Low-dose naltrexone for disease prevention and quality of life.

Brown N, Panksepp J.
Department
of Humanities and Social Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, United States.

The
use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) for the treatment and prophylaxis of
various bodily disorders is discussed. Accumulating evidence suggests
that LDN can promote health supporting immune-modulation which may
reduce various oncogenic and inflammatory autoimmune processes. Since
LDN can upregulate endogenous opioid activity, it may also have a role
in promoting stress resilience, exercise, social bonding, and emotional
well-being, as well as amelioration of psychiatric problems such a
autism and depression. It is proposed that LDN can be used effectively
as a buffer for a large variety of bodily and mental ailments through
its ability to beneficially modulate both the immune system and the
brain neurochemistries that regulate positive affect.