Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist used to manage alcohol use or opioid use disorder at a dose of 50 mg, but at lower doses (typically ≤ 4.5 mg), it elicits different therapeutic effects in various patient populations. Although naltrexone has been used for decades, the Indications for LDN have only begun to emerge, especially in the past several years.
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How We Can Help with Low Dose Naltrexone
VLS Pharmacy is a member of the LDN Research Trust, a non-profit organization that
is doing important work to raise awareness about LDN treatment for auto-immune disease
and cancer as well as to raise funds for investing in LDN clinical trials.
At VLS Pharmacy and New Drug Loft, we offer various LDN treatment options,
including capsules and sublingual troches 0.5 – 4.5 mg, topical creams and gels,
nasal spray, and vaginal gel and cream.
An up-regulation of endorphins to help modulate the immune system response
Modulation of unwanted cell proliferation
An increase in the production of endogenous opioid peptides which can help promote healing and reduce inflammation
Low-dose naltrexone binds to toll-like receptors (TLR) to inhibit proinflammatory cytokines and antagonizes the production of NF-kB to help reduce inflammation
Learn more about how low dose Naltrexone could be of benefit for autoimmune disorders ›.
Learn more about how low dose Naltrexone could be used in dermatology ›.
Learn more about how low dose Naltrexone could be of benefit for insomnia / sleep deprevation ›.
Learn more about how low dose Naltrexone could be of benefit for weight loss ›.
Learn more about how low dose Naltrexone could be of benefit for women's health ›.
Because naltrexone is currently only commercially available as 50 mg tablets, patients may try to create their own LDN dosages by cutting up these tablets. Some patients may rely on Internet sources that explain how to do this or create a solution and then divide the liquid doses1. As accurate dosing is critical to the success of any therapy, this will almost certainly lead to inaccurate day-to-day dosing. VLS Pharmacy & New Drug Loft can create LDN formulations with patient-specific dosing and administration routes, helping ensure that patients are receiving accurate doses.
There is no agreed upon effective dose of LDN, so prescribers will likely have to titrate the dose to determine the maximally effective dose for their individual patients2. LDN is typically titrated up from 1.5 mg/day to up to 4.5 mg/day over the course of at least one month. Regardless of which titration schedule is prescribed, our pharmacists will tailor it to meet each individual patient’s specific needs.
Overall, LDN is well-tolerated by most users. However, as with most medications, your patients may experience side effects. Some users report that LDN causes them to dream more vividly. Other patients complain that it causes insomnia; in these cases, users can switch to a morning dose. Less common side effects include an increase in anxiety, sweating, GI upset and headaches. Interestingly, some patients see a decrease in anxiety and depression and an increase in mental clarity.
While it is safe to drink alcohol while taking LDN, it isn’t recommended. In fact, treatment for alcoholism is one of the uses for Naltrexone when applied at higher doses.
It’s important to establish an optimal dose for your patients by gradually increasing the dosage while assessing their tolerance. Both the dosage and the rate at which it can be increased is highly patient-specific and depends on factors such as gender, body size, the condition being treated, and the patient’s tolerance of the drug. Realistically, your patients should expect to take LDN for a minimum of two weeks before experiencing an alleviation of symptoms.
As a 503A compounding pharmacy specializing in sterile and non-sterile compounding, we will support you and your patients by creating individualized pharmaceutical therapies. All formulations are compounded with high-quality pharmaceutical-grade APIs sourced directly from PCCA, the leader of superior-quality APIs.
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1 - Younger J, Parkitny L, McLain D. The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for chronic pain. Clin Rheumatol. 2014;33(4):451-459. doi:10.1007/s10067-014-2517-2
2 - Marcus NJ, Robbins L, Araki A, Gracely EJ, Theoharides TC. Effective Doses of Low-Dose Naltrexone for Chronic Pain – An Observational Study. J Pain Res. 2024;17:1273-1284. doi:10.2147/JPR.S451183
