Low dose naltrexone is a lower dosage version of a drug that has been used for heroin addiction for more than 25 years. LDN has been shown to help people with multiple sclerosis, cancer, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other conditions. This experimental treatment is currently the focus of more than ten clinical trials, and many doctors are prescribing LDN for an off-label use. What are the pros and cons of using LDN for people with autoimmune conditions?

Pros of Using Low Dose Naltrexone for Multiple Sclerosis and More

Low dose naltrexone as an autoimmune condition treatment has been used for a wide range of issues, but the first use of the drug was initiated by Dr. Bernard Bihari in New York in 1985, for HIV/AIDS patients. Dr. Bihari found that LDN helped the immune system, and expanded his use of the drug to cancer patients, and later those with lupus and other conditions.

Some of the pros of using low dose naltrexone include:

  • decreased fatigue
  • decreased pain
  • decreased depression
  • increased muscle control for MS patients
  • decreased spasticity
  • remission for Crohn's disease in 67 percent of clinical trial patients

Cons of Using LDN for MS, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Very few side effects have been reported to be associated with LDN, but there are a few: