Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
What is Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)?
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a medication that involves taking a dose of naltrexone that is up to one-tenth, or 10%, of the dose that is usually taken for opioid addiction (1). A low dose of naltrexone is approximately 4.5mg of naltrexone a day compared with the usual dosage of naltrexone for opioid addiction, which is 50mg to 100mg a day (1). LDN is a safe, non-toxic, and inexpensive drug that helps regulate a dysfunctional immune system (2). It reduces pain, fights inflammation, and is used to treat cancers, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, and mental health issues, to name a few (2) (3) (4) (5).
Dosage and Timing
LDN should be started at an extremely low dose, such as 1 to 1.5mg/day, and the dosage should be increased by 1mg every week to a maximum of 4.5 mg/day (1). The medication is commonly given approximately an hour before bedtime, though some individuals reporting insomnia as a side effect are moved to a morning dosing (6). Individuals with side effects also have their dosage reduced to 3.0 mg (6).
Side Effects and Interactions
LDN is usually well tolerated with few side effects (1). Some people need a more gradual increase in their dosage to help them tolerate the drug (1). Side effects of using low-dose naltrexone appear to be mild, but may include diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, altered mood, headache, and joint pain (5). LDN does not exert any euphoric or reinforcing effects, and there have been no cases of LDN misuse or abuse (6).
Human Studies
LDN has been studied in humans for various conditions, including chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, and cancer (3) (4) (6). However, more research is needed to fully understand its benefits and potential risks (6). LDN is considered an "off-label" use, which means it hasn't been approved by the FDA for these conditions, but it is still a recognized use (2).
Other Information
LDN works in the opposite way to high dose naltrexone. At low dosages, naltrexone appears to βtrickβ the brain into producing more natural opioids by binding briefly to opioid receptors, blocking our naturally occurring opioids (1) (6). LDN is generic and is a cost-effective treatment, but it does have to be compounded at a special pharmacy as it is currently only available at regular pharmacies in the 50 mg dose (3).
To summarize, Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a medication that involves taking a dose of naltrexone that is up to one-tenth of the dose that is usually taken for opioid addiction. LDN is a safe, non-toxic, and inexpensive drug that helps regulate a dysfunctional immune system. It reduces pain, fights inflammation, and is used to treat cancers, autoimmune diseases, chronic pain, and mental health issues, to name a few. LDN should be started at an extremely low dose, and the dosage should be increased gradually. LDN is usually well tolerated with few side effects. LDN works in the opposite way to high dose naltrexone. LDN has been studied in humans for various conditions, including chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, more research is needed to fully understand its benefits and potential risks.
Citations:
(1) https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/low-dose-naltrexone-ldn-3570335/
(2) https://ldnresearchtrust.org/what-is-low-dose-naltrexone-ldn
(3) https://barrcenter.com/low-dose-naltrexone/
(4) https://www.verywellhealth.com/low-dose-naltrexone-ldn-for-fibromyalgia-cfs-716070
(5) https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/low-dose-naltrexone
(6) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3962576/
Related Info
