Wonder drug bid backed
SUPPORT is growing for a Llanelli man's campaign for trials to be carried out on a wonder drug which could help treat people with illnesses ranging from Aids to cancer.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Andrew Barnett, of Llangennech, has launched a petition to Number 10 calling for the Government to help make the medication available for all.
Both he and his partner, Jayne Crocker, who has ulcerative colitis, are both subscribed the drug called Naltrexone. But they want the drug to be trialled as they believe it could help with a wide variety of debilitating conditions.
Already their battle has attracted the support of 3,600 people. And TV doctor Chris Steele, who features on ITV's This Morning show, has thrown his weight behind the call.
Appealing for backing, he said: "I ask you to support the petition to the government to fund trials on this very important drug. He said that in 2006 it was found to be effective in low doses in controlling many disabling and fatal illnesses.It's not a cure or a miracle drug but it is a therapy that helps the body by restoring its own immune system by boosting endorphins."
The drug works by blocking endorphin receptors for a limited period of time, which then boosts them five-fold. This stimulates the immune system to produce cells that repair the body.
Mr Barnett, who has secondary progressive MS, said that without political intervention the drug will probably never be trialled.
He said Dr Steele had agreed to take the fight to the Government.
Mr Barnett said: "We have got people from Swansea to Glasgow and Reading supporting us. The campaign is taking off and we are looking to get 10,000 signatures."
"Dr Chris agreed with us completely that the Government has a body to fund trials of drugs that can't be funded by any other money.
"If it was made a few years ago it hasn't got the momentum we have got now with the online petition."
Mr Barnett is also urging the local health board to make the drug available. He will be at St Mary's Square, Swsansea, near the side of Primark, today (SAT) between noon and 3pm urging people to sign the petition.
Swansea doctor Bob Lawrence was the first GP to introduce Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) to the UK over 10 years ago.
To find out more about LDN and the petition, visit ldnnow.co.uk











7 Comments
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by Lucca, Windsor
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 9:10PM
“Low-dose naltrexone needs worldwide acceptance as a first line of defense for MS and other autoimmune challenges. It is a moral and human rights issue to not have this mild but successful treatment be presented before the expensive, aggressive, damaging immunosuppressants and steroidals are used. I support LDN for clinical trials as a means of getting it widely distributed. After two months on LDN for SLE lupus and Sjogrens, I have renewed cognitive functions, joint pain relief and more stable amounts of energy. My balance is better and and I can drive with more assurance. It is difficult to believe that this drug with few side effects is not offered to people out there suffering from all sorts of auto-immune ailments - largely because it is too cheap and pharmaceutical companies will not be able to immensely profit from it. Hard (and sad) to make sense of it all ...”
by Margaret, France
Monday, September 14 2009, 9:37AM
“I admire enormously the work of Andrew and Jayne to get the petition signed by as many UK citizens as possible ¿ and articles like yours are immensely encouraging.
¿Ldnners¿ who have benefited from ldn simply want as many people as possible to know about ldn and be offered it as a treatment choice when they or someone they know fall ill with autoimmune disease ¿ ideally as a first treatment. At the moment far too many of us have a struggle getting the prescription and often have to pay for both a prescription and the ldn. Fortunately it only costs about 1 euro/day but that¿s still a lot for people on low income and/or who may have lost their job because of their illness.
Once we take ldn the immune system starts working properly and most of us become fit again, often able to go back to work. This is such good news ¿ it would be at any time, let alone the difficult times we live in.
We¿re no longer a burden on the health service. Compare that to those who are given one toxic and hugely expensive drug after another, often delivered by regular, painful injections with risky side effects that have to be monitored because they can lead to even more nasty problems - and still they don¿t get people well.
So ldn is already saving lives all over the world, saving health services money as well as economies as a whole. People on ldn take up little of their doctors¿ and specialists¿ time. And yet the medical community can be reluctant (and sometimes hostile) when we ask for ldn. It¿s a scandal that they either know nothing about it or say naltrexone in its low dose form has not been approved. But this is exactly the case for other generic, off label drug like aspirin and many other drugs prescribed every day and often available over the counter. And unlike so many other drugs, if ¿ as sometimes happens - it does not suit an individual, all they have to do is stop it. It¿s safety record is second to none.
I started ldn nearly five months ago, since when my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and (to my surprise) visual distortions from macular degeneration have virtually disappeared and cause me no problem any more. We know ldn is unlikely to be a cure, but it can give us our lives back till there is a cure.”
by Janet, Texas, USA
Monday, September 14 2009, 12:41AM
“Andrew Barnett and Jayne Crocker are working for all those with autoimmune diseases to get the word out on a treatment that relieves suffering. They receive no compensation for their long hours. Only the satisfaction of knowing that they are helping others.
Double blind placebo trials have been done in MS, Crohn's and Fibromyalgia. LDN is FDA approved, safety tested at ten times the dose & low cost.
It also helps prevent future autoimmune disease, cancer, flus and colds. Allergies and asthma have been reported to resolve.
Modulating the immune system is a unique mechanism of action and the future of medicine in the 21st Century. As autoimmune conditions increase in occurrence interest in LDN will follow. It is not a cure but it is stopping progression of diseases while cures are being sought.
There are 100,000 people using LDN. Pets are also benefitting from it.”
by John Donnelly, Ireland
Sunday, September 13 2009, 9:25PM
“Fantastic Job Andrew and Jayne, LDN has saved my wifes life, Stage iv NSCLC and was only given 2 months 13 months ago, Every body needs to know about this drug and thanks to Andrew Jayne and Dr Chris, they will”
by Chris Malkove, New Orleans, Louisiana USA
Sunday, September 13 2009, 8:59PM
“Low Dose Naltrexone has tremendously helped my Hepatitis C. I have been on it since February, 2009 and within months, my liver enzymes dropped down to normal for the first time!
My HCV viral load dropped from over a million to less than 50,000 and my abdominal ultrasound showed, "normal liver function" without the "fatty liver" that has been noted on my previous 7 tests.
Low Dose Naltrexone has changed my life!
Chris Malkove”