Life with fibromyalgia is far from easy. You keep careful track of your triggers, but an unexpected flare-up can always derail your daily life, leaving you suffering disruptive symptoms of joint pain and fatigue. That’s why it’s so important to find the right care and support.
The interventional pain management specialists at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness of Anchorage, Alaska offer a range of treatments, therapies, and supports for patients living with fibromyalgia. That includes low-dose naltrexone (LDN), a medication that shows promise for symptom relief. In this blog, Dr. Nichelle C. Renk and Dr. Gavin Nixon take a closer look at how LDN can improve the lives of fibromyalgia patients. Could this be a life-changing treatment option for you?
The drug naltrexone is often given in higher doses. But, recently, we’ve been learning more about the potential benefits of naltrexone at much lower doses for chronic pain, autoimmune disorders, cancer, mood, and fatigue treatment. LDN treatment doses range from 0.25 to 12 mg per day. That’s less than a tenth of the usual dose used for naltrexone.
When you take naltrexone at low doses, it reduces immune cell activity in your central nervous system. Your microglia return to a natural resting state, relieving your ongoing fibromyalgia symptoms. Because LDN doesn’t interact with your neurons, you don’t need to worry about developing a tolerance that limits the effectiveness of the treatment.
In 2024 meta-analysis of several studies, treatment with LDN showed a significant reduction in pain scores among fibromyalgia patients compared to fibromyalgia patients only given a placebo. Fatigue and sleep issues also respond to this type of treatment. You may notice improvements in your cognition and mood, as well. LDN even helps with postural hypertension and histamin intolerance.
In general, LDN only causes mild side effects, fewer than many other medications to manage fibromyalgia. In fact, LDN may work better for fibromyalgia treatment than it does for other chronic pain conditions.
LDN pairs well with other complementary therapies, including other medications and supplements to keep fibromyalgia symptoms under control. For example, your provider at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness may recommend that you take the six synergistic supplements ( magnesium glycinate chelate, longa curcurmin, fish oil, vitamin D, CBD, and/or PEA) or participate in physical therapy as part of your fibromyalgia treatment plan.
It takes some time for your results to appear after starting LDN. You may need as long as a three to six months for the full benefits to kick in. Studies recommend trying treatment for at least three months to see if this type of medication management works for you.
Side effects, which can include vivid dreams, headaches, nausea, and anxiety, are usually mild, and can often be addressed by adjusting your dosage. You may prefer to take your medication at night to avoid experiencing side effects during the daytime.
With the right treatment plan, your fibromyalgia doesn’t need to rule your life. You may have tried other treatments or therapies with insufficient effectiveness, but have you tried LDN for fibromyalgia?
If you think you might benefit from this type of treatment, reach out to the interventional pain management team at Alpenglow Pain & Wellness today. Schedule your initial consultation appointment online or over the phone now.
