04/14/2026
You may have never heard of it… but for the right patient, this tiny-dose medication can make a BIG difference.
What is Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)?
Naltrexone is a medication that has been around for decades and is traditionally used at high doses (50 mg) for opioid and alcohol dependence.
👉 At very low doses (typically 0.5–4.5 mg), it works very differently — helping to regulate the immune system and reduce inflammation.
What is LDN used for?
LDN is used off-label (which means outside of its original FDA-approved purpose) for conditions such as:
✔ Chronic inflammation
✔ Autoimmune conditions (Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
✔ Chronic pain (fibromyalgia, neuropathy)
✔ Fatigue syndromes
✔ Long COVID / post-viral symptoms
✔ Mood support and brain fog
How does it work?
LDN briefly blocks opioid receptors in the brain, which stimulates your body to produce more of its own natural endorphins
➡️ This can help:
• Calm an overactive immune system
• Reduce inflammation
• Improve pain perception
• Support mood and energy
What doses are beneficial?
LDN is not one-size-fits-all
Typical range: 0.5 mg → 4.5 mg nightly
Often started low and slowly increased
Some patients do better with even micro-dosing
This is why it’s usually compounded specifically for you
Why aren’t more patients offered LDN?
• It’s off-label, so many providers aren’t familiar or comfortable with it
• It’s not heavily marketed by pharmaceutical companies
• It requires individualized dosing and follow-up
Why are patients hesitant?
• The name “naltrexone” is associated with addiction treatment
• Concerns about side effects
• It’s something “different” than traditional medications
But at low doses, it behaves very differently than the standard medication.
Benefits patients often report:
✨ Improved energy
✨ Less pain and inflammation
✨ Better sleep
✨ Improved mood
✨ Fewer autoimmune flares
Possible side effects: (usually mild and temporary)
• Vivid dreams
• Sleep changes (better or sometimes temporarily worse)
• Headache
• GI upset
👉 Most side effects improve with dose adjustments
Is it safe?
For most patients, yes — especially when prescribed appropriately.
🚫 Cannot be taken with opioid medications
💬 Why you should ask about it:
If you are struggling with chronic inflammation, fatigue, or autoimmune symptoms and feel like you’ve “tried everything”… this may be an option worth discussing.
At Navarre Primary Care, we look at root causes and individualized care — and LDN is one of the many tools we can use when appropriate.
📅 Ask us about Low Dose Naltrexone at your next visit
You don’t have to settle for feeling “just okay.”
