What is low dose naltrexone?

Did you know that there is a potential treatment, which you may not had heard of, that has the potential to help you manage the impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) and associated symptoms? 

 Naltrexone is a drug developed initially to treat addiction to opiate-based drugs, such as heroin or morphine. It belongs to a class of medications called opiate antagonists and offers no opioid or narcotic effect. 

 Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is simply naltrexone administered in small doses. The low dose method of taking naltrexone was devised and developed in the mid-1980s by the late Dr Bernard Bihari in the United States, who initially used it to treat patients affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  

 LDN for MS 

 The therapeutic use of LDN has grown rapidly since then, as an ‘off label’ treatment for the symptoms of many conditions including MS. The term ‘off-label’ means that the person prescribing the medicine wishes to use it in a different way than what is stated in its licence. 

Over the past two decades studies have shown that LDN can be used to manage the impact of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain and is generally safe when used following controlled medical guidance. More specifically regarding MS, there is evidence that it can be effective in managing the impact of related pain, fatigue and spasticity.  

More evidence is needed to underpin the efficacy of LDN in managing the impact of MS, and recently we reported on a new study which is focused on this. If the results are positive this may open the door to LDN becoming more widely available as a therapeutic option for people affected by MS.  

Our dedicated booklet – Choices Low Dose Naltrexone – has recently been updated and provides the most up to date information about LDN, including links to current research, potential side effects, how it is administered and accessing the treatment in the UK. We hope that you find it a valuable source of information. 

You can download and view this and all our full range of Choices booklets free of charge on our website. Hard copies can also be ordered, again at no cost to you, by using our online order form.