Welcome to the World of Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)
When most people hear the word naltrexone, they think of addiction treatment. Naltrexone was originally approved by the FDA in the 1980s for opioid and alcohol dependence, giving it a long-standing history in traditional medicine. However, a much lower dose has shown promising effects on immune system regulation and inflammation reduction in recent years.
What Is Low Dose Naltrexone?
Low Dose Naltrexone refers to using naltrexone in doses typically between 0.5mg and 4.5mg—far below the standard dose used for addiction. At this level, LDN works not as a blocker, but as a gentle modulator of the immune system. Rather than targeting addiction pathways, LDN appears to influence how the body regulates inflammation, immune function, and even pain signaling.
How does LDN work?
Endorphin Boosting: LDN works by blocking opioid receptors temporarily, which causes the body to increase its natural pain-regulating compounds, endorphins, and enkephalins. Endorphins are your natural peptides produced in many cells, which makes us feel good, regulate cell growth, including your immune cells.
Immune Modulation: LDN has shown promise in rebalancing immune responses, especially in conditions where the immune system is either overactive (autoimmune diseases) or dysfunctional. Many patients who have autoimmune disease tend to have low levels of endorphins, Met-enkephalin, aka opioid growth factor (OGF), an important factor in inflammation reduction.
Neuroinflammation Reduction: LDN may calm microglial cells—the brain’s immune cells—potentially reducing symptoms in neurodegenerative and pain-related conditions
What Conditions Might Benefit?
While research is still emerging, people have explored LDN for conditions such as:
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Crohn’s Disease
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
- Long COVID
- Depression and PTSD (as an adjunct)
- Lupus
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Celiac disease
A 2013 study from Stanford showed that fibromyalgia patients taking LDN reported significant reductions in pain. For a complete list of conditions that might benefit from LDN, click here.
What Are the Side Effects?
One of the appealing aspects of LDN is its low side effect profile.
Some users report:
- Vivid dreams or sleep disturbances (usually resolve over time)
- Mild headaches
- Temporary digestive upset
Because it’s such a low dose, LDN is often well tolerated, even by those sensitive to medications.
Low-dose Naltrexone may not be a miracle cure, but for many struggling with chronic, complex, and hard-to-treat conditions, it offers a glimmer of hope.
