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Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

At a low dose, Naltrexone works differently. Researchers are studying how LDN may help calm chronic inflammation and support immune signaling, two processes tied to pain, fatigue, recovery, and how the body ages.

Good to know

Naltrexone was first developed for use at significantly higher doses to block cravings for opioids and alcohol.

At a low dose, the blockade lasts only a few hours. When it wears off, the body appears to reset two interconnected systems: endorphin production and inflammatory signaling, which seems to have an impact on pain, fatigue, and recovery.1 2

What LDN may support

LDN is being studied across conditions that share a common thread: chronic inflammation, pain, fatigue, and altered immune signaling.
LDN briefly blocks opioid receptors, followed by a rebound in the body’s own endorphin activity.
Chronic inflammation is closely connected to how the body ages, making inflammatory signaling an important target in longevity research.
Most LDN research is still based on relatively small studies, and individual response varies.
Explore LDN

How LDN works

(nal-trek-sown)

Think of LDN as briefly pressing pause on one of the body’s signaling systems.

For a few hours, it blocks opioid receptors. When the block lifts, the body appears to compensate by increasing endorphin activity. Researchers are studying how this rebound may influence pain, inflammation, and immune signaling.

Participants with Crohn’s disease responded to LDN in one small open-label trial.3

81%

LDN longevity benefits

What LDN may support, with the evidence behind each.

Longevity

Chronic “inflammaging” drives age-related decline; LDN is one lever we study.11

Inflammation

May lower over a dozen inflammatory factors, in small early studies.1 6

Chronic pain

A randomized fibromyalgia trial found reductions in daily pain. Early human evidence.4

Fatigue

Several small studies report less fatigue alongside pain relief. Responses vary.5

Crohn's disease

One small trial reported an 81% response rate and 67% remission at four weeks. Early human evidence.3

Multiple sclerosis

60% reported less fatigue in a 215-person chart review.8

Immune balance

May raise endorphin output and immune pathways involved in inflammatory regulation. Mechanistic.2

Cancer biology

Early lab work on tumor-cell gene expression, not yet in humans.9

What we still don’t know

We believe in transparency. Here’s what current LDN research still can’t answer with confidence.

Larger trials

Most evidence comes from small pilot trials; larger randomized data is coming via our XPRIZE trial.7

Who responds

Fibromyalgia and bowel disease lead; cancer work is still mechanistic.9

Who benefits most

There is currently no test that can predict who will benefit from LDN or how strongly they’ll respond.

One medication, two very different roles depending on dose

The dose changes what Naltrexone does in the body. At low doses, the brief blockade and the rebound that follows are what make LDN interesting for longevity research.
Standard doses keep opioid receptors blocked longer to reduce the effects and cravings associated with opioids and alcohol.
Low Dose Naltrexone blocks those receptors only briefly, then allows the endorphin rebound being studied for inflammation, pain, fatigue, and immune signaling.
Explore LDN

Our research

We’re global leaders in LDN research

Our in-house Research Team doesn’t just track the research on LDN, we run our own. From a peer-reviewed pilot pairing NAD+ and Low Dose Naltrexone for post-COVID fatigue to a real-world study of 5,500 people on LDN, we’re leading the science.10 11
Read our Research

LDN isn’t one-size-fits-all

Finding the right dose can take time. Our in-house clinicians work with you to adjust your plan based on how you respond so you get the best outcomes possible.
Well below the addiction-treatment range so the rebound is what drives the effect.
Response varies, taking weeks for some and longer for others, which is why a dedicated care team is so important.
Our protocol is built on published research, with regular check-ins and unlimited provider messaging along the way.
Explore LDN
Close-up of a doctor in a lab coat with a stethoscope, writing notes at a desk
Science-backed

Choose the experts in LDN

Get a flexible plan backed by years of LDN experience, with clinician-guided dosing, regular check-ins, unlimited provider messaging, and adjustments along the way.
Trustpilot

Don’t know where to start?

Take our quick quiz to get personalized recommendations based on your goals and where you are in your longevity journey.

Frequently asked questions

01 How is Low Dose Naltrexone different from standard-dose naltrexone?

This is the same medication, used very differently. At standard doses, naltrexone occupies opioid receptors continuously, which is how it treats opioid and alcohol use disorder.

At a low dose, it holds the receptor only briefly. The rebound that follows is what researchers have studied for inflammation, chronic pain, and autoimmune conditions.

02 Is the low-dose use FDA approved?

No. Naltrexone is FDA approved for opioid and alcohol use disorder. Using a low dose for inflammation, pain, or autoimmune support is off label, supported by the research on this page, and your care team will explain what that means for you.

03 How will I know if it’s working?

No single test confirms whether Low Dose Naltrexone is working. Most people and their care team track self-reported changes in pain, fatigue, and inflammation over several weeks, alongside any bloodwork a clinician already follows. Responses vary from person to person.

04 Who is Low Dose Naltrexone for, and who is it not for?

Low Dose Naltrexone is generally suited to adults living with chronic inflammation, fatigue, or pain who want to explore an option beyond the usual toolkit.

It is not appropriate for anyone taking opioid pain medication, and a clinician reviews your health history before prescribing.

05 Does response vary from person to person?

Yes, quite a bit. The studies on this page show a real range, from people who report a meaningful drop in pain or fatigue to people who notice little change. Tracking your own symptoms over time matters more than expecting a universal result.

06 Can I take Low Dose Naltrexone with pain medication?

Not with opioid pain medication. Naltrexone blocks the same opioid receptor those medicines rely on, so combining them can trigger withdrawal or blunt the pain relief. Tell your care team about every medication you take before starting.

Our idea of a bedtime story?
Clinical trials.

We vet everything on PubMed so you don’t have to. Here’s what the science says.
1
A review of low-dose naltrexone’s anti-inflammatory mechanism, including its effect on ESR, a common marker of systemic inflammation.
Clin Rheumatol, 2014
2
A mechanistic review of how naltrexone interacts with the Opioid Growth Factor receptor pathway to regulate cell growth and immune signaling.
Int Immunopharmacol, 2019
3
A clinical trial in active Crohn’s disease found 81% of people responded to low-dose naltrexone and 67% reached remission after four weeks.
Am J Gastroenterol, 2007
4
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial found low-dose naltrexone significantly reduced daily pain in fibromyalgia.
Arthritis Rheum, 2013
5
A pilot study found fibromyalgia symptoms, including fatigue, were reduced with low-dose naltrexone compared with placebo.
Pain Med, 2009
6
An eight-week trial found reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines in people with fibromyalgia taking low-dose naltrexone.
Biomedicines, 2017
7
A review of the small pilot studies published on low-dose naltrexone for fibromyalgia, and where the evidence still needs to grow.
Curr Rheumatol Rev, 2018
8
A retrospective chart review of 215 people with multiple sclerosis found 77% had no side effects and 60% reported less fatigue on low-dose naltrexone.
J Clin Psychopharmacol, 2015
9
A laboratory study found low-dose naltrexone changes gene expression in tumor cells, an early and still preclinical line of cancer research.
Int J Oncol, 2016
10
AgelessRx’s own peer-reviewed pilot found NAD+ Patches with Low Dose Naltrexone improved quality of life and fatigue after COVID-19.
Brain Behav Immun Health, 2024
11
AgelessRx’s peer-reviewed real-world study of 5,500 people found most reported less pain, fatigue, and inflammation on Low Dose Naltrexone.
Aging Biology, 2024