Low-Dose Naltrexone and Chronic Pain

ldn and chronic pain Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) has been used to treat a variety of illnesses including:

Cancer
Certain gastrointestinal conditions
AIDS
Autism
Autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS)

Could LDN also Be Helpful in Treating Chronic Pain?

A small study by Drs. Jarred Younger and Sean Mackey investigated the effect LDN has on fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder. Their findings, published in Pain Medicine, yielded promising results: LDN reduced symptoms in the entire group of ten women by more than 30%, as compared to the placebo.

How Does LDN Work?

LDN blocks endorphin receptors for a short period of time. When the effects wear off, the body responds by producing more endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory substances.

Combining LDN with Other Chronic Pain Treatments

LDN may also promote the pain-relieving effect of acupuncture, as discussed in Enhancing acupuncture with low-dose naltrexone. Published in the journal Acupuncture in Medicine, this article hypothesizes that since acupuncture and LDN both act on the opioid and cannabinoid systems, the two therapies could be used in cooperation to better manage pain.

References

Moore EA. The Promise of Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy: Potential Benefits in Cancer, Autoimmune, Neurological and Infectious Disorders. McFarland and Company, Inc.; Jefferson, NC; 2009.
Younger J, Mackey S. Fibromyalgia symptoms are reduced by low-dose naltrexone: a pilot study. Pain Med. 2009 May-Jun;10(4):663-72; Epub 2009 Apr 22.
Hesselink JM, Kopsky DJ. Enhancing acupuncture by low dose naltrexone. Acupunct Med. 2011 Jun;29(2):127-30. doi: 10.1136/aim.2010.003566. Epub 2011 Mar 17.
LowDoseNaltrexone.org. Low Dose Naltrexone. https://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org. Last accessed: April 2018.

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