Low dose naltrexone, or LDN, is a medication that has garnered significant interest in the medical and patient community for its potential to manage chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Originally used in much higher doses to treat opioid and alcohol dependence, naltrexone’s role has evolved as researchers have discovered its unique effects at lower strengths. This guide explores the science behind LDN, how it works, and why it’s becoming a go-to therapy for many.
In this article, we will explore:
- What is Low Dose Naltrexone?
- The Growing Interest in LDN
- How Does LDN Work?
- What is the Patient Experience With LDN?
- Why Is LDN Compounded?
- The Future of LDN in Australia
What is Low Dose Naltrexone?
Naltrexone was first developed in the 1980s to help people overcome opioid and alcohol addiction. At standard doses of 50mg or more, it acts as a strong opioid receptor blocker, which helps to reduce cravings. However, in the late 1990s, researchers began to explore much smaller doses, typically ranging from 0.5mg to 4.5mg, and noticed a completely different effect.
At these lower doses, LDN appears to modulate the immune system rather than block opioid receptors. This gentle modulation may help reduce inflammation, regulate pain, and support neurological and autoimmune functions. This shift in understanding has repositioned naltrexone from a treatment for addiction to a potential therapy for a range of chronic inflammatory conditions.
The Growing Interest in LDN
While LDN has been used as an off-label treatment for years, it is now attracting serious attention from the scientific community. Universities and research institutes, including Griffith University in Australia, are conducting clinical trials to investigate LDN’s role in managing conditions such as:
- Fibromyalgia
- Multiple sclerosis
- Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory bowel diseases
- Long COVID
- Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
This research is revealing a new perspective on LDN as a gentle, long-term option for patients dealing with persistent inflammation and immune dysfunction.
How Does LDN Work?
At low doses, naltrexone is thought to work by briefly blocking opioid receptors for a few hours overnight. This temporary blockage is believed to trigger a rebound effect, stimulating the body to produce more of its own natural opioids and endorphins.
Endorphins are powerful molecules that influence how we feel pain, heal, sleep, and how our immune system behaves. By boosting endorphin production, LDN may help to “retune” the immune system, reducing inappropriate inflammation and calming an overactive immune response. This mechanism is why it’s considered for conditions with an inflammatory or immune-related component.
What is the Patient Experience With LDN?
The patient journey with LDN is often a slow and gradual process. Most patients begin with a very small dose, such as 0.5mg or 1mg, and slowly increase it over time, a process known as titration. It is typically taken in the evening to align with its nighttime endorphin-releasing effects.
Side effects are usually mild and temporary, with the most commonly reported ones being vivid dreams or slight insomnia in the first few days. These generally resolve on their own. Positive effects, if they occur, tend to emerge gradually, often after four to eight weeks of consistent use. LDN is not a quick fix, but for many, it becomes a valuable, long-term tool for managing their health.
Why Is LDN Compounded?
Standard naltrexone is only available in 50mg tablets, which is far too high for LDN therapy. This is why a compounding pharmacy is necessary. Compounding pharmacies, like National Custom Compounding, prepare LDN in the specific, low strengths required by practitioners, typically in capsule or liquid form.
Because LDN is considered an off-label therapy in Australia, it must be prescribed by a doctor or specialist who understands its potential benefits and limitations. This ensures that the patient is receiving the correct dosage and formulation for their individual needs.
The Future of LDN in Australia
The future of LDN in Australia is promising. As more clinical trials, like those at Griffith University, are conducted, we can expect a deeper understanding of who benefits most from LDN, which conditions respond best, and how to personalise treatment even further for each patient.
At National Custom Compounding, we are committed to producing high quality, compounded LDN with accurate dosing and pharmaceutical grade ingredients, ensuring patient safety is always the top priority.
Video Transcript
Hi, I’m Matt Bellgrove, pharmacist and founder of National Custom Compounding here on the Gold Coast. Thanks for joining me. Today we’re diving into something that’s been generating a lot of interest in both the medical and patient community. Low dose naltrexone, or LDN for short. Whether you’ve been prescribed LDN, heard about it through a support group, or are just curious about what it might offer, this video is here to help you understand the science, the journey, and the potential behind this therapy.
What is naltrexone and what is low dose naltrexone? Naltrexone was originally developed in the 1980s to help people dealing with opioid or alcohol dependence. It blocks opioid receptors in the brain, helping to reduce cravings. In that context, it’s prescribed in doses of 50mg and above. But something interesting started to emerge in the late 90s and early 2000s. Researchers began looking at much smaller doses between 0.5mg and 4.5mg, and noticed a different effect entirely. At low doses, naltrexone appears to modulate the immune system rather than block it. It may help reduce inflammation, regulate pain, and support certain neurological and autoimmune functions. This shift in focus is what gave rise to what we now call low dose naltrexone (LDN).
Why is LDN gaining interest now? While LDN has been prescribed off-label for many years, it’s only more recently that universities and research institutes are starting to investigate it more seriously. Here on the Gold Coast, Griffith University is currently involved in clinical studies exploring LDN’s role in managing chronic conditions. These include fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, and other inflammatory or immune-related disorders. We’re now seeing LDN in a new light, not as a treatment for addiction, but as a gentle and potentially effective option for patients dealing with long-term inflammation, pain, and immune dysregulation.
How does LDN work in the body? At low doses, naltrexone briefly blocks opioid receptors for a few hours overnight. This temporary blockade is thought to trigger a rebound effect, stimulating the body to increase production of its own natural opioids and endorphins. Endorphins are powerful molecules. They influence how we feel pain, how we heal, how we sleep, and even how our immune system behaves. Some researchers believe that boosting endorphins helps retune the immune system, reducing inappropriate inflammation and calming overactive immune responses, which is relevant in conditions like fibromyalgia, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and long COVID.
What is the patient experience with LDN? Here at National Custom Compounding, we’ve dispensed LDN to thousands of patients across Australia, and while every experience is unique, we’ve noticed a few common themes. Most patients start at a very low dose, often 0.5mg or 1mg, and titrate slowly upwards. It’s usually taken in the evening to align with its endorphin releasing effects overnight. Side effects tend to be mild with vivid dreams or slight insomnia early on being the most reported. These typically pass in a few days. Positive effects, when they occur, tend to appear gradually, often after 4 to 8 weeks. It’s important to remember LDN is not a quick fix, but for many it becomes a gentle and long-term tool in their care plan.
Why is LDN compounded and not available as a standard medication? The approved form of naltrexone comes in 50mg tablets, far too high for LDN purposes. That’s where compounding pharmacies like NCC come in. We prepare LDN in custom strengths, typically between 0.5mg and 4.5mg, using capsules or liquid, depending on what your practitioner has prescribed. And because LDN is considered an off-label therapy in Australia, it requires a prescription from a doctor or specialist who understands its potential benefits and limitations.
What’s next for LDN in Australia? We’re excited about the future as more universities like Griffith University right here on the Gold Coast conduct trials. We’re hopeful that we’ll better understand who LDN helps most, what conditions respond best, and how to personalise it further for each patient. At NCC, we’re also collaborating with practitioners to ensure we provide high quality, compounded LDN with accurate dosing and pharmaceutical grade ingredients. Because patient safety is always our priority.
In summary, low dose naltrexone is still something of a frontier therapy not quite mainstream, but no longer fringe. And for many Australians, it’s quietly improving quality of life. If you’re currently using LDN or thinking about it, I encourage you to work closely with your practitioner. Be patient with the process and feel free to reach out to our team if you have any questions. Thank you for taking the time to learn with me today, and if you’d like to know more, explore the LDN resources and information available right here on our NCC Health website. Take care and we’ll see you soon.
