"My drug of choice": How 28 years of taking LDN has changed Bill's MS prognosis

I was diagnosed with MS in 1989 when I was 47 years old (I’m now 78). The prognosis at that time was pretty bleak, in terms of physical disability. I had experienced a loss of vision in my left eye from optic neuritis (some vision returned later), some muscle weakness, hand numbness, and a balance issue.

At that time, there were only 3 medications available. All of them were known to have terrible side effects. I said to myself, “I’m not doing that.” I’ve never taken any of those medications.

Around 1992, I heard about LDN in some MS groups, and, like any good journalist, I did a lot of research about it. I liked what I read. It had virtually no side effects. It was going to cost $30 a month, not $27,000 a year. I figured if it wasn’t effective or had side effects, I would just stop taking it. What did I have to lose? I decided to take LDN and assume it was going to work for me. I focused on a positive outcome.

Not at all. In 1992, I found a doctor who was pretty progressive and prescribed it for me. Since then, we’ve moved from Florida to Texas to Georgia to Washington, and I've always been able to find a doctor willing to prescribe it and a compounding pharmacy willing to make it. I even found a compounding pharmacy about 5 minutes away from where we live now, on Maui. It's a little bit more expensive here...but then again, we get to live on Maui! I have been taking LDN, and only LDN, since 1992. When I did that, I changed the course of my disease, I believe.

LDN definitely improved my outcome. I’m not disabled. I’m not in a wheelchair. I’m not in a walker. I don’t feel poorly. I have some muscle weakness and numbness in my hand, but it’s not a big deal. I have no cognitive problems at all, which is a blessing because I’m an editor (keeps me pretty sharp!), and I had a longtime career as a newspaper reporter/editor and a minister. I credit LDN with helping me deal with my disease. I’m grateful that I discovered it soon after my diagnosis and glommed onto it early.

I asked the doctor what that meant and he said, “Just keep doing what you’re doing!” and I said “Okay!”

Yes. When my neurologist saw my latest MRI he told me, "It's clear that you've had MS because there’s evidence of damage (lesions) in your brain, but you have no new lesions at all. I never use the word cure, but what I see is that the disease is quiescent.” I asked the doctor what that meant and he said, “Just keep doing what you’re doing!” and I said “Okay!” My last MS “flare” occurred about 18 years ago.

In the 28 years I’ve been taking LDN, I have had only 2 colds, and 1 short bout with the flu. I don’t know, but I think that LDN may have something to do with that. I just don’t get sick, and that's a good thing!

Other than some insomnia when I first started it (which was not a big deal), I’ve had no side effects from it at all. I’ve been taking it for a long time, and I’m fine.

More people, especially people with MS, need to know about LDN, as it can make a big difference in your life.

I encourage people to do the research and try it. Go to LDNscience. Pay attention to what people are saying about it. Know that LDN is not going to harm you, and it has great potential to ease your symptoms and improve your life situation. More people, especially people with MS, need to know about LDN, as it can make a big difference in your life. In fact, I recently published a book called "Outwitting Multiple Sclerosis: How I Healed My Brain By Changing My Mind." You can find it on my website (www.billworthbooks.com) or Amazon.com. My hope is that anyone who has MS, or knows someone who does, reads the book and understands that LDN is the key factor in why I am here today, and why I was able to write the book and publish it.