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What is LDN?
Low Dose Naltrexone, otherwise referred to as LDN dates back to the mid-1980s. The drug was initially prescribed as simply Naltrexone in a “non-low-dose” form and approved to help patients who were suffering from addiction-related ailments, such as drug or alcohol addiction. However, sooner after Naltrexone began finding other unique benefits associated with its use, especially when prescribed in a low-dose form. It’s commonly prescribed to help with a plethora of different ailments, chronic pain, and inflammation.
Today, healthcare providers prescribe LDN at about one-fifth of the typical naltrexone dosage, which comes out to be approximately 10 milligrams or less each day. In most scenarios, patients are prescribed LDN in the form of an oral capsule. However, there are alternative forms available on the market as well such as in troche, liquid, or cream form. LDN can be easily prescribed by your healthcare provider, or even online by companies such as AgelessRx that specialize in prescription therapies such as LDN.
How Does LDN Help to Treat Autoimmune Diseases and Viral Infections?
As previously mentioned, LDN has been around since the mid-1980s to help treat viral infections and autoimmune diseases in patients. When it comes to LDN’s ability to help treat autoimmune diseases, two main ways have been identified.
Firstly, LDN helps to regulate our body’s immune system by promoting our regulatory T-cell function. Otherwise known as Tregs, our T regulatory cells are what help to maintain our body’s immune system and keep it balanced. They are what can trigger inflammation depending on whether inflammation is needed, or if inflammation levels need to be lowered. Overall, they help to ensure our immune system doesn’t get stuck in overdrive, as an overactive immune system can cause autoimmune conditions to develop such as allergies, asthma, or more serious autoimmune diseases, as well.
LDN also helps to temporarily block the opioid receptors within our brains. Individuals who suffer from autoimmune disease typically have relatively lower levels of opioids in their system. When these receptors are blocked, the body tends to think that more opioids are needed, thus it produces more. The white blood cells within our bodies are what drive our overall immune system response, and because our white blood cells have opioid receptors, they’re easily influenced by LDN, even in a lower dosage form.
When LDN blocks the opioid receptors, it also helps to block out something called microglia which are immune cells found in our central nervous system that contribute to other health concerns such as pain sensitivity, tiredness, mood disorders, and inflammation. Overall, LDN plays a crucial role in combating autoimmune diseases and other viral infections, as well.
What Else Can LDN Help With?
Aside from LDN’s ability to help combat viral infections and autoimmune disorders, there are also several other unique benefits associated with taking Naltrexone in a low dose form. Listed below are a few of the other common reasons patients are prescribed LDN today!
Combating Inflammation
LDN is commonly prescribed today to help patients combat inflammation as well as the severity of symptoms that come along with inflammation. Studies suggest that LDN helps to upregulate the production of endorphins that our body releases. Endorphins help to regulate the body’s immune system and immune response. In turn, as LDN enters the body, endorphin production helps to bring a sense of balance back to users’ immune systems and improve their inflammation levels.
Combating Anxiety & Depression
Depression and anxiety are two very common issues individuals face, especially in today’s day and age. For many, if anxiety and depression are left untreated it can lead them to lose an overall interest in activities they once enjoyed, and it may even cause them to suffer from persistent depressive episodes. LDN has been studied and shown to help increase our body’s overall production of endorphins, and higher endorphin levels help to combat anxiety and depression.
Encourages Weight Loss
Another unique benefit of taking naltrexone is that it helps to treat adults suffering from obesity or weight-related health concerns. However, for naltrexone to be truly beneficial in combating obesity, it’s recommended that it be taken in combination with bupropion. In turn, LDN can help encourage weight loss by decreasing patients’ desire for food, ultimately helping to suppress their appetite.
Naltrexone, especially when prescribed in the low-dose form, is especially beneficial in combating not only autoimmune diseases and viral infections, but in helping other unique health concerns among patients as well. Consider learning more about LDN or getting started with your treatment plan today!
