Low Dose Naltrexone

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) acts by briefly blocking opioid receptors in your body, which causes a release of anti-inflammatory chemicals called endorphins. You may have heard of endorphins as getting a “runners high,’’ while exercising. This is a physiological response, that occurs from exercise and leads to your body’s release of endorphins. These endorphins are your body’s own pain and inflammation remedies. The results of taking LDN have been studied in numerous types of auto-immune disorders including fibromyalgia, migraines, neuropathy, and inflammatory bowel conditions.

The first approved doses for naltrexone was for 50mg. This dose was used for treatment of opioid addiction. However scientists started noticing its beneficial effects on the immune system, at low doses under 5mg. Low Dose Naltrexone is now popular among clinicians around the world. Although not available commercially, LDN is only available from a compounding pharmacy.

For most patients, an LDN starting dose of 1.5mg by mouth every night at bedtime is used in order to reduce the risk of sleep disturbances, which goes away after just a few days. Alternatively, patients that are worried about the sleep may take their dose during the day. This dose is then increased every 1 to 2 weeks to a target dose of 3 to 5 mg by mouth every night.

At Synergis Pharmacy, we compound LDN using the smallest capsules available, with laboratory tested hypoallergenic fillers. We do not use lactose, preservatives or dyes. We also compound a liquid form called naltrexone oral suspension. If you are interested in Low-Dose Naltrexone, reach out to us and our clinical pharmacists will help you.

01

Bihari B. Low dose naltrexone in the treatment of HIV infection. https://
www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/
ldn_hiv_1996.htm.
Published September 1996. Accessed March 23, 2018.

02

National Institutes of Health. US National Library of Medicine. Low Dose Naltrexone for Chronic Pain from Arthritis (LDN-VA). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/
NCT03008590
. Updated February 6, 2018. Accessed March 23, 2018.

03

Segal D, Macdonald JK, Chande N. Low dose naltrexone for induction of remission in Crohn's disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 (2):CD010410.

04

Smith JP, Field D, Bingaman SI, Evans R, Mauger DT. Safety and tolerability of low-dose naltrexone therapy in children with moderate to severe Crohn's disease: a pilot study. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2013;47(4):339-345.

05

Smith JP, Stock H , Bingaman S, Mauger D, Rogosnitzky M, Zagon IS . Low-dose naltrexone therapy improves active Crohn's disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007;102(4):820-828.

06

Loma I, Heyman R. Multiple sclerosis: pathogenesis and treatment. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2011;9(3):409-416.

07

Gajofatto A, Benedetti MD. Treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis: when to start, when to change, when to stop? World J Clin Cases. 2015;3(7):545-555.

08

Younger J, Parkitny L, McLain D. The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for chronic pain. Clin Rheumatol. 2014;33(4):451-459.