Results of a phase II clinical trial on the safety and effectiveness of low dose naltrexone (LDN) as a symptom-relief treatment for people with MS have been published in the journal Annals of Neurology.

The results of the study suggest that LDN is safe and may have positive effects on the mental quality of life in people with MS; but no effect on a patient's physical quality of life.

The work, led by Dr. Bruce Cree at the University of California in San Francisco, is the first placebo controlled clinical trial to look at the effects of LDN in people with MS.

Researchers found vivid dreaming was the only symptom reported as a result of taking LDN but due to a high drop out rate among trial participants, concluded that larger scale trials are needed to determine the effect of LDN on overall quality of life.

Dr Susan Kohlhaas, Research Communications Officer at the MS Society said, "We are really pleased to see results of this study published. The next step will be to complete larger, more detailed clinical trials to determine the potential of LDN as a symptom relief therapy for people with MS."

Source
Multiple Sclerosis Society