Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

A gentle, evidence-informed option to calm inflammation, support immune balance, and improve quality of life across a wide range of chronic conditions.

At Caring for the Body, we prescribe low dose naltrexone (LDN) as part of a personalized, root-cause functional medicine plan. LDN is not a “miracle cure” and it is not a substitute for lifestyle medicine or upstream healing. But in the right patient, it can be a meaningful tool for pain modulation, neuroinflammation, immune dysregulation, and chronic symptom patterns that have not responded well to conventional approaches.

Curious whether LDN is a fit for you?
Schedule a complimentary strategy session with our team to discuss your story and your next best steps.

What is LDN?

Naltrexone is an FDA-approved medication at higher doses. Low dose naltrexone refers to much smaller doses, typically prescribed off-label, and often prepared by a compounding pharmacy so we can tailor the dose to your unique physiology.

Many of our patients come to us after years of feeling like their symptoms are connected, even when they have collected multiple diagnoses. LDN can sometimes serve as a “calming signal” to the immune and nervous systems, helping the body move toward greater regulation and resilience.

Why LDN can help

LDN is best understood as a regulatory medicine, not a suppressive one. Research and clinical experience suggest it may help through two main pathways:

1) Calming neuroinflammation and microglial activation

Microglia are immune cells in the brain that influence neuroinflammation, pain sensitivity, fatigue, and cognitive symptoms. LDN has been described in the scientific literature as a potential microglia-modulating therapy, which is one reason it is being explored in chronic pain and neurologic-inflammatory conditions.

2) Supporting endorphin-related signaling and immune balance

At low doses, naltrexone may briefly block opioid receptors and lead to downstream changes in endorphin signaling and immune regulation. The clinical relevance is that some people experience improvements in pain, mood resilience, energy, and inflammatory symptom burden as the system becomes more balanced.

The practical takeaway: LDN is not about forcing the body. It is about helping the body re-regulate.

Conditions we commonly consider LDN for

LDN is used off-label in many settings, particularly when symptoms reflect inflammation + immune imbalance + pain signaling changes.

We most commonly consider LDN as an adjunct for:

• Fibromyalgia and centralized pain
  
  
• Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions (including thyroid autoimmunity and others)
  
  
• Multiple sclerosis and other neurologic inflammatory patterns (quality-of-life support)
  
  
• Inflammatory bowel conditions, including Crohn’s-type patterns (adjunctive support)
  
  
• Chronic fatigue-type patterns where immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation may be contributors
  
  
• Chronic pain syndromes where sensitization and inflammatory signaling appear to be drivers
  
  

Because the condition list is broad, our approach is never “LDN for diagnosis X.”
Instead, we ask a better question: What is driving your inflammation, immune activation, or pain signaling, and does LDN make sense in that context?

Our prescribing approach

1) We start with your root causes

LDN works best when it is part of a larger plan, not the whole plan. We look for upstream drivers such as:

• Gut inflammation and microbiome imbalance
  
  
• Metabolic inflammation and insulin resistance
  
  
• Sleep disruption and circadian dysregulation
  
  
• Chronic stress physiology and autonomic imbalance
  
  
• Nutrient depletion, thyroid dysfunction, hormone shifts
  
  
• Toxin exposures, mast-cell/histamine patterns, and other inflammatory triggers
  
  

2) We “start low and go slow”

Most patients do best with a gentle titration schedule. This is especially important for sensitive nervous systems, insomnia-prone patients, or those with complex chronic illness. Dosing is individualized and adjusted based on response.

3) We monitor what matters

We track real-life outcomes, such as:

• Pain levels and recovery time after activity
  
  
• Sleep quality and nighttime awakenings
  
  
• Fatigue, stamina, and post-exertional symptoms
  
  
• Brain fog, mood steadiness, and clarity
  
  
• Bowel symptoms and inflammatory flares
  
  
• Overall function and quality of life
  
  

Safety and side effects

LDN is generally well tolerated, but “well tolerated” still means we prescribe thoughtfully.

Common side effects (often temporary and dose-related):

• Vivid dreams or sleep disruption
  
  
• Headache or nausea
  
  
• Temporary agitation or “wired” feeling in sensitive patients
  
  
• GI changes
  
  

Important note about opioids:
LDN should not be combined with opioid pain medications (it can interfere with opioid effects). We review your medication list carefully before prescribing.

If you have complex medical conditions, multiple prescriptions, liver concerns, or a history of substance use disorder, we take extra care to ensure LDN is appropriate and safe.

LDN FAQ

Is LDN FDA-approved for these conditions?

LDN is typically prescribed off-label. Off-label prescribing is a common and accepted medical practice when there is a sound rationale, appropriate safety screening, and clear informed consent.

How long does it take to work?

Some people notice changes within a few weeks. For others, it can take longer, especially when titration is gradual. Our goal is not speed. It is steady, sustainable improvement.

Will it “boost” my immune system?

LDN is better described as immune-modulating rather than immune-stimulating. Many chronic inflammatory conditions involve immune dysregulation rather than a simple “weak immune system.”

Do I have to stay on it forever?

Not necessarily. Some patients use LDN long-term, while others use it as a bridge while addressing upstream drivers. We reassess based on your response and your overall trajectory.

A hopeful next step

If you are living with chronic symptoms that feel inflammatory, autoimmune, neurologic, or pain-driven, LDN may be worth exploring, especially when prescribed with skill and integrated into a comprehensive functional medicine plan.

Book a complimentary strategy session to discuss your goals and learn whether LDN could be an appropriate part of your next chapter of healing.

‍