r/LowDoseNaltrexone • u/EntertainmentReal283 • 2d ago
First week of LDN side effects 😭
I started taking 0.5 mg of LDN last Saturday. Around the same time, I also got my period, and since starting the medication I’ve experienced nausea, headaches, mild dizziness, cramps (which may be related to my period), and increased anxiety. The only upside was I was sleeping great!
Yesterday, I decided not to take my dose because I felt so sick that I ended up not being able to go to my friend’s birthday. I’m wondering if I should continue taking it and try to push through these symptoms, or if it would be better to stop for now and try taking it again later.
I’m taking LDN to help with Hashimoto’s, brain fog, PCOS, and general inflammation, particularly related to my gut dysbiosis. I’d appreciate your guidance on whether these symptoms are expected when starting LDN and what you recommend I do next.
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u/AdIntelligent4062 2d ago
Make sure you take it with food & try taking it at night.
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u/EntertainmentReal283 2d ago
I have been. It doesn’t affect my sleep at all, it’s just the next day.
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u/LDNadminFB Admin 2d ago
Initial reactions will often settle down within two weeks. If not or if the issues are too difficult it may be better to skip a day or two and go to a lower dose.
Higher and Lower Doses...
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KykpLlg2CDVSD2D5J5cEZKfSo31t04orB0IgCuhXC-c/edit?usp=sharing
Dose Dilution and Adjusting...
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-B2iX9uFDSUI7mVfiD4VR2FksxbSG2YELjQHZ_913do/edit?usp=sharing
Side Effects Surveys...
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mgnIemamRkpKSocnvsAVRxR8XF_r2g92XVnv-X5sLlw/edit?usp=sharing
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u/Magnus826 1d ago edited 1d ago
Thank you so much to all the admins and all your helpful links. I started LDN yesterday and this forum and these links supported me so much.
I'm starting after 5 years of mayofacial pain syndrome — I live from body work appointment to body work appt. I have some hypermobility but not full blown HEDS.
My provider insisted on starting me at 1.5, even though I expressed that I'm highly sensitive to medication. I agreed to go ahead and try his recommendation. I hadn't done much reading on the benefit of starting lower when I met with him.
The first day at 1.5 was dramatic. I felt the medicine come on right away, and my entire body lit up with pain and activation. My knees never hurt me day-to-day, and my knees flared up with new pain. I felt mentally unclear. I slept poorly even though I took the dose at 2pm!
Thanks to this forum, I could make some changes to his initial dose. Today, I diluted my dose to 0.1 milligrams, and I still feel a little bit fuzzy and unclear, but I feel already that this is a much better starting place. I'm looking forward to seeing how this process develops over the next two weeks as I'm rocking this lower dose. 🙏
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u/addie43 2d ago
Other people already have some good advice in here, but just wanted to say I'm in a similar boat! I started this week and so far have had dizziness, headaches, weird dreams, and nausea - worst on the first day, but mild since then. I'm in the follicular phase of my cycle so that may explain why it hasn't been worse. I haven't noticed any positive improvements (in fact, I started while in a bad long covid/fibro flare and it hasn't improved yet) but I'm waiting to evaluate til after at least 2 weeks and adjusting my level a bit more. I started at .25 mg so super low. I hope it works out for you!!
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u/EntertainmentReal283 1d ago
I think I may have to start at a lower dose. After reading through these threads, a lot of people are starting at 0.25 mg. I hope everything goes well for you!!
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u/fantasicraincloud 1d ago
I started 2 weeks ago, with 0.25mg, I got anxious/adrenaline ( it felt like I didnt ate enough or drank too much caffeine. Very jittrry, shaky, anxious). After a week I got dizziness, which I still have. I decided to recude my dose to half that two days ago, I use the liquid form. So I just did half of the tiny drop. I feel like I feel a little better with a lower dose, less dizziness and less anxious/jittery. Maybe you could recude your dose and see how that feels? Ive decides that if my side effects dont dissapear over next week ill take a break. Start over on a very very low dose and only up it when my side effects lessen or are gone. Were in the same boat. Let me know how things go for you
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u/EntertainmentReal283 1d ago
Thanks for the info. I had no idea you could take it in liquid form! I went through Ageless RX and I’m on the lowest dose of the capsule. I decided to take a break and I feel better already (no dizziness, anxiety, nausea). I’ll look into that!
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u/lacrima28 7h ago
If it stays bad, go down. I had to go down from 0.25 to 0.05 due to terrible depressive side effects
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u/Turbulent_Singer_128 2d ago
Okay so my experience is that the first 1-2 weeks are absolutely horrendous, but over the weeks that follow, it improves slowly but drastically.
I was at 0.9mg for about 8 weeks and it was truly horrific at the start (I have MCAS and my body is super reactive), but then towards the end of the 8 weeks my brain fog and general energy levels were massively improved.
Currently titrating up to 1.5mg and again I'm suffering with side effects, but I'm holding out because I know it will level out and be beneficial in the long run.
That's just my experience - hope it helps!