Low-Dose Naltrexone Promising for pain relief in fibromyalgia and host of chronic conditions

Naltrexone was originally used to help treat alcohol and opioid abuse.

Researchers have found in a new study that Low Dose Naltrexone had Utility in Inflammatory and Centralized Pain Conditions. At lose doses, naltrexone was found to help with chronic pain stemming from various conditions including fibromyalgia, Crohn's disease, diabetic neuropathy, axial low back pain, rheumatoid arthritis, and complex region pain syndrome.

In order to better understand this clinical use, researchers at the University of Kansas Medical Study conducted a literature review and determined that naltrexone does show benefit in improving pain, function, and symptom severity, although more research is needed.

Adam Rupp, DO, reports that there is significant variability in the design of existing studies making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. However, the team found some trends including improvements in pain for up to the duration of the trial (1-12 months), improvement in function, improvements in symptom severity (sleep, mood, work capacity, fatigue), and even improvements in the colon's appearance with colonoscopy for those with Crohn's disease. Side effects were minimal, ranging from 0-33%, and consisted most commonly of trouble sleeping, vivid dreams, headaches, and nausea. Most of these side effects resolved with continued use of the medication. A very small minority of patients stopped taking low-dose naltrexone, usually due to intolerance of the side effects or not having a response.