Low Dose Naltrexone and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world daily. There are different theories as to what causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, but there are no specific treatments at this time. For many, it is a daily uphill battle against their bodies trying to fight their way through the day, while dragging from fatigue and chronic pain. Many get to the point that they can just no longer continue to work a full-time job or to maintain daily activities of living. Most have been to their doctor only to be told there is nothing they can do, they should exercise more, or here is an anti-depressant. This only makes them feel more defeated because it isn’t getting to the root of the issue. ​

There is some light at the end of the tunnel. You may have heard about Naltrexone or your doctor may have recently prescribed it for you for an auto-immune or fatigue condition. You may be thinking,” OH NO, Not another medication!” I am here to tell you that using Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is not like using your average medication. 
So what is LDN? For its intended use, Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist, traditionally used to treat opioid and heroin addiction. A standard dose for this purpose would be between 50mg to 300mg. However, for our purpose, Low Dose Naltrexone or LDN is given in doses between 0.5 to 4.5mg with 4.5mg being the therapeutic goal.

In cases of chronic fatigue, you may start at 0.5mg and increase weekly or for many auto-immune conditions, the usual starting dose is 1.5mg with weekly increases. 
Low Dose Naltrexone is used for many conditions from cancer, multiple sclerosis, system lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's, scleroderma. One of the most common is chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis. There are many theories as to why people suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, or fibromyalgia. What we do know is that there is no specific treatment for these conditions. However, the benefit of LDN is promising for many.  

LDN boosts the immune system and activates the body’s natural defenses. LDN is usually taken at bedtime. “The brief blockade of opioid receptors between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. that is caused by taking LDN at bedtime each night is believed to produce a prolonged up-regulation of vital elements of the immune system by causing an increase in endorphin and enkephalin production. Normal volunteers who have taken LDN in this fashion have been found to have much higher levels of beta-endorphins circulating in their blood in the following days.”

(1) “ In general, in people with diseases that are partially or largely triggered by a deficiency of endorphins (including cancer and autoimmune disease), […] restoration of the bodies normal productions of endorphins is the major therapeutic action of LDN.” (2) The increase in circulating endorphins has been shown to reduce pain, give an increased sense of wellbeing, and act on the immune cells by helping them to restore normal function. (3) This is exciting news because LDN can boost the immune system to help auto-immune diseases without making the immune system over-active. 

This medication has very few side effects, the most common being vivid dreams and insomnia for the first week of taking it. Talk to your doctor or contact Dr. Teresa Richter www.drteresarichter.com to see if this treatment is right for you. 

References

1. B. Bihari, D. Gluck, I. Zagon “What is Low Dose Naltrexone”, [http://www.lowdosenaltrexone.org/index.htm#What_is_low_dose_naltrexone]. 9/25/2018.
2. J. Bihari. “Low Dose Naltrexone Fact Sheet (2015)”. Low Dose Naltrexone Research Trust. https://www.ldnresearchtrust.org/sites/default/filesLDN%20Information%20Pack%281%29_0.pdf. 9/26/2018.