LDN (low dose naltrexone) triggers the body to enhance its own natural pain blocking chemistry often offering life-changing improvements in pain from fibromyalgia, arthritis, neuropathy, spinal cord injury, auto-immune disease, post-surgical pain, trauma, etc.
LDN also modulates inflammation by reducing the levels of chemicals known as cytokines that drive the inflammatory response. So those with auto-immune diseases like Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, chronic immune neuropathy, HIV, Ulcerative Colitis, hypothyroidism from Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and so on can benefit.
Approximately 10 million people in the US are affected by Fibromyalgia, making it one of the most widespread types of chronic pain. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by muscle and joint pain but often accompanied by a variety of other symptoms such as anxiety, sleeping problems, fatigue and morning stiffness. While a variety of both drugs and alternative treatment options are currently available for fibromyalgia, LDN is on the rise as a new source of hope.
A study LDN and fibromyalgia published in the February 2013 by Arthritis and Rheumatism PubMed issue shows very positive results.
Thirty-one women with fibromyalgia participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced, crossover study. During the active drug phase of the trial, participants received 4.5 mg of oral naltrexone daily.
Researchers found that:
• When the patients took the low-dose naltrexone, they experienced a 29% reduction in their baseline pain.
• Overall, LDN was associated with improved general satisfaction with life and improved mood
• Furthermore, 32% of participants met the criteria for response (defined as a significant reduction in pain plus a significant reduction in either fatigue or sleep problems).
• LDN was rated equally tolerable as the placebo, and no serious side effects were reported.
The study authors concluded that evidence continues to show that low-dose naltrexone has a specific and clinically beneficial impact on fibromyalgia pain.
If you are suffering from fibromyalgia, low dose naltrexone may be a fitting treatment option. With few side-effects, a high success rate, and a low cost, LDN is proving to be a viable pathway for chronic pain treatment and is increasing in popularity.