Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy

Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy Brentwood & Franklin

What is Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy?

Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy (LDN) is a treatment option that uses the medication naltrexone, which was originally developed to help combat opioid addiction. However, continued research has been conducted on the additional benefits of naltrexone, especially when taken at substantially lower doses.

Low-Dose Naltrexone therapy was first used as a treatment in the 1980s and has been undergoing studies ever since. Starting in the late 2000s, it has been used by clinicians to fight pain caused by a variety of chronic conditions, with increasing popularity in recent years as the therapy has become more widely known.  

Learn more about Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy

Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy involves taking approximately 1/10th of the amount of naltrexone used to treat opioid addiction. At this low dose, naltrexone has been shown to help with pain and to have anti-inflammatory benefits. Naltrexone binds to receptors in the brain that are linked to pain and temporarily blocks them from sending or receiving signals. 

Once the naltrexone comes off of these receptors, it leaves the receptors “hungry”, which activates a feedback system that signals the body to produce more natural endorphins, or “feel-good” chemicals. Your body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals (beta-endorphins) remain active for an average of 18 – 20 hours and balance the body’s immune response, reduce the speed of unwanted cell growth, and reduce inflammation by decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Low-dose naltrexone boosts the natural healing response.

Many chronic pain conditions involve inflammatory processes, even those that are not considered inflammatory conditions and do not typically respond to anti-inflammatory medications. The unique clinical benefits of naltrexone allow it to reduce chronic pain from a variety of conditions.

A study conducted in 2009 showed that LDN significantly reduced the pain of fibromyalgia in the majority of the study’s participants. The treatment can be used to help reduce pain and inflammation in a number of other chronic conditions that involve inflammation.

Your treatment at Care Nashville will begin with a consultation with one of our practitioners, where we will develop a thorough understanding of your condition and take a variety of diagnostic tests. Based on your unique factors and diagnostic reports, your clinician may recommend low-dose naltrexone as a treatment option. 

Care Nashville partners with a Functional Medicine-oriented Registered Pharmacist who will also provide a telephone consult to help manage the treatment and provide education, dose adjustments, and guidance via additional telephone check-ins, so your therapy is doubly managed.

The treatment involves taking a small, daily dose of naltrexone. The recommended length of treatment and the exact dosage will be dependent on each individual’s circumstances and responses to treatment. Patients usually experience significant pain relief, as well as improved sleep, general functioning, and energy levels.

A variety of conditions that cause chronic pain can be treated with Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy, including:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Migraines
  • Joint pain 
  • Neuropathy 
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Dysfunctional immune systems  
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Complex regional pain syndrome
  • Pelvic issues such as endometriosis and interstitial cystitis
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • Helpful in those with Lyme disease

Many patients who are experiencing chronic pain can benefit from Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy, including those whose pain does not typically respond to anti-inflammatory medications. To find out if you are a candidate for Low-Dose Naltrexone therapy, schedule a consultation with one of our practitioners.

Start the journey to improving your health by scheduling a consultation at Care Nashville. To learn more, visit our FAQ page or contact our office directly at 615-591-1965. To schedule a consultation, call our office or fill out our consultation request form and one of our staff members will contact you shortly.

Request a consultation