Video Transcript
Hello! In this video, we’re going to talk about Low Dose Naltrexone, and the various research supporting how it can help people with a wide range of health issues.
You may have heard of Naltrexone before in the context of helping patients with addiction. That’s what the FDA approved Naltrexone for over 30 years ago, and when doctors prescribe it to help patients with addiction, the typical dose is 50mg or more per day.
However, in more recent years, there’s a growing number of clinicians using much lower doses of Naltrexone, called Low Dose Naltrexone or LDN. LDN is one tenth or less of the aforementioned dose (so about 10mg/day or less) and commonly prescribed off-label for a variety of conditions, from fibromyalgia to rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid dysregulation to multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis to Crohn’s disease, and even anxiety.
So, where did this off-label use come from, and why are so many clinicians excited about
its potential?
Back in 1985, New York-based Dr. Bernard Bihari noticed that his patients who were weaning off Naltrexone seemed to be having positive side effects when it came to the symptoms of their other health conditions, including HIV.
Intrigued, Dr. Bihari and his staff carried out a placebo-controlled trial of Low Dose Naltrexone in 38 patients with AIDS and found a significant reduction in the incidence of opportunistic infections, as well as improved levels of particular inflammation markers.
Since then, dozens of studies on Low Dose Naltrexone have been conducted.
For example, A 2007 study on LDN and Crohn’s disease saw 67% of patients achieve a remission, with improvement recorded in quality-of-life surveys compared with baseline.
A few years later in 2013, researchers looking at LDN and fibromyalgia observed a “significantly greater reduction of baseline pain in those taking Low Dose Naltrexone than in those taking placebo.” Low Dose Naltrexone was also associated with “improved general satisfaction with life” and “improved mood”.
In a more recent study in 2019, this one looking at LDN’s effect on rheumatoid arthritis, the authors concluded that “persistent use of LDN reduced the need for medication” for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
So how does Low Dose Naltrexone work? In simple terms, there are three main theories:
- LDN increases endorphin levels, which may lead to better mood and reduced pain
- LDN is also believed to act on microglia cells in the brain, which calms inflammation and may lead to less pain and fatigue
- Finally, LDN is believed to modulate the immune system due to its effects on endogenous opioids, like Met-Enkephalins
While these theories require more research and testing, LDN’s theorized benefits can provide hope for many suffering from chronic pain, inflammation, and fatigue.
There is a growing amount of anecdotal support, too. Low Dose Naltrexone has helped so many people that a quick search online will reveal numerous groups with thousands of members all sharing their experiences.
A survey of over 1,000 people on 23andMe ranked Low Dose Naltrexone as the number one most effective product for fibromyalgia, as well as other related conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and even Crohn’s Disease.
Several documentaries have also been made about how Low Dose Naltrexone has improved the lives of people with very diverse conditions. Perhaps the most popular documentary is the Norwegian program, “Our Small Country.” This documentary aired on the biggest TV channel in Norway in 2013, and after it aired, the number of prescriptions for LDN rose in Norway from 300 to 15,000 a year – and 75% of MDs in the country now prescribe it.
In addition to documentaries, there are lots of books on the topic, and there are even non-profits like the LDN Research Trust dedicated to educating doctors and consumers about the potential benefits of Low Dose Naltrexone.
If you’d like to learn more about LDN, view a list of supporting clinical studies, or complete a free online visit with a medical professional to discuss treatment options, head to agelessrx.com.