Naltrexone is a drug that blocks the cellular receptors that are accessed by opioid pain medicines (morphine, vicodin, percocet, etc…), and it is usually used at a dose of 50mg per tablet for treating several substance abuse problems.

Alpha-Lipoic Acid is an antioxidant nutraceutical supplement that is claimed to be capable of upregulating metabolism, reversing cellular damage, and many other effects.

Most interesting to me is the claim that a protocol called ‘Low Dose Naltrexone’ or “LDN’ can be used to treat several cancer types, and that combining it with Alpha-Lipoic Acid enhances its effectiveness. For this application the naltrexone is given at a strength of 1.5mg to 4.5mg (most often 3mg) every night at bedtime.

Based on my findings so far I must say that I am now a believer.

After casting around for evidence that these claims might actually have merit I stumbled across conference presentations by Burt Berkson, MD that show the results of using LDN and Alpha-Lipoic Acid for the treatment of cancer and various autoimmune diseases.

I have pasted copies of links to various video and audio presentations about Dr Berkson’s work below for your review.

A link to an interview with the m.d. who presented in the videos here: http://www.prescription2000.com/Staying-Healthy-Today-Radio-Interviews/2010-01-22-burt-berkson-lipoic-acid-naltrexone.html

He talks about details and history of his involvement with lipoic acid.

Fascinating presentation of clinical data from physician who practices an integrative health clinic in new mexico. 3^rd video link is to a pharmacist telling her story about using low dose naltrexone for multiple sclerosis…

http://glasgowldn2009.com/2009/04/ldn-conference-video3/ (Berkson – MD)

http://glasgowldn2009.com/2009/04/ldn-conference-presentation-video4/  (Berkson – MD)

http://glasgowldn2009.com/2009/05/european-ldn-conference-video1/  (Pharmacist and data) 

You can find detailed info for Alpha-Lipoic Acid at this Wikipedia link –

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lipoic_acid