I had the advantage/disadvantage of not knowing anything about LDN and not expecting anything from it. I only figured out that all my PRMS symptoms were gone after three months, but I can’t honestly say when they disappeared as I wasn’t paying attention.
Psychology plays a big role in our reaction to drugs, including LDN.
Joe
This is my second attempt to take ldn for m.s.. The first time it gave me extreme insomnia at night and loss of appetite. The insomnia got worse with each day and I felt very hyper. I worked full time so I decided to wait until i had time off to try again. This time, I took it in a.m. with breakfast. I noticed I felt very speedy the first two days but then it wore off by night and didn’t effect my sleep. However, by the 6th pill taken in the a.m. with breakfast, my insomnia at night was all night. I’ve always struggled with insomnia but the ldn seems to excaberate it. I was thinking that if I took it in a.m. it would not effect my sleep at night. I’m on the lowest dose right now. I will take it in a.m. again and then take a sleeping pill at night to see if it helps with the first several weeks. I’m concerned that if I up the dose the insomnia will get worse.
Though I appreciate this web site and the information imparted here, I have to say the matter on LDN is in conflict with information recently imparted to me.. I spoken with DR Skip Lenz, who is heavily quoted at the lowdosenaltrexone.org web site.
According to Dr Lenz who is a doctor of pharmacology, LDN works during the REM stage of sleep, that is; LDN works while you are dreaming. I have no doubt that there are some Doctors that feel LDN can be taken in the morning. I had a Dr who told me to take it mid evening to prevent the sleep disturbances. People are not engaged in REM sleep while awake. Therefore, according to someone who is heavily degreed in the study of the chemistry and affect of drugs, taking LDN any time where sleep is not possible is a waste of time and money.
I am one of those people whose sleep is affected by LDN. l I cannot fall asleep if I take it at bedtime, After I take it I toss and turn until 6 am; then I finally fall asleep. and I’m fairly sure it is out of my system by then. While it is safe to operated under the guidelines that Sleeping pills should not be utilized, long term. I’m afraid medical science gives those of us with the unwanted side affect from of sleeplessness, from LDN, no choice.
A Doctor may say anything he or she wants, the fact remains that a Dr requires one or two classes in pharmacology, and a pharmacist is better educated as to what drug will aid you. I’m afraid the LDN while awake will not increase endorphin, or keep it circulating or, anything else of the kind. Taking LDN any time other then at bedtime, according to Dr Lenz, will do absolutely nothing
I, for one, am disgusted with the manner in which MS is being handled by the ‘educated’ . It has been ignored and under funded for how long, because it was a woman’s disease and not worthy of any real consideration. It wasn’t even considered as being an actual ailment until two congressmen’s wives contracted it. And then we have big ‘Pharma’ becoming wealthy on the backs of the ill, by pedaling drugs that are only 10% effective. It is little realized that the way the FDA establishes efficacy is by adding the number of those who benefited by the placebo to those who actually benefited by the administered drug. The injectable medications ,pushed by the drug companies, do not have an efficacy of 33%. The fact of the matter is the drugs available are dismal in ability to curtail attacks, And the other choice is a drug that might have the unfortunate side effect of death.
While we are busy shooting ourselves with Drugs that are not effective or possibly deadly, Researchers in England have managed to eradicate all signs of MS in 17 of 20 MS patients with the use of stem cells taken from ‘belly fat’. ‘ Google’ this, its all over the web . Why isn’t that research being done here? Big Pharmacy ; again?
I , for one, have no choice but to take LDN with a sleeping pill. No Drug at all may be damaging, LDN with a sleeping pill may be damaging; but it is less damaging then MS with no rest and no ability to absorb LDN because it wasn’t administered properly
Be Well
I’m sorry for those who are having problems sleeping on LDN! I take it at 10 and always wake up at 2 or 3.. but then I never have a problem going back to sleep – so I guess I’m lucky! I’ve heard many times that taking LDN at night is best in particular for MS in order to stop progression. Early morning hours is when our brains produce the most endorphins, so having the LDN at full effect at those times creates the most endorphins possible. I’ve also read that it’s not necessary to be asleep as your brain will create these endorphins at this time regardless. If you need sleep-aid ideas, I would suggest taking a look at the yahoo group lowdosenaltrexone. There’s a lot of great information there and such a helpful group of people!
Carrie
I take mine around 9:30pm. About an hour later, I get very sleepy and sleep very well until at least 3am if I’ve been drinking lots of caffeine during the day, or until 6am if I don’t drink as much caffeine. I must be one of the lucky ones — my dreams aren’t any more lucid than before. If I don’t take my LDN before bed, I don’t sleep well, and the next day I feel lethargic.
Also, the LDN makes other drugs much more effective. If I take a 4-hour clorotab allergy pill, it lasts well into 12 hours, and I feel very much spaced out. Also I’ve been able to reduce my Celexa from 30mg per day before LDN to 10mg per day after LDN with the same effect.
Hi Julie, I take LDN nightly between 10 and 11pm. I find it makes me quite drowsy in 15-30 minutes, so I make sure I am prepared for bed when I take it. I have not had sleep disturbances, or dreams for that matter. And I am finding that I feel more rested with less sleep (7 hours vs my typical 8-9) which makes me wonder if the quality of my sleep is better. I was prepared to have some insomnia or wakefulness throughout the night, but I’ve only experienced that a couple of times – when first starting and when upping the dosage. Perhaps I am one of the lucky ones, but others reports lead me to believe that there are a lot of us out there that sleep better on LDN rather than the other way around.
On the timing issue, I understand that there is more than one school of thought on this. If one experiences ongoing insomnia or has other nighttime issues then they can look into changing to a daytime dosing schedule. Better some benefit than none at all!
Hi Julie,
I have been taking LDN since 2003 (3 months after MS diagnosis). I started off with the vivid dreams but since then have had trouble sleeping. I take it between 10-11pm. On days I forget, I have to admit that I do sleep better.
I started LDN a little over two weeks ago. It’s going great. The only issue I have with it is that I can’t sleep, pretty much every other night. I’m trying melatonin with it, but it only really works on the “other” night. I’m so tired having been up so much the night before, that I can sleep that night. So every other day is really great
Which is far better than no days being great.
Right now, it’s a tradeoff I’m willing to make. I feel so much better than I have in years and years. I don’t know if it will last (please, please, please), but I will be thankful for whatever I can get.
I’m going to lhave to ook into some other ways I can help the sleep situation.