Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) – A Primer

If you were to conduct a search online for “Naltrexone”, you’d likely find quite a bit of information on the many uses of this medication (and quite a bit of misinformation as well – more on that later). The labeled, primary uses for naltrexone are in the treatment of alcoholism and opioid dependence. Scientists don’t know exactly how naltrexone works to reduce these cravings, but it’s well known that naltrexone is an opioid receptor antagonist – this means that the medications works to block receptors in the body called opioid receptors.

In doing so, naltrexone also blocks the receptors that chemicals in the brain and adrenal glands produce: beta-endorphins and met-enkephalins. These receptors are found all over the body, including nearly all of the cells of our immune system. The typical dose of naltrexone taken for the labeled uses above is 50mg by mouth each day.

The Research

Over the past few years, scientists have begun to research more about naltrexone – specifically, “LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone)”. In 1985, Dr. Bernard Bihari discovered some remarkable effects of giving patients only 3mg of compounded naltrexone each night at bedtime in patients he was treating with HIV/AIDS. It appeared as though this low dose of naltrexone was somehow enhancing a patients immune system. As time progressed, clinicians began to research possible uses of low dose naltrexone in other immune related conditions – Crohn’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, and Fibromyalgia were considered possible conditions that low dose naltrexone could possibly be helpful in.

How to Get LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone)

Through years of research and anecdotal reports, it’s been found that 4.5mg of naltrexone each night at bedtime has become the “gold standard” dose for low dose naltrexone – a dose only available from compounding pharmacies like Trinova Health. Our pharmacy has the ability to compound LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) into nearly any dose or strength necessary. Many pharmacies only offer LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) only in certain doses – Trinova Health pharmacy can compound any dosage necessary to fit your particular needs.

The interesting thing about LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) is how useful it appears to be for a wide variety of conditions. For example, research is currently underway examining the use of Low Dose Naltrexone in various cancers, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and even HIV/AIDS. As you can see, almost all of these conditions have the common factor of some immune system involvement.

While time will tell how successful this research proves to be, it is certainly exciting to know that possible breakthroughs in the treatment of these conditions may prove to help thousands of patients. Because LDN (Low Dose Naltrexone) is a medication that is extremely cost effective, many practitioners often consider it worthy of at least a trial in patients who continue to suffer despite conventional treatments. If you have any questions  at all, reach out to one of our clinical compounding pharmacists at Trinova Health – you can trust we’ll be there for you every step of the way.

For more information on LDN, simply call us at 844-219-2139 or fill out the contact form below and we’ll return your inquiry within 24 hours.