Description

• Title:
  Pain Relief Without Opioids? Revisiting Naltrexone in Low Doses for Chronic Pain
• Creator:
  Pietruszka, Wiktoria;
  Klasicki , Przemysław;
  Możarowski , Wiktor;
  Mozer, Maciej;
  Pałuchowski , Michał;
  Mateńko , Jan;
  Krupa, Agata;
  Kiełbratowska , Julia;
  Potrykus, Maria;
  Krawczyk , Anna
• Description:
  Introduction and purpose: Chronic pain remains a major clinical challenge, often resistant to conventional therapies and significantly impairing quality of life. As the opioid crisis persists and standard treatments prove insufficient, many patients turn to off-label alternatives. One such candidate is low-dose naltrexone (LDN) – an opioid receptor antagonist traditionally used in addiction therapy, now gaining attention for its unexpected role in pain management. Evidence suggests that LDN may exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects beyond opioid receptor antagonism. This review aims to summarize the current understanding of LDN’s clinical use in managing chronic pain, with a focus on conditions such as fibromyalgia (FM), complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel diseases (particularly Crohn’s disease), diabetic neuropathy, and chronic low back pain. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar, with keywords: “low dose naltrexone,” “LDN,” “chronic pain,” “fibromyalgia,” “multiple sclerosis,” “inflammatory bowel disease,” “CRPS,” “diabetic neuropathy,” and “low back pain.” Brief description and state of knowledge: At doses of 1–5 mg, LDN transiently blocks opioid receptors, enhancing endorphin release, while also modulating microglial activity. This dual mechanism reduces central sensitization and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, contributing to pain relief. Conclusion: Though still underrecognized in conventional medicine, LDN shows promise as a safe, low-cost, and potentially paradigm-shifting adjunct in chronic pain management. Its impact on pain, fatigue, mood, and quality of life across multiple conditions merits further high-quality research to validate its role and optimize dosing.
• Object availability:
  free access
• Rights: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0 ;
  Prawa autorskie (c) 2025 Wiktoria Pietruszka, Przemysław Klasicki , Wiktor Możarowski , Maciej Mozer, Michał Pałuchowski , Jan Mateńko , Agata Krupa, Julia Kiełbratowska , Maria Potrykus, Anna Krawczyk
• Date:
  2025.05.10
• Type:
  info:eu-repo/semantics/article;
  info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
• Language:
  English
• Source:
  Quality in Sport; Tom 41 (2025); 59792;
  Quality in Sport; Vol. 41 (2025); 59792;
  2450-3118
• Format:
  application/pdf
• Publisher:
  University Center for Sports Research, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland
• Relation: https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59792/42469
• Subject:
  low dose naltrexone;
  LDN;
  fibromyalgia;
  multiple sclerosis;
  low back pain;
  CRPS;
  inflammatory bowel disease;
  diabetic neuropathy;
  chronic pain
• Identifier: https://apcz.umk.pl/QS/article/view/59792
• Data provider:
  Akademicka Platforma Czasopism
• Can I use it?:
  seek permission
• Type:
  text