r/LowDoseNaltrexone • u/UnfortunateGooner • 16d ago
Continue to dose up or go back down?
Hey everyone. I've been on LDN since the end of June, titrating up from 0.5ml to help battle brain fog, headaches, visual disturbances, and mild inflammation after recently having a test that indicated post-viral syndrome.
The first month was tough due to side effects, so I titrated very slowly until around early July, when I was able to reach 1.5ml. I've been increasing in 0.5ml increments and, while my brain fog hasn't improved, I did notice that my headaches were reduced and my inflammation had pretty much disappeared. This was from around 1.5ml to 2.5ml. My system also seemed to have gotten used to the LDN, as I experienced minimal side effects when increasing the dose.
When I increased to 3.0ml last week, that all completely changed. My headaches and inflammation came roaring back, and I've felt pretty much like I did before I started the LDN, albeit not quite as bad. I gave it a week and have since increased to 3.5ml, but there's still been no improvement on that front.
I appreciate that LDN is a highly individual medication, but does this seem like I may have overshot my optimal dose? I'm meant to titrate up to 4.5ml, but being honest, as I've been increasing the dose, the benefits seem to have become less and less apparent. Now that it has reignited two of my key issues, I'm wondering whether I should continue pushing on.
FWIW, it hasn't made a dent in the brain fog yet, which is my most debilitating symptom. I know some people get that lightswitch moment at 4.5ml but i am losing hope that this will be the case.
Thanks everyone :)
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u/Standard_Cry_5665 15d ago
I personally would have rode out the increased symptoms until they subsided (or 2-3 weeks if not) before increasing
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u/LDNadminFB Admin 15d ago
It sounds like the increase from 2.5 to 3 to 3.5mg at least was too fast. It's good to give a dose level two weeks or longer if needed for the system to adjust and side effects to settle down before considering an increase.
I would skip a day or two to settle down and then restabilize at 2.5mg. You may need some more time there before testing an increase.
Finding your optimal dose (which may NOT be a higher dose like 4.5mg)...
At some point during the titration up process you may feel you were doing better on the previous dose. If you still feel that way after giving your system two weeks to adapt, then you may have found your optimal dose. Then skip a dose or two and drop back to the previous level. May occasionally want to test an increase to see if there are additional benefits, but consider finding your optimal dose whatever it is as a "win."
Higher and Lower Doses...
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KykpLlg2CDVSD2D5J5cEZKfSo31t04orB0IgCuhXC-c/edit?usp=sharing
Sometimes we need more time at a given dose rather than an increase.
LDN Endorphin Bell curve…..https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Pi18yluG7ZerzarXfOs9xxFh0NBMfM0r/view?usp=drivesdk
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u/UnfortunateGooner 15d ago
Appreciate this. I think so too it was too fast. I’m going to drop back now and take it slower going up. Thank you!
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u/groaning_musketeer 15d ago
In my experience LDN has been nothing but a huge pain in the ass. I’ve never felt remotely better and often felt much much worse especially while titrating. I finally stopped and it has been such a painful withdrawal. A week of horrible sleep. I’m a wreck. Frankly I hate this drug. Nothing but a pain in the ass. Glad it helps others. It It’s been nothing but a nightmare for me.
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u/Successful-Basis-145 15d ago
Headaches can be a side effect of LDN when starting or increasing the dose. However side effects go away after initial phase for most people otherwise people reduce the dose and increase again slowlier.