Low Dose Naltrexone
Naltrexone is a long-established medication. At its standard 50 mg dose, it's used in addiction medicine. “Low dose naltrexone,” or LDN, is the same medication prepared at a much smaller dose — usually somewhere between 1.5 mg and 4.5 mg per day.
Because the standard tablet is made for a different use and isn't designed to be split down to these small amounts, LDN is prepared by a compounding pharmacy. We make it to the exact strength your prescriber writes for you — as a capsule or a liquid.
LDN has drawn interest in the clinical research community as a possible adjunct in immune-related conditions. Published research and prescriber interest span areas such as:
The evidence is still emerging and differs by condition.
LDN appears in published research on conditions that involve central sensitization and persistent pain. Areas studied in the literature include:
This research is ongoing and varies by condition. Listing these areas isn't a claim that LDN is effective for them — its use is off-label, and whether it has a role for any patient is a decision for that patient and their prescriber.
Early-stage research is also exploring LDN's potential role in mood regulation and neurological conditions, including:
LDN is almost always started at a low dose — often as low as 0.5 mg to 1.5 mg — and gradually titrated upward over weeks. This approach helps minimize initial side effects (most commonly, vivid dreams or mild sleep disturbance in the early weeks) and allows the prescribing clinician to find the therapeutic level that works best for each individual.
Because titration is essential to success, compounding pharmacies are uniquely suited to support LDN therapy: we can prepare capsules at any specific strength your prescriber designates throughout the titration process.
Our compounded LDN formulations give prescribers the flexibility to meet diverse patient needs. Every strength is prepared fresh at our Baltimore pharmacy under USP-compliant standards, with pharmacist support available for prescriber questions on dosing and titration.
Capsules compounded to the exact strength your prescriber orders, from 0.1 mg to 4.5 mg.
Common prescribed strengths — 0.1, 0.5, 1.5, 2, 3, and 4.5 mg — or any dose in between, exactly as written.
customized ultra-low starting doses for sensitive patients or complex titration plans
30-, 60-, and 90-count quantities prepared per prescription to support ongoing care.
What to Expect
At Voshell's Pharmacy, LDN is most commonly prepared as:
We prepare each batch with careful attention to uniformity and dose accuracy — because with LDN, small differences in dose matter.
whether LDN fits your care plan
LDN is prescribed off-label for most of the conditions discussed above. Compounded LDN is not FDA-approved and has not been evaluated by the FDA for safety or effectiveness. All LDN therapy requires a valid prescription from a licensed prescriber. Clinical evidence varies by condition and continues to evolve, and compounded medications may not be appropriate for all patients.
