Low-Dose Naltrexone Might Be a Helpful Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Naltrexone has a long history of use for treating opioid and alcohol addiction. Research has also shown that naltrexone at lower doses can be helpful in treating other medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Here's how low-dose naltrexone works, why it might be helpful for rheumatoid arthritis, and how you can obtain the drug.

How Low-Dose Naltrexone Works

When given in small doses, naltrexone has an anti-inflammatory effect on the body. It may even cause this effect for conditions that normally don't respond well to anti-inflammatory medications. When there is less inflammation, there is usually less pain.

Naltrexone also increases the endorphins in your system. Endorphins are known for improving your mood but they also work as pain-relievers. This further boosts pain relief from inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Why Low-Dose Naltrexone May Help Your Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that's characterized by inflamed joints. However, this inflammation can attack other areas of your body too, such as your organs. This inflammation can slowly destroy your joints and lead to pain and decreased range of motion in your knees or hands.

Controlling inflammation is critical when you have rheumatoid arthritis. If you have this condition, your doctor may already have you on medications that combat inflammation. You may want to ask your doctor if adding low-dose naltrexone would be advisable.

Low doses of naltrexone might decrease the inflammation in your joints by suppressing the immune cell response that triggers inflammation. When there is less inflammation, the deterioration of your joints slows down and you have less pain.

Low-dose naltrexone is also being used for treating the pain of fibromyalgia. When you have rheumatoid arthritis, you are at a higher risk of developing fibromyalgia. If you have this condition too, taking naltrexone might relieve your muscle pain as well as your joint pain.

How You Get Low-Dose Naltrexone

You need a prescription for naltrexone. If you have certain medical conditions, such as liver and kidney disease, or if you take opioids for pain, your doctor might not approve you for taking naltrexone even at small doses. However, low-dose naltrexone is used for treating a variety of conditions, so your doctor may agree to give it a try.

Low-dose naltrexone has to be made for you at a compounding pharmacy. Since the strength of the drug is made just for you each time you fill your prescription, your doctor can change the strength by increasing or decreasing it until you've found a strength that gives you the best results.

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