Why I Stopped Taking Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) 

Congratulations on no longer needing any medications! I just started taking a super low dose of LDN for my severe CFS. I’m hoping that as I build up my dosage it can help me manage my symptoms a bit better. Thank you for sharing and giving me hope that healing is possible. I’ve been in a deep pit of depression for a while because I’m struggling to improve health wise and continue to decline instead. I’ve been thinking of you and others who have healed, and how before you never would have believed that you would be where you are today. It gives me some hope.❤ Enjoy your trip!❤

I think bc of its influence on calming the nervous system LDN can help people who are impacted by trauma, as well. Calms the flames

I want to share my experience with chronic illness, and that like you, working directly with nervous system regulation was the most helpful thing. I was extremely ill for many years, and I never took any medications. I did work with many natural health practitioners and did extensive ozone therapy, but was still incredibly ill. Eventually, I found Craniosacral therapy, and somatic therapy to help with my nervous system, and was able to almost completely heal, and went on to study those modalities and have now become a practitioner who specializes in nervous system health and supports others healing from chronic illness to support their nervous system. However, I wasn't fully 100% recovering, despite my in-depth understanding of and capacity to support my nervous system regulation. I decided to try LDN after having refused to take medication throughout my entire healing journey, and it has allowed me to decrease the neuro-inflammtion in ways that the other modalities weren't. So we sort of did things the opposite way. I share this to also name that sometimes the natural way also won't get someone all the way to the other side, and I now fully believe in this medication as an ally, of course as an adjust not a substitute to the natural nervous system support

Oh that is so awesome about your trip to Norway! My parents have been twice and absolutely loved it, especially the fjords near Bergen!

I saw a video of you three years ago, what a big difference. You look great and fit.

Im glad LDN was helpful for you

I stopped all laboratory meds💪 Now taking low dose Psylocybin mushrooms. Twice a week and no more nerve pain.

Can you do video on foods? Are you able to eat non carnivore foods like Vegetables fruits etc or just not worth the risk?

We have 2 great immune systems provided by God

I’m about to start LDN for possible help with anxiety. You think you gained any lessening of anxiety as a result of taking it? Assuming you had some anxiety prior to starting it….thanks a lot 😊

Is there a video on what your Lyme disease treatment was?

I just started it but I have back pain that seems to be caused by it. Should I lower the dose?

Retraining the brain for nervous system regulation works also healing

Is the LDN helping in the same way that an SSRI would?

I thought you have eds? It's not possible to heal from that

Do you have any medical qualifications?

I have researched LDN for weeks now and have been prescribed some after 44 years of ME/CFS/Fibro. Your title for this video made me avoid it because I thought you were not happy with it and didn’t want to be discouraged. Delighted to see you so well. Thank you.

My niece got very sick after her second HPV vaccine. We never made the link until recently. She has a damaged CNS and CFS. We’re now questioning medications and vaccines much more. Rare disease isn’t so rare anymore

This is awesome to watch cause I remember finding your RU-vid channel when you first started taking LDN and now you don’t even need it and you’re glowing!! LDN made me realise how much I was in fight or flight mode cause it suddenly chilled out a little so I feel like it pointed me in the right direction 😅

I'm glad she no longer needs it. But she is being a bit disingenuous towards it. While she is right that medications do have side effects, LDN is probably one of the safest medications out there. Sleep disturbances is about it,.. as far as this drug goes. There is no nausea, or headaches, or any of the million other side effects most medications have. And the sleep thing can be avoided if you take it in the morning instead of bedtime. And/or lower the dose. And even if it does cause vivid dreams, that is a small price to pay for its benefits. There is also the belief that this might be only a temporary side effect. And one other thing, and this is huge. It works more like a nutritional supplement than it does a drug, in that it corrects an insufficiency in endorphins. LDN leaves the body in only a few of hours. But the increase in endorphins lasts all day long. It doesn't work by masking or relieving symptoms of a condition. It works by increasing something very beneficial, that your body can't do without. Just like vitamin D or magnesium or any essential nutrient. And there are a number of reasons why your endorphin levels might drop. Which in her case, was being chronically ill for quite a while. She is still young and doing better and so she might be able to do without. But as you age,.. your endorphin levels drop. Dealing with an autoimmunity, or any chronic condition will also drop endorphin levels. And low endorphins are associated with Aids, Cancer, Mortality, you name it.... Endorphins have systemic effects for so many biological systems and pathways, it makes perfect sense for it to have a wide range of benefits for a great many conditions. More on safety,.. fertility clinics give it to expecting mothers with troubled pregnancies,... and their babies are born much heathier than those who didn't take LDN. Results can differ greatly. Some have had incredible benefits using it. For me personally, not so much. It helps me only moderately with my conditions (COPD and Psoriatic arthritis). But hopefully, still guards me from my cancer ever returning. 10+ years and counting. For that reason, I will never do without. Not at my age. There are a number of clinical cases of remarkable stage 4 recoveries, documented in the published literature. More info... >>> ohbaby's substack

Something to consider…the medical colleagues of Dr Bernard Bihari (the physician that discovered that low doses of naltrexone enhanced the immune response) went on LDN after learning of its healing abilities, and none of them were chronically ill. These colleagues were Dr Bihari’s best friend since medical school, and that friend’s entire family, who were all doctors. The article I read explained that they felt that LDN was a protective substance that they would likely be on for life.

Your progress is evidence judging from your look of your eyes, kudos to you for choosing the right road

For those taking it or looking to take it, make sure it's compounded - compounding pharmacy. And, make sure you are getting ACTUAL diagnoses too...knowing the roots is important. LDN doesn't just help the nervous system, but brain inflammation in general from strokes, concussions, etc.

Your videos finally gave me the courage to take my first dose of LDN. I've been dealing with long covid for nearly two years and while my body is slowly recovering there are some persistent symptoms that interfere with my life. Thank you for the videos and encouragement.

Perfect timing. I've been putting LDN off for several years now. Just had a consult with a new Dr and he also suggested LDN. So I'm gonna give it a try. For some reason I just can't get Brain Retraining to click for me. I'm over thinking everything. Hopefully this will start to lower my flight fight response so BR can work better. So happy to see you healing.

How wonderful Rachael! So happy for you and your new body :) I took LDN for 3 months and then depression stared getting stonger and stonger out of no where. I finally had to stop taking it to my disappointment. :(

I have followed you for a while, and when I was researching LdN, your video was one of the videos that had me ask my doctor about it and get on it. I’ve been on it for two years, and that in combination with B12 injections was the two things that worked to pull me out of the severity of my conditions, which are chronic fatigue, syndrome, and fibromyalgia Mcas and 4 severe that conditions. Before I even got sick with all of these things, I had already been lactose, free, gluten-free and low, inflammatory diet exercise, took my vitamins and supplements and tried to minimize stress. I have tried to get off of the L B,N and I do notice that my symptoms flare up but not as severe so my functional medicine doctor agreed that it would be good for me to just lower the dose a little bit and stay consistent with it for a while for my personal situation, but I have all of these conditions in a lot more going on than even the things I’ve mentioned. For me, it may be a very long-term medication at extremely low-dose, because of the other benefits that it has for my personal conditions. That being said, I do plan to try again in the future as I get to a few more of the causes, that I am slowly and traveling through endless research and perseverance. I am so so so happy for you. I pray that you feel awesome for the rest of your life.!!

I'm talking ldn for 8 years now, and I've always known that it helps me regenerate but I didn't appreciate how much it is helping me with my fatigue ( I have lupus) until I made a mistake in counting how many pills I have left and was 2 weeks without it. That was 2 worst weeks in the long long time. I had just a few left so I took 1 every 4th day. First day was good as always after taking it, second day I was feeling tired but it was manageable, third day I was feeling like I would have tones of rocks over my body, no strength at all, 4th day I had to take a nap during the day because I was so exhausted and I'm never sleeping during the day because I just simply can't unless I'm sick. And this scheme was the same 3 times so I'm sure it wasn't by accident. It really works for me as with small baby I have zero time to take care properly of myself.

Congratulations on regaining your health! This gives me a lot of hope. I have long Covid since July 2020, chronic Lyme, mold mycotoxins and several chemical toxicities before that. I was finding solutions and detoxing but Covid made my situation so much worse. I just started LDN .5 mg about a week ago and it is definitely messing with my sleep. Making it even harder for me to fall asleep. I’ve been going to bed at 7 am, which is very frustrating. I think I’m going to try taking it in the daytime. I hate the idea of being on any drug, long term and I totally agree with your perspective. I was hesitant to even try it but I’m really desperate to help my immune system. I have been getting flus all summer long and I can’t take it anymore. (I’m unvaxxed in case anyone is wondering). I just want to have energy and live a normal life like everyone else.

This really gives me hope. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Your approach makes perfect sense to me at 65 years of age I am on no medications at all and that confuses people , they look at me as if I am strange , no not really I just don't take medications just to take them , I had a Mother that did that for 70 years and it didn't work out well for her either ! So, good for you I am happy that you recovered and moved on with your life and you look happy and well, God Bless You !

Hi Rachel! I just found your video and page. I have been retraining for CFS and other conditions for 1.5 years. Progress is happening, although slow. I'm considering increasing LDN (have been on a low low dose since before retraining) to see if it can help me recover along retraining. How did you find going off LDN? Did it take time for your body and nervous system to adapt?

So glad for you! It helps me but I started eating more and gaining weight right away. It's disappointing to FINALLY find something that helps but to feel that it will cause me other problems that I really can't deal with either.

Unfortunately, some people doesn’t have that choice that you made due to the fact due to their chronic pain/illnesses, but I commend you for coming off your medication’s but there’s a lot of people that can’t do that for several reasons, in which,, you already know, you can’t take LDN in the morning versus at night and it doesn’t make everyone sick that takes it. God bless you

I just went off LDN too. I also would prefer not to take any meds. Some of my symptoms have retuned, though I’m going to give it a couple weeks - think it’s just rebound withdrawal symptoms. Like you, have also been doing an animal based diet and brain rewiring and am SO much better than I was. ❤

I was on LDN and it helped me a lot. I got better, went off of it, was good for a few years, then had 2 surgeries with no relief, then a TBI and now I'm trying to get back on.

LDN can heal the body where you don't need it, as I imagine it is happening here.

Congratulations! Im happybto see your healing. I have pots for 3 years now, its so hard to deal with. Could you tell me what things helped you get better frm pots?

I am the same. Doctors are not helping me so I have to look for help myself. Looking to go onto LDN as I have stopped taking opioid medication which I feel is a good decision but still having pain. Have changed my diet no red meat very little sugar no food additives or colourings no gluten. I also use Cannabis oil CBD 12% THC 12% which is helping with the inflamation plus makes me sleep like a baby and wake up refreshed. What are you thoughts on medicinal cannabis for fibro?

So encouraging!! Thanks for sharing. Happy for you!😊

I had 1 tablet and my body locked up

Hi, Rachael. When you had CCI did you have hydrocephalus (abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles (cavities) deep within the brain)?

Rachel, did you find it beneficial and what side effects did you have I the beginning? I was offered it for my Long Covid…

I completely agree with you about the key to healing is to calm the nervous system so that the body can naturally heal. Love to you!

SSRI withdrawals are real. And they damaged my CNS.

Starting my LDN to treat long covid. Also seem to have put my fight ot flight mode into overdrive. What brain retraining method do you suggest?

How do you know it wasn’t just giving the surgery time to heal? Did you have MCAS? Has that gone?

Rachael, you are looking great. I notice that you no longer need the neck brace. Is that because of the LDN or from the neck treatments?

You look so much healthier than you did in a video from over a year ago. I am happy for you.

Bless your wise heart, thank you for sharing and congratulations on your wholeness!🌟🙏🏼♥️

Thank you!❤

You look so healthy. Not needing it anymore is the best reason to stop taking any drug. Good for you :)

Read the book "Super Gut" by William Davis. He shows by his research that fibromyalgia, restless leg syndrome, chronic fatigue and many other chronic illnesses are the result of an overgrowth of negative bacteria and fungus. This situation can be reversed by diet and avoidance of certain foods and food additives. I personally know three people who have transformed their lives with this information and protocol. Well worth reading his book it may transform your life.

I am nearing my 12 month LDN-versarry. Some doctors claim it takes 2 years to take full effect.

Hope you enjoy my country (Norway)!

I have MS. My neuro., advised me to try it so I take LDN 3mg been on it 6mos. Didn't notice any results. However I read that it helps Hashimoto and I have that too

Good to see you better n better now... i saw your video after 2 years now, just to check how are you doing and knowing you are much better now gave me immense calm.

You're really gorgeous :)

Wtf are the side effects? Ur just repeating urself without actually saying anything

⁠I have severe mecfs for decades but it has never been dx as such. I’ve suffered severe fatigue since teenage years, sleep issues since early twenties, neuropathy then severe neuropathic pain by the time I was 40. I’ve been tested for everything under the sun and I’m healthy except that I have chronic pain, chronic fatigue, severe PEM and cognitive fog. Progressively worse for the past Twenty years I can’t stand, walk, do any activity or be emotional. I have no quality of life and wish that I didn’t need to eat or tend to the issues of this body anymore let alone for another 20 yrs. It all feels so helpless however I have decided to ask my doctor if I can start on LDN. I am anxious about even bringing up the subject because I have already been told there is nothing that can be done when my test results are normal. I’m afraid that I don’t have a diagnosis to support LDN therapy or that I won’t have a good response to it. Then I will truly be hopeless and may not recover from despair.

Hey thanks for giving us hope, so you had lyme? I think I might as well. My connective tissue has been deteriorating and I have cci. Also my cci is so bad, I might need a craniocervical fusion. I'm in bed 23 hours a day. How'd you find a doctor to perform one? Every neurosurgeon just looks at my MRi and says I'm fine.

This came at a good time! I’ve just take receipt of some LDN. Thanks for sharing. Did you take it alongside prolo/PRP? Im a bit concerned it’ll block the prolo but then, if it helps the fight or flight then it could ‘help’ the prolo work?

I am SO happy for you!!!!!

Hi Rachel, I’m wondering if you feel that your fusion helped create more opportunities for your nervous system to heal?

How’s u get it I’ve talked to my Dr. And they where like 🤷‍♀️

What about gut health? Just as important as the nervous system.

Do u have CIRS chronic inflammatory response syndrome?

Wouldn't touch that again, I have no desires in life period anymore, I quit many months ago n just getting where I can cry over movies or sad shit. My lil bro died of an overdose n I still haven't cried!!! No nothing, like I'm dead inside. Rather be in pain...I can at least feel that.

I think there is a difference between a medicine that helps you to be able to improve things in your life vs a medicine that just allows you to cope by just dumbing everything down. My meds take my pain from a "crash" to a "slow speed train wreck". That doesnt actually help me improve in the long term. I'm still in pain, I'm less able to do the things I used to do , cuz I'm slowed down by meds so everything piles up worse than before. I'm basically mostly sitting around being afraid or unable to do anything cuz I'm already in pain or I'll have to stop in the middle when the pain comes back. I don't understand why my doctors won't acknowledge how much pain is ruining my life, I guess the opiod epidemic? but I'm hoping to get some help or else I've got no reason to keep trying to pretend to be normal. I'm hoping that becasue this medicine is not "addictive" that they won't avert their eyes and won't make tasteless jokes about drug parties if I ask for it. What is their purpose if they won't even help a person whose major complaint is pain. I'm glad to hear that you were able to use it to make other improvements in your life. I have the potential to do "better" ( doing better = being less pitiful and more like a person who used to be able to take care of themselves) but chronic illness and pain is taking it away from me more and more and no one seems to care. I'm glad there are doctors out there tring to convince others to care and to help people ACTUALLY get BETTER health and less Pain.

Hey Rachel, you mentioned eating nourishing foods - what's your diet like these days? Still carnivore, or something different? Thanks for your time and for sharing your journey.

How does it affect your dreams as you stated?

What part does the vagus nerve play in gut health?

did you notice any sexual side effects while on LDN? Anorgasmia or less pleasure? Many thanks

🌻🌻🌻

How are your PRP injections holding up now?

LDN stopped working for me after I had a very mild Covid

You're not even treating your adrenal insufficiency? How did you do that?

Very inspiring! Do you eat raw dairy and/or eggs?

If you get insomnia you can take it in the morning

HOW DID YOU TREAT THE LYME? WOULD LOVE TO HEAR

Hi Rachael! It is so nice to see someone document their journey. I just started LDN at .5mg and I am wondering what was your titration schedule, what dose did you end up staying at, how did you know it was the right dose (did you have have a bad reaction to a certain dose and have to go back down?), and did the vivid dreams ever go away? Last, how long in total did you do LDN? Thanks again for sharing your experience!

Many congrats on your continued recovery and good health. Do you you continue with any non-prescription supplements alongside the carni diet? All the best...

I’m so Happy to see you well and calm. I’m always looking forward to seeing your progress. LDN is now prescribed to many patients suffering g from Long Covid and it’s supposed to help with inflammatory process. Enjoy Norway and love from Ireland ❤

I'm so happy for you Rachael!! How was the trip to Norway? I am Norwegian and we are lucky with our nature accessibiltiy. Do you have any videos of breaking down everything you did in your healing journey? For anyone wondering about LDN, this video is probably the best explaination of it imo - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nfCMvkonHOs.html

I'M GRATEFUL I FOUND YOUR CHANNEL.

Do you think this healing would have been possible without the c0-c2 fusion? I have nearly all the same diagnoses as you and am trying to figure out what path to take. My eds doctor is recommending not to do surgery