NMSS softens position on LDN

SammyJo · Family Member Joined: Mar 11, 2004 Posts: 40

We're making headway folks, congratulations!
And kudos to Dr Agrwal, who's hypothsis they cite. Once an MD/PhD stepped forward and published, they had to take note. Now we just need the research team. Know of any candidates?

Dr Agrawal was interviewed by Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple
Sclerosis regarding his hypothesis 1/27/05.
http://www.bostoncure.org:8080/article.pl?sid=05/01/27/1748256

SammyJo

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http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Clinup-Naltrexone.asp
Low Dose Naltrexone Update

April 2005—We have received a number of inquiries about the use
of
low dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. To
date, there are no published data from controlled clinical trials of
LDN in MS. Further study is needed to determine the safety and
efficacy of LDN as a treatment for people with MS.

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist that has been approved by the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of addictions to
opioids and alcohol. At significantly lower doses, it has been
prescribed as a treatment for a variety of diseases, including
various types of cancers, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's
disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), emphysema, as well as
MS and other autoimmune diseases. Although there is a trial ongoing
in Crohn's disease, no data have yet been published in Crohn's or any
of these other diseases.

In a recent article by Y.P. Agrawal, MD, PhD, (Med Hypotheses. 2005;64
(4):721-4), Dr. Agrawal proposed that LDN reduces disease activity in
MS by reducing the destruction of oligodendrocytes, the cells that
manufacture myelin. He urged that clinical trials be conducted as
soon as possible to determine if the proposed mechanism of action is
a safe and effective treatment for MS.

We look forward to seeing published results from the clinical trial
of LDN in Crohn's disease and hope that research studies will be
conducted in EAE (the animal model of MS) and in MS. As stated on the
National MS Society Web site, the Society is open to considering any
high quality and relevant research protocol. Any agent that has the
potential to safely and effectively treat MS is of interest to the
Society. We encourage those researchers and clinicians who believe
there are significant benefits to LDN for people with MS to propose
and undertake the studies that are required by the dictates of good
scientific investigation and also required by regulatory authorities.

Research and Clinical Programs Department
in collaboration with
Allen Bowling, MD, PhD
Rocky Mountain MS Center