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Prescription onlyOff-label use
Low-dose naltrexone
Compounded — daily low-dose oral
A decades-old medication at one-tenth its approved dose, prescribed off-label for inflammation-linked symptoms and recovery — one of the most studied tools in low-cost longevity care.
Naltrexone is FDA-approved at 50mg for opioid and alcohol dependence. The 1.5–4.5mg dose is an off-label use, compounded because no manufacturer makes tablets that small.
Adding to your plan doesn't order anything and doesn't charge you — it tells the provider what you're hoping to discuss.
About 5 minutes. A licensed provider reviews your health and prescribes low-dose naltrexone only if it's right for you — there is no checkout here, and that's deliberate.
How it works
What it actually does
At 50mg, naltrexone blocks opioid receptors outright. At 1.5–4.5mg taken at night, it blocks them only briefly — and the body's response to that short blockade is a rebound increase in its own endorphins, plus a quieting effect on glial cells, the immune cells of the nervous system. That second mechanism is why it's studied in inflammation-linked conditions. The evidence base is a collection of small trials — promising, honest-sized, and your provider will characterize it that way.
See the full mechanism, step by stepA provider may consider it if
- Inflammation-linked complaints your provider thinks fit the mechanism
- You want a low-cost, low-risk addition before exotic ones
- You're not taking opioids — including occasional use
It won't be prescribed if
- Anyone using opioid medication, including as-needed painkillers — the interaction defeats both drugs and can precipitate withdrawal
- Acute liver failure or active hepatitis, without specialist review
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding, without provider review
These are the same checks the visit runs. If one applies, the visit will tell you plainly rather than take your money.
What to expect
Realistically, month by month
Weeks 1–2
Vivid dreams are the classic early effect and usually settle. Some providers start at 1.5mg for exactly this reason.
Months 1–3
Where symptom change is honestly assessed. Response varies more than with mainstream drugs, and your provider will treat that as data, not failure.
Safety, stated up front
Side effects, before you decide
Vivid dreams, sleep disturbance early on, headache and nausea are the reported ones, generally mild at this dose. The serious interactions are with opioids — which is why the medication review in your intake is not a formality.
- Younger et al., Clinical Rheumatology, 2014 — review of low-dose naltrexone mechanisms and trials
Complete safety information is provided during your visit and with every prescription. This page is a summary, not a substitute for your provider's advice.
Questions
Asked honestly, answered honestly
Why does it need a compounding pharmacy?
Because no manufacturer makes a 4.5mg tablet — the approved product is 50mg. A compounding pharmacy prepares the low-dose capsules to the strength your provider prescribes.
See whether low-dose naltrexone is right for you
Five minutes of questions, reviewed by a licensed provider. Treatment only if it's appropriate — and a straight answer either way.