Naltrexone belongs to a class of drugs known as opiate antagonists, primarily used in treating addiction to opiate drugs like heroin or morphine. Typically, the dosage for this purpose ranges between 50 and 300mg daily. While Low-dose Naltrexone (LDN) has been utilized in the treatment of autoimmune diseases in the USA since 1985, its adoption in the United Kingdom and Europe is relatively recent. Despite its administration at a very low dose, the possibility of significant introductory or long-term side effects cannot be dismissed. This therapeutic approach was pioneered and advanced by the late Dr. Bernard Bihari, M.D., a respected physician from New York, USA, who passed away on May 16, 2010. Dr. Bihari was renowned for his expertise in Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Neurology, and we aim to honor his legacy by perpetuating his groundbreaking work.

Typically, your physician will initiate treatment at an ultra-low dose and gradually increase it over several weeks until stability and freedom from side effects are achieved. The initial dose may vary from 0.5mg to 1.5mg and is usually escalated over 4 to 8 weeks to 4.5mg or higher until the optimal dosage is attained. In certain medical conditions, some doctors may prescribe twice-daily dosing. For Autoimmune Diseases, patients typically commence at 1mg and escalate to 4.5mg daily over a 4-week period. Conversely, for conditions like Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, or Fibromyalgia, the initial dose is usually 0.5mg, increasing by 0.5mg weekly until a daily dosage of 4.5mg is reached, if tolerated. In the case of Cancer, LDN can be administered at similar doses but should be avoided during the week preceding and following cancer chemotherapy, excluding specific medications like tamoxifen or daily prostate cancer medications. Please Note: With LDN, the efficacy isn’t solely determined by higher dosages; it's about finding the dosage that best suits your needs, which might be as low as 2mg. Not everyone reaches 4.5mg.

Information provided by: LDN Research Trust