I’m often asked about Low Dose Naltrexone. These days it is used to treat everything from autoimmune disorders and cancer, to fertility and autism. I have been taking 5 mg daily of this off-label, somewhat experimental drug since approximately 2005.
How did I find out about Low Dose Naltrexone or LDN? On one of my regular visits to my mild-mannered functional medicine doctor he thrust a prescription for this drug into my hand. A month later my naturopath recommended LDN to me and I decided it was worth a try.
Many food blogs preach healing with food, and food alone. I’m here to tell you that when you feel sick the best thing you can do is listen to your body and do whatever it takes to feel good again. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Getting well is a process without any rules.
I take LDN as part of my treatment plan for multiple sclerosis. I was diagnosed with MS in 2006 and was absolutely devastated when I received the news. While I have chosen not to take the drugs that are recommended as standard care for MS, I have quite a lot of friends who do, and I respect their choice. However, the issue with many of the typical MS drugs is their side effects. Some leave you with flu-like symptoms that can be as bad as the symptoms of MS. In any event, LDN is optimal for me as I do not experience side effects from it, and from what I have read in the medical literature, most people find this to be the case.
What is Low Dose Naltrexone? First, let’s take a look at what I facetiously refer to as “high dose,” naltrexone, or the more traditional form of this drug. Naltrexone is an opiod antagonist typically given to heroin addicts in doses of up to 1500 mg upon their arrival in the emergency room. Giving this type of dose of naltrexone to a person under the influence of heroin snaps them into lucidity in minutes because naltrexone binds to the opiate receptors of the brain –the same receptors to which heroin binds. This prevents the addict from experiencing the effects of the heroin, and leads to complete lucidity.
According to the website lowdosenaltrexone.org, In 1985, a physician named Dr. Bernard Bihari discovered the effects of a much smaller dose of naltrexone (approximately 3mg once a day) on the body’s immune system. He found that this low dose, taken at bedtime, was able to enhance a patient’s response to infection by HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
The use of a drug such as naltrexone in this way is called micro-dosing and can be extremely effective. It has been found that some drugs work differently (and sometimes quite oddly, more effectively) at lower levels. I find micro-dosing to be a very exciting and mostly under-explored component of traditional medicine.
According to the site lowdosenaltrexone.org LDN works in the following way:
The brief blockade of opioid receptors between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. that is caused by taking LDN at bedtime each night is believed to produce a prolonged up-regulation of vital elements of the immune system by causing an increase in endorphin production. Normal volunteers who have taken LDN in this fashion have been found to have much higher levels of beta-endorphins circulating in their blood in the following days.
While it is not completely understood yet, it is becoming apparent that endorphin secretions (our own internal opioids) play a central role in regulating the immune system. I believe that LDN works for me. I think it helps with my energy levels and also modulates my immune system so that it is more balanced. I also believe that it helps to control the neuropathy I experience.
Are wondering if LDN can help you? Here’s my advice. It may be worth discussing LDN with a DAN doctor, naturopath or functional medicine physician. In the meantime, remember that if you suffer from an autoimmune condition or any other health related issues, you may want to look into the main tenets of my healing program which include:
- Extra sleep in the realm of 10 hours or more per night
- Low intensity exercise every day
- The grain-free diet which I have followed strictly since 2001
Courtney says
I’m confused about how LDN affects opioid receptors, especially for someone like me for whom an opioid prescription throws me into severe flu symptoms? I can’t figure out what the literature is saying.
Also, it’s a family joke that I don’t have endorphins (I know everyone does to some extent), so I wonder how that would work with LDN.
It sounds like it works great for some other Hashi’s people, but I wonder if it could be scary bad for this particular Hashi’s person.
Bonnie Shockey says
Courtney,
Ask your doctor to explain how and why opioids work the way they do in your body. If anyone is on a prescription for heavy duty pain killers, that include morphine and like drugs, they should not be taking LDN, as there can be a bad reaction. A low dose of naltrexone is 3mg compared to the FDA approved 50mg prescription. Each works totally different from the other. Please read an earlier comment/reply that I made to Kirsten. Bonnie
Leah says
I wonder would this be good for ADHD
Lorenzo says
Just replying about MS. Dr. Zamboni in Italy seems to have been quite successfull treating it http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/a-controversial-cure-for-multiple-sclerosis.html?_r=0
Lee Ann Kaplan says
I have an auto immune disorder that my dr doesnt even know what it is :( They are treating me as if i have lupus and the medicine for that is Methotrexate or Prednisone. The prednisone worked amazing when we did a trial but the side effects of weight gain will kill me long before the disorder would. I now take methotrexate and I feel horrible. I feel like i’m putting poison in my body but they told me theres not really any alternatives :(
Vanessa says
Hi Lee Ann,
I know how you feel; I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and myofascial pain syndrome but I really believed it was something more than that. I am now seeing a functional medicine doctor (MDs with special training) and since seeing her 8 months ago I feel like I’m not dying anymore. I was having days where I felt as though the life was draining out of me, and now I’m experiencing less and less pain every day. Much of the changes have been dietary but she also has found multiple deficiencies, heavy metals, gut issues, etc from all of the testing I’ve done. I’m so grateful for her treatment! It has cost me a pretty penny but at least I’m getting my life back. Poison is not the only answer; I was there and now I’m headed towards being able to wean myself off of the pain meds I depended on to get through each day…
Good luck to you!
Laverne Adams says
I also have HLAB27 positive and diagnosed with AS and fibro. I am 75 and have had chronic pain since my early 30’s. I was prescribed LDN 10 days ago and am trying not to be overly optimistic as I’ve had many disappointments in the past. Currently on methotrexate and Enbrel. After reading some of the comments here, I can’t help but feel very hopeful that LDN will ease at least some of the pain and thus improve my mood. Blessings to all of you who are in pain. Wish me luck on this new journey!
Elana says
Laverne, bless you and good luck!
Laura says
I have been taking LDN for 1.5 years for my inflammatory arthritis (HLA B27 positive) and related autoimmune issues. It has been a miracle drug for me. My disease has been completely inactive since I started taking LDN. I first learned about it from a post on this site! So, thank you, Elena! I owe you a great deal. :)
Laura says
Omgoodness…Laura, thanks for sharing! I too have HLA B27 with Uveitis and AS…I am eager to try LDN and in combo with Alpha Lipoic Acid, I have heard it is amazingly helpful.
Thank you Elana for sharing this!
Pam says
So excited to see you getting this information out there. My husband has had Crohn’s for 30+ years and my son also has it. My husband starting using LDN after a pharmacist turned him on to it…but then we had to find an open minded dr. That led us away from our gastro dr that just wanted to use high powered drugs.. He had been on every drug out there with his last option being remicaid infusions at a price of 15000.00 every eight weeks. We found a nurse practitioner that agreed to try it and life has been much smoother.. 4.5 mg every night keeps him feeling much better…and now grain free. Thank God! My son is now on it also. Our hospital ER visits are few and far between now.
Gary says
I’ve had Crohn’s since I was 20yrs old and am 67 now. Remicade has been my last resort also. I have neuropathy in my legs, feet and hands, which I believe is caused by Remicade and Flagyl use, mostly Flagyl. I have chronic fatigue, chronic dehydration and a chest port that I get a 1000 ml of IV every day. I’m in stage three kidney failure. Just got off Methadone and am on LDN 4mg daily. What a change in my life .Chronic fatigue is gone, i backed off the double dose of Remicade I was getting. The pain in my feet, legs and hands has decreased significantly over several months. The VA in Ann Arbor, MI has been great about working with me during this time. Going cold turkey coming off Methadone was something else. Hope this helps others with similar circumstances
Shannon says
I took LDN for two months recently, hoping it would help with my Hashimoto’s and thyroid cancer. I agree with Diane above, my sleep was absolutely awful for that time! I was also increasingly depressed. I stopped taking it and felt much better within a few weeks.
Elana, I’m glad it is working so well for you!
E. Gooding says
This is a wonderful article but as I read it I immediately wondered if Elana has ever been tested for Lyme’s. Many MS diagnoses are incorrect; many times the real underlying problem is Lyme’s. Taking the Igenex Western Blot blood test for the Lyme’s bacteria to rule it out is imperative before buying into an MS diagnoses. Sincerely E.
biscuitboogie says
Absolutely correct! Good luck getting a Doctor to do it, however. (Whatever you do, do NOT allow them to run the very unreliable ELISA, which is what they will do unless you stop them. Very high rate of false negatives.) You may have to go to an LLMD (lyme literate MD).
Erica says
I soo wished it had worked for me! I took it for two months, but didn’t notice a difference, unfortunately.
biscuitboogie says
Most sources say that you should give it a much longer time to work, 9 mo to a year?
Very googleable.
Robert says
I have been taking it for 2 months and I haven’t noticed an uptick in my immune response for Epstein Barr. My dose has been increased. I have had dizzy spells upon awaking and wonder if that’s due to the Naltrexone?
I will continue and hope it kicks in soon.
Margaret daddario says
Been on LDN for 9years now what do I do legs feel heave take3mg at night ??
Gaius Gracchus says
The doctor I am working with does a lot of LDN work and she was saying Crohn’s patients that are responders will show very rapid results, whereas some other types of autoimmune patients take a lot longer.
She also pointed out the fact that some compounding pharmacies don’t do a very good job with this medication. The filler matters, even – apparently some fillers used will interfere with the action of LDN.
She recommended the Belmar Pharmacy in Lakewood CO.
You can get an appointment with her online – they use audio/video sessions and will prescribe LDN if you have something that can benefit from it. You don’t have to travel – they will send the prescription into the pharmacy who mails it to you directly.
Samantha P. says
Hello Gaius,
My Mother has Hashimoto, and two types of hernias, and now she is lined up for Gallbladder surgery because of blocked or nearly blocked ducts from sludge build up.
Can you share the contact information for this Dr. and or Pharmacy?
We live in S. America. ..I do. She’s in the US.
Thank you
Sam
Steph says
I’m very interested in the many healing processes that people use. I’ve heard of LDN for autoimmune disorders but don’t know anyone that has taken it. I’m interested in how it works at the cellular level to aid in systems wide healing. Thanks for this!
As an aside, I noticed a small, but significant typo – naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist (not agonist – which means that it “activates” opioid receptors more).