As a pharmacist, I have often found that many patients that are new to LDN (low dose naltrexone) therapy tend to have many questions about it. This isn’t surprising, given that LDN is not a mass-marketed medication and there is a lack of good, reliable information online available. The following is an FAQ for LDN therapy that I hope will help answer many common questions I receive about LDN.
What are the side effects? In general, most patients tend to have few, if any side effects when starting low dose naltrexone therapy. The most common side effect that can occur from LDN therapy is sleep interference. Some patients sleep better and more deeply, some have difficulty staying asleep. It seems to be a flip of the coin.
I would say I tend to see about 5% of patients have either side effect. Most patients have no issues at all with their sleep while taking LDN. I recommend to patients that if LDN is causing them difficulty sleeping, to simply take their LDN in the morning vs at night. I firmly believe that they will still reap the benefits of LDN, without the sleep difficulties.
Is LDN expensive? No – at Trinova Health, it is less than $1 per day.
Does my insurance cover it? As a rule of thumb, the general answer is no. I always advise patients to check with their plan to see if their health plan provides coverage for compounded medications, but in general, many insurance plans do not cover compounded medications. The usual cost per month often ends up being less expensive than a typical monthly copay.
How long until I see results? This is a tough question to answer. I have had patients report feeling better the next day after their first dose. I definitely do not think this is average, though. I would say that most patients tend to start seeing results 2-4 weeks after starting therapy. Keep in mind that this is just an average, simply because all patients are different.
Did LDN cause my _________ (insert side effect) LDN can sometimes cause random or odd side effects. The best way to find out if LDN is causing a certain side effect you may be experiencing is to stop taking your dose for a few days, and see if the side effect goes away. Then, start taking your normal dose again and see if the side effect returns. If this occurs, it’s fair to say that the low dose naltrexone could be causing the side effect you are experiencing.
Why haven’t I heard about LDN before? Because low dose naltrexone has never been mass produced by a pharmaceutical manufacturer, it has never been promoted, marketed or heavily advertised to doctors or patients. Generally, many doctors we speak with have never heard of LDN before, through no fault of their own. It is not taught to them in medical schools, and so many are unaware of it’s use.
Why did my doctor prescribe LDN to me? We see patients take LDN for a pretty wide variety of conditions. The most common reason a patient is prescribed LDN is for an autoimmune condition. This could be something like Hashimoto’s, MS, CFS, or RA. We have also seen low dose naltrexone prescribed for patients to potentially support weight loss efforts as well. It’s always important to ask your doctor why they are prescribing a particular medication to you.
Do you have any other questions about LDN you would like answered? Simply fill out the contact form below and one of our clinical pharmacists will answer your question as soon as possible.
DISCLAIMER Trinova Health is a licensed pharmacy located in Tampa, Florida that only engages in compounding in response to a practitioners prescription. A written prescription from a licensed practitioner is required for compounded medication from our pharmacy. The information on the site is general in nature and is only intended for use as an educational tool. You should consult your physician or a Trinova Health pharmacist if you have any specific questions relating to the diagnosis and treatment of any health problems. Information and statements about products and health conditions have not been evaluated by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), nor has the FDA approved the products to diagnose, cure or prevent disease. For any questions regarding our pharmacy or Low Dose Naltrexone, we can be reached at 844-219-2139.
