Low Dose Naltrexone

What is Low Dose Naltrexone?

Naltrexone is a drug approved in the 1980s to treat opioid addiction and alcoholism. Researchers have since discovered that lower doses of this medication — about 10% of the typical addiction treatment dosage — can help patients with many other conditions, including autoimmune disorders and emotional issues. Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is only available through compounding pharmacies like Joule.

Naltrexone is a strong opioid antagonist, originally prescribed for opioid or alcohol dependence. Low doses of the medication have been found to increase the body’s production of endorphins, chemicals best known for relieving pain and enhancing a sense of well-being. Low dose naltrexone can also help regulate the immune system and have anti-inflammatory effects. This makes it useful as part of the treatment protocol for many conditions.

What Are the Benefits of Low Dose Naltrexone?

Low dose naltrexone works by boosting your natural endorphins. Endorphins are hormones produced by your body to relieve stress and pain. They trigger positive feelings and are thought to be the cause of “runner’s high.” Endorphins also help regulate the immune system, calming it down in autoimmune disorders, and revving it up when needed. In addition to LDN’s effects on endorphins and the immune system, it works to reduce inflammation.

Benefits of LDN treatment can include less pain, better sleep, reduced anxiety, more mobility, less brain fog, fewer headaches, etc.

Who May Benefit from Low Dose Naltrexone?

If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, low dose naltrexone may help you feel better. Many autoimmune disorders respond to low dose naltrexone, including multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid and adrenal diseases, Crohn’s disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

Low dose naltrexone can be beneficial for other conditions as well, including:

  • Depression/anxiety

  • Chronic pain

  • Weight loss problems

  • Weakened immune system

  • Cancer

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Chronic fatigue

  • Autism

  • PTSD

  • Alzheimer’s

  • AIDS

Who Should Avoid Low Dose Naltrexone?

LDN is safe and well-tolerated. However, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease or a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia.

If you have any of these health problems or you are taking pain medications or immunosuppressive therapy, your doctor may consider a different form of treatment.

Common Dosage Forms

At Joule, our expert pharmacists compound low dose naltrexone in a variety of dosage forms and strengths to suit specific conditions and patients. Dosage forms include:

  • Oral Tablets

  • Oral Solutions

  • Capsules (We compound LDN capsules with multiple filler options)

  • Transdermal Cream