From the Guidelines
Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a highly effective off-label treatment option that offers numerous benefits, including significant pain reduction and improved quality of life, as evidenced by a randomized controlled trial (RCT) where LDN 4.5 mg resulted in significant decrease of pain and improved satisfaction with life in patients with fibromyalgia 1. The top 10 benefits of LDN include:
- Anti-inflammatory properties, which may help reduce inflammation in autoimmune conditions
- Regulation of immune system function by modulating T-cell activity and cytokine production
- Improved pain management, particularly for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia, with typical dosing ranging from 1.5-4.5mg taken at bedtime
- Enhanced endorphin production, which can improve mood and potentially help with depression and anxiety symptoms
- Improved sleep quality and energy levels when taking LDN consistently
- Reduction of symptoms in autoimmune skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema
- Minimal side effects compared to standard naltrexone doses, with temporary sleep disturbances and vivid dreams being most common during the first week
- Inexpensive, especially when obtained through compounding pharmacies, making it accessible for many patients
- Favorable safety profile with no known serious adverse effects at low doses, and it doesn't suppress immune function like many other treatments for autoimmune conditions
- Sustained benefits with continued use, as many patients report no loss of effectiveness over time LDN has been shown to be effective in reducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulating microglial activity, making it a valuable treatment option for patients with chronic neuropathic pain, including fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, low-back pain, and painful diabetic neuropathy 1. Patients should start at a low dose (usually 1.5mg) and gradually increase to the target dose over several weeks under medical supervision, as this medication requires a prescription and should be part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Top 10 Benefits of Low-Dose Naltrexone
- Reduced glial inflammatory response by modulating Toll-like receptor 4 signaling 2
- Systemic upregulation of endogenous opioid signaling by transient opioid-receptor blockade 2
- Possible benefits in diseases such as fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, complex-regional pain syndrome, Hailey-Hailey disease, and cancer 2
- Reduction of symptoms related to chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia, inflammatory bowel conditions, and multiple sclerosis 3
- Modulation of neuro-inflammation, specifically the modulation of glial cells and release of inflammatory chemicals in the central nervous system 3
- Potential nonopioid modality for some chronic, nonmalignant pain syndromes 4
- Glial modulator with a neuroprotective effect via inhibition of microglial activation 4
- Inhibition of downstream cellular signaling pathways that ultimately lead to pro-inflammatory cytokines, reducing inflammatory response 4
- Transient opioid receptor blockade ensuing from low-dose use which upregulates opioid signaling resulting in increased levels of endogenous opioid production, known as opioid rebound effect 4
- Potential to enhance the quality of life and improve mood disorders 4
Conditions That May Benefit from Low-Dose Naltrexone
- Fibromyalgia 2, 5, 3
- Crohn's disease 2, 5
- Multiple sclerosis 2, 5, 3
- Complex-regional pain syndrome 2, 4
- Hailey-Hailey disease 2
- Cancer 2
- Inflammatory bowel disease 4
- Diabetic neuropathy 4
- Osteoarthritis (although a recent study found no significant difference in pain interference) 6
- Inflammatory arthritis (although a recent study found no significant difference in pain interference) 6