Low Dose Naltrexone

Low Dose Naltrexone

What is Low Dose Naltrexone?

Naltrexone is part of a large class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. In high dosages (usually between 50 and 300mg daily), Naltrexone can be used to treat addition to opioids such as heroin or morphine by blocking the effect of these drugs on the brain. In other words, Naltrexone reduces the “high” associated with opiate drugs.

At significantly lower dosages, however, Naltrexone has been shown to moderate the symptoms of numerous chronic medical conditions, as well as help minimize chronic pain associated with cancer and other diseases. Low Dose Naltrexone—the same drug at significantly lower dosages, usually no more than 5mg—is believed operate as an anti-inflammatory agent on the central nervous system, and has been shown to have a mitigating impact even on diseases not specifically associated with inflammation.

For patients suffering from chronic conditions associated with discomfort and pain, daily dosages of LDN are generally considered to be safe, well-tolerated with a minimum of side effects, and relatively inexpensive. Naltrexone has been FDA approved in higher doses (50mg) for the treatment of opioid addiction since 1984. While the use of significantly lower dosages of Naltrexone (LND) has not specifically been approved by the FDA, because the drug has passed all animal toxicity testing and therefore the off label use of this drug is both ethical and legal.

At American Integrative Pharmacy, our goal is to work with you and your physician to develop the exact dosages of LDN that will help mitigate your symptoms while minimizing the potential for side effects.

Dr. Neema Yazdanpanah on LDN Radio Station

What Diseases Are Impacted by LDN?

LDN has been found to have a significant ameliorating impact on the symptoms of a wide range of diseases and medical conditions, so many, in fact, that it is impossible to name them all here. However, all of the conditions for which LDN may be appropriate share a common feature: the involvement of the immune symptom, including low blood levels of endorphins. The one exception to this is certain types of cancers, in which it seems that LDN has an impact on opioid receptors found in some tumors.

Generally speaking, the conditions for which your physician may prescribe LDN can be grouped in the following categories:

  • Autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and lupus
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Central nervous system disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), and primary lateral sclerosis
  • Psychological disorders
  • Cancer, specifically brain tumors, breast cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, myeloid leukemia, lung cancer, and neuroblastoma

This list is by no means comprehensive, however. LDN is increasingly being recognized for its positive impact on many different medical concerns, and your physician may have prescribed it as a potential benefit for your specific condition even if it is not on this limited list.

 

LDN Dosages at American Integrative Pharmacy

Your physician has prescribed LDN because he or she believes that it can safely mitigate the chronic pain associated with your specific medical condition. In most cases, the goal is to begin with very low dosages at first to balance the efficacy of the compound with the risk of potential side effects. In general, the starting dose usually ranges between 0.5mg to 1.5mg, and then slowly increase over four to eight weeks, up to 4.5mg or potentially higher. However, your specific dosage will depend on your unique medical concerns; for instance, patients with autoimmune diseases may start at slightly higher dosages and increase more quickly. Moreover, your specific dosage instructions may vary to ensure that it does not negatively impact other medications and treatment protocols; for example, LDN may need to be avoided the week before and after certain chemotherapy protocols.

At American Integrative Pharmacy, our goal is to work closely with you and your physician to develop the exact dosages that work for you and your body, in order to deliver maximum relief from pain, discomfort, and symptoms of your specific medical condition while minimizing the impact of potential side effects over the long term.

 

Contact American Integrative Pharmacy

Every patient is unique and deserves medications and supplements that are just as unique.  At American Integrative Pharmacy, we pride ourselves on our ability to customize uniquely formulated medications based on state-of-the-art medicinal and pharmacological knowledge and utilizing safer, more effective compounds and dosing mechanisms. A leading compounding pharmacy in southern California and fully-licensed in multiple states across the country, our highly skilled, highly trained pharmacists work directly with both patients and physicians to create specialized medicinal therapies from the highest quality ingredients and meeting the highest possible safety standards.    

American Integrative Pharmacy: Where the old fashioned neighborhood pharmacy of yesterday meets the high tech pharmacy of tomorrow. Contact us today to learn more about LDN (Lose Dose Naltrexone) and how our customized compounds can benefit you!  We look forward to hearing from you today.

23326 Hawthorne Blvd.
Skypark Bldg. 10, Ste. 185
Torrance, CA 90505

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