Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) has been studied and used for a wide range of seemingly unrelated conditions. Positive results are seen regularly in both lupus and multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, modifying the disease at a cellular level in addition to decreasing symptoms. In inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis, LDN promotes mucosal healing, decreased inflammation, improved quality of life and even remission. Chronic fatigue and Fibromyalgia patients saw an average of 30% reduction in their symptoms, including decreased pain and fatigue and improved mood and sleeping patterns. In thyroid disorders, LDN improves the transport of thyroid hormones into cells, reverses thyroid resistance and increases thyroid utilization, making LDN beneficial for weight loss.
What does Low Dose Naltrexone do to your immune system?
Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists. These drugs block the activity of other drugs as well as that of naturally occurring hormones, catecholamines, peptides and neurotransmitters. First licensed in 1984 for opiate addiction management, Naltrexone was later shown to have immunological effects at lower doses than used for opiate addiction by Dr. Bernard Bihari amidst the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New York City in 1985. Dr. Bihari tested a small group of AIDS patients with suboptimal endorphin levels and found that none of the 22 patients receiving LDN developed opportunistic infections compared to five of the 16 patients in the control group who did. Further research showed that LDN prevents the gradual destruction of the immune system and sparked even more research into the benefits of endorphins and their relationship to the immune system.
The Effects of Low Dose Naltrexone on the body?
Low Dose Naltrexone is anywhere from ten to forty times lower than the dose used for opiate addiction. Endorphins are naturally produced by our bodies in response to pleasurable activities like exercise, touch, smell, sunshine and food. In the 29 years following Dr. Bihari’s work with Low Dose Naltrexone, research into endorphins concluded that blocking opiate receptors using Naltrexone causes the body to upregulate the production of endorphins which serves as an immunomodulator to correct malfunctions in the immune system. Scientists believe that LDN not only attaches to opiate receptors but also to a group of receptors called toll-like receptors (TLR). TLR are an essential part of the innate immune system, our first line of defense, and are responsible for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is proposed that some autoimmune diseases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and MS activate TLR receptors inappropriately leading to a misguided inflammatory response.
Among its many uses, Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is a FDA-approved component for weight loss programs. It has also been used to treat restless leg syndrome that is unresponsive to conventional treatment. In autistic individuals, opioid peptides are present in excess. By treating autism with an opioid antagonist such as LDN, some of the behavioral and immunological disturbances associated with autism can be counteracted. Additionally, LDN has been used as an adjuvant treatment for cancer. LDN is also beneficial for depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder and is known to balance stress hormones. It also has a balancing effect on cytokines that disrupt sleep and has been shown to reverse cellular imbalances induced by chronic stress. Other conditions it has been used to treat include psoriasis, gout and many more. While LDN is not for everyone, it may be right for you. To find out more, call 702-258-7860 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicole Hujer at Renaissance Health Centre today.
Dr. Nicole Hujer
Renaissance Heath Centre in Las Vegas, NV