Longevity drugs · other
Low-dose naltrexone
Tiny doses of an addiction drug, studied for chronic pain and inflammation.
Not medical advice — talk to a licensed clinician. Content is educational, reflects published literature, and is not a recommendation to start, stop or change any treatment.
What it is
Naltrexone is approved at 50 mg for alcohol and opioid dependence. LDN uses roughly 1–4.5 mg, usually compounded.
How it works, in plain English
Briefly blocks opioid receptors, which may trigger a rebound in endorphins, and may calm microglial (immune) cells in the nervous system.
What the human evidence shows
Small RCTs in fibromyalgia and Crohn's disease show signals; larger trials are mixed. Not studied for lifespan.
Regrowth grade C: Early / mixed human data.
Typical protocols in the literature
Commonly discussed at 1.5–4.5 mg at bedtime, titrated up.
Described for education, not as dosing advice.
Side effects & interactions
Side effects
- Vivid dreams
- Insomnia
- Headache
Interactions
- Contraindicated with opioid pain medication
Key studies
- Younger et al. — LDN in fibromyalgia
- Smith et al. — LDN in Crohn's disease
Citations pending medical review