Doctors are exploring the use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN), an addiction drug, to treat Long Covid, a condition in which people experience persistent symptoms after a Covid-19 infection. LDN is a drug that has been around for decades and is primarily used to treat addiction to opioids and alcohol. However, some doctors prescribe it off-label in much smaller doses to treat chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease. LDN is considered an immunomodulator and has anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential treatment option for Long Covid, which is thought to be the result of persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation. While it is not clear if LDN will be beneficial for everyone with Long Covid, it has shown promise in some cases.
.jpeg) |
| Use of an Addiction Drug for Long Covid |
Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a treatment for chronic conditions
Pharmacist Jack Korbutov started filling LDN prescriptions in 2012, and at that time, he was surprised to learn that naltrexone was being prescribed in small doses to treat chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease. Despite being around for decades, LDN has not gone fully mainstream, in part because pharmaceutical companies do not stand to profit from it, and the medical establishment has ignored and dismissed the chronic and invisible conditions it has been used to treat.
LDN as a treatment for Long Covid
LDN, also known as Low Dose Naltrexone, has been prescribed by some doctors as a potential treatment option for individuals experiencing persistent symptoms following a Covid-19 infection, commonly referred to as Long Covid. With millions of Americans affected by Long Covid and a lack of effective treatment options available, the economic impact of their prolonged absence from the workforce may become increasingly difficult to overlook.
.jpeg)
How LDN works
Naltrexone was developed in 1963 and received FDA approval for treating opioid addiction in 1984 and alcohol use disorder in 1994. LDN's off-label use for regulating the immune systems of individuals with HIV/AIDS dates back to 1985, and since then, it has been explored as an experimental treatment option for various chronic conditions. Despite not being officially approved by the FDA for these uses, the medication has been used by some doctors to potentially alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life for certain patient populations. Taking less than one-tenth the usual dose of naltrexone has been found to act as a thermostat for the immune system, calming down inflammation.
LDN as an immunomodulator
LDN is not targeting the opioid receptor, which is the purpose of naltrexone. Instead, it is considered an immunomodulator and has anti-inflammatory properties, especially in the neurological system. The leading hypothesis for the cause of Long Covid is persistent inflammation and immune dysregulation, and having an immunomodulator like LDN might be helpful in dampening that response.
.jpeg)
Not a universal treatment
It is unlikely that everything currently labeled "Long Covid" is the same condition and would respond to the same treatment. It is unlikely that LDN or any other therapy will provide universal relief for individuals living with Long Covid. Since Long Covid can present itself in a variety of ways and affect each person differently, it is improbable that a one-size-fits-all solution exists for treating this condition.