Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in Sandy, UT

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in Sandy, UT

Nervana Medical offers low-dose naltrexone (LDN) in Utah as a safe, low-cost option for managing chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis. Our experienced team, led by Cassandra Debenham, ACNP-BC, provides LDN to patients across multiple states, with in-person care available at our Sandy, Utah, clinic and virtual consultations for eligible patients. We’ll work with you to determine whether LDN is the right treatment for your individual needs.

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Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN)

Nervana Medical offers low-dose naltrexone (LDN) in Utah as a safe, low-cost option for managing chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, and multiple sclerosis.

Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy

At Nervana Medical, we are excited to offer low-dose naltrexone therapy as a potential solution for various health conditions.

What Is Low-Dose Naltrexone?

Naltrexone was first approved by the FDA in 1984 to treat opioid addiction. Later, it was discovered that low-dose naltrexone (LDN)—a dose one-tenth of naltrexone’s usual dose—has anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating effects. LDN appears to be safe with few side effects and no abuse potential. It is also cost-effective because only a small amount is needed. Research on LDN also demonstrated improvements in other diseases.

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in Sandy, UT

Weight Loss

LDN appears to contribute to weight loss through several mechanisms. Studies have shown that LDN may help curb your appetite by reducing the appeal of food. As a result, you start losing your cravings for food. LDN may also help increase the body’s growth hormone levels. Growth hormone helps with weight loss by facilitating the development of lean muscle and the burning of fat. Insulin resistance is another issue. It contributes to weight gain, obesity, and a number of other diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. LDN helps reduce insulin resistance; therefore, it not only has the potential to aid in weight loss but may also help address other diseases!

The FDA approved weight loss medication naltrexone HCL to treat overweight and obese patients. Low-dose Naltrexone works to suppress your appetite. Combination weight loss medications like these may improve your mood and suppress your sugar and carb cravings to stop overeating once and for all.

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in Sandy, UT

Take low-dose naltrexone to:

  • Regulate appetite: Naltrexone helps normalize your metabolism, matching your appetite to resting energy expenditures.
  • Reduce insulin resistance: Naltrexone modulates insulin resistance at the cellular level, which may lead to weight loss.
  • Improve sleep: Lack of sleep disrupts your body’s hormonal system, which can lead to weight gain. Naltrexone combats this unhealthy cycle.
  • Improve mood: Combination LDN weight loss medications trigger an increase in serotonin and dopamine production, which decreases anxiety and stress and reduces emotional eating.

Depressive Disorders

Patients with depressive disorders are constantly seeking information regarding various treatment modalities that might help ameliorate symptomatology and improve their mood. The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN), as based on the plausible hypothesis that depression is associated with central nervous system (CNS) inflammation while LDN can decrease inflammatory responses.

Proposed mechanism of action: LDN, as referenced by naltrexone doses between 1 mg and 5 mg daily, binds non-selectively to all opioid receptors antagonistically but extremely transiently. The short duration of this receptor-ligand interaction leads to a paradoxical downstream increase in endogenous endorphins and enkephalins. These in turn exert regulatory control on a subset of opioid receptors-the zeta, or opioid growth factor receptors-which are mainly expressed on immune cells. When intermittently activated, they inhibit cell proliferation.

Additionally, LDN was found to block toll-like receptor-4 expressed on immune cells in the CNS, which are responsible for triggering inflammatory responses. Blockade leads to a shift from pro-inflammatory to anti-inflammatory cytokine production.

There are limited studies and literature reviews regarding LDN and depressive disorders and fibromyalgia, but the reviews currently available have demonstrated improvement in depressive and pain score surveys. It is not clear whether the benefit was associated with reduced inflammation or with an indirect increase in dopamine via increased endorphins.

Chronic Fatigue

Naltrexone is used as an off-label treatment in low doses for several chronic immune-modulated disorders in many countries. Although only small-scale clinical trials have been performed, these suggest efficacy in several diseases, including Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, and Gulf War Illness. Despite numerous internet reports of response to low-dose naltrexone (LDN), no clinical trials exist in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. This condition is characterized by chronic profound fatigue, post-exertional malaise, pain, and autonomic and neurocognitive disturbances. This series of three case reports compiled by people with long-term ill-health due to chronic fatigue syndrome shows the range of responses they observed when taking LDN, from life-changing to a reduction in some symptoms only. Treatment doses ranged from 4 to 12mg. Clinical trials may be warranted to explore the potential use of naltrexone in people with these debilitating illnesses, which currently have no licensed treatments available.

The mechanism of action for naltrexone at low doses in this disease group is unknown. It is possibly due to the rebound of endorphins following short-term suppression, or to direct action that suppresses inflammation induced by microglia. There have been no formal dosing studies of naltrexone at low doses in any disorder. Therefore, although the dose of 3–4.5 mg is established in clinical practice, some practitioners use 9 mg (Klimas, personal communication, 2017) or higher in chronic fatigue syndrome. Causality and dosing need further studies.

The FDA approved weight loss medication naltrexone HCL to treat overweight and obese patients. Low-dose Naltrexone works to suppress your appetite. Combination weight loss medications like these may improve your mood and suppress your sugar and carb cravings to stop overeating once and for all.

Take low-dose naltrexone to:

  • Regulate appetite: Naltrexone helps normalize your metabolism, matching your appetite to resting energy expenditures.
  • Reduce insulin resistance: Naltrexone modulates insulin resistance at the cellular level, which may lead to weight loss.
  • Improve sleep: Lack of sleep disrupts your body’s hormonal system, which can lead to weight gain. Naltrexone combats this unhealthy cycle.
  • Improve mood: Combination LDN weight loss medications trigger an increase in serotonin and dopamine production, which decreases anxiety and stress and reduces emotional eating.

Overall Conclusion

LDN brings about potential benefits regarding its anti-inflammatory effects, the immune system, and its involvement in chronic fatigue, chronic pain, mood disorders, including depression, and weight loss. More robust studies are needed, however, as naltrexone is out of patent, funding for such studies is problematic, despite the drug itself being relatively cheap. Most large studies are funded by large pharmaceutical companies, and there is no incentive for them to continue research on drugs once they are off-patent.

LDN appears to have some benefit in certain patients, and Nervana has clinically observed this in some of their own patients. We find this to be intriguing, and its side effect/safety profile is quite promising.

Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) in Sandy, UT

Patient Drug Information

  • We advise taking LDN in the evening before bed but not too late into the night-
  • Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) refers to prescribed doses below 10mg per day (4.5mg/daily is most common)
  • At low doses of 10mg per day or less, LDN is shown to reduce chronic inflammation, autoimmunity, obesity, fatigue, and chronic pain
  • Used successfully for over 40 years with an outstanding safety record

Most Common LDN Side Effects

  • Vivid dreams
  • Mild anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Headache

During the first three to five days of taking LDN, you may experience mild to moderate levels of the above side effects. Side effects typically diminish on their own by day five. If you experience side effects, you may reduce them by reducing your dose by half (typical dosing is 4.5 mg; ½ a tab would be 2.25 mg) for the first two weeks, then gradually increase to the 4.5 mg dose.

Note: Please stop taking any dosage of Naltrexone a minimum of 48 hours before any surgical procedure or medical diagnostic procedure requiring sedation, such as surgery or a colonoscopy. If you are not sure if you need to stop Naltrexone, please ask your doctor to order the test or procedure. Additionally, Naltrexone cannot be taken in conjunction with opioids(narcotics)/painkillers. If you need to stop taking Naltrexone for a surgery, and accompanying painkillers are prescribed, you may resume LDN only 48 hours after you take your last painkiller.

Possible Drug Interactions: Tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to naltrexone, any of the ingredients of LDN tablets, or any other medications. Tell your doctor and pharmacist what other prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking. Be sure to mention any of the following: amiloride (Midamor); angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin, in Lotrel), captopril, enalapril (Vasotec, in Vaseretic), fosinopril, lisinopril (in Zestoretic), moexipril (Univasc), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace), and trandolapril (Mavik); beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard, in Corzide), and propranolol (Hemangeol, Inderal, InnoPran); calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Diltzac, others), felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Afeditab CR, Procardia), nimodipine (Nymalize), nisoldipine (Sular), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan, in Tarka); cimetidine (Tagamet); digoxin (Lanoxin); diuretics (‘water pills’); furosemide (Lasix); hormone replacement therapy; insulin or other medications for diabetes; isoniazid (Laniazid, in Rifamate, in Rifater); medications for asthma and colds; medications for mental illness and nausea; medications for thyroid disease; morphine (MS Contin, others); niacin; oral contraceptives (‘birth control pills’); oral steroids such as dexamethasone, methylprednisolone (Medrol), and prednisone (Rayos); phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek); procainamide; quinidine (in Nuedexta); quinine; ranitidine (Zantac); triamterene (Dyrenium, in Maxzide, others); trimethoprim (Primsol); or vancomycin (Vancocin). Your doctor may need to adjust your medication doses or monitor you closely for side effects.

Note: The above statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

  • Individualized Treatment: Our experienced medical professionals will work closely with you to develop a personalized LDN treatment plan tailored to your specific needs and health goals. We take into account your unique medical history, current health condition, and any other medications you may be taking.
  • Holistic Approach: We believe in a holistic approach to healthcare. LDN therapy can be an integral part of a comprehensive treatment plan that may include lifestyle modifications, dietary adjustments, and other therapies to enhance your overall well-being.
  • Ongoing Support: Our dedicated team is committed to supporting you throughout your LDN journey. We provide regular follow-up appointments to monitor your progress, address any concerns or questions, and adjust your treatment plan as needed.
  • Evidence-Based Medicine: LDN has gained attention in recent years, and numerous studies have shown its potential benefits in various health conditions. We stay up to date with the latest research and incorporate evidence-based practices into our treatment protocols.

*We often add low-dose naltrexone therapy to a variety of our programs at no additional cost, such as our weight loss program!

Why Choose Nervana Medical for Low-Dose Naltrexone Therapy in Sandy, UT?

At Nervana Medical, we combine expert medical care with a personalized approach to low-dose naltrexone therapy. Our experienced team, with backgrounds in intensive care and emergency medicine, creates individualized LDN treatment plans tailored to your specific health needs and goals. We offer flexible care options, including in-person consultations at our Sandy, Utah, clinic and virtual appointments across eight states. With LDN’s proven safety profile, minimal side effects, and cost-effectiveness, combined with our holistic treatment philosophy and dedicated ongoing support, Nervana Medical ensures you receive comprehensive, evidence-based care focused on helping you live your best life.

Learn More About LDN Today

The experienced team at Nervana Medical is here to guide you through personalized LDN treatment options tailored to your unique needs.

Whether you’re managing chronic pain, autoimmune conditions, or seeking enhanced vitality and well-being, we’re eager to help you get started on your journey. Call us today at (801) 335-5243 or book your consultation online.

Resources

Bolton MJ, Chapman BP, Van Marwijk HLow-dose naltrexone as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndromeBMJ Case Reports CP 2020;13:e232502.

Felger JC. Role of Inflammation in Depression and Treatment Implications. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2019;250:255-286. doi: 10.1007/164_2018_166. PMID: 30368652.

Kulak-Bejda A, Bejda G, Waszkiewicz N. Safety and efficacy of naltrexone for weight loss in adult patients – a systematic review. Arch Med Sci. 2020 Sep 10;17(4):940-953. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2020.96908. PMID: 34336024; PMCID: PMC8314402.

Patten DK, Schultz BG, Berlau DJ. The Safety and Efficacy of Low-Dose Naltrexone in the Management of Chronic Pain and Inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Crohn’s Disease, and Other Chronic Pain Disorders. Pharmacotherapy. 2018 Mar;38(3):382-389. doi: 10.1002/phar.2086. Epub 2018 Feb 23. PMID: 29377216.

Younger J, Parkitny L, McLain D. The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for chronic pain. Clin Rheumatol. 2014 Apr;33(4):451-9. doi: 10.1007/s10067-014-2517-2. Epub 2014 Feb 15. PMID: 24526250; PMCID: PMC3962576.v

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