When given in high doses, the drug naltrexone has been effective in blocking the effects of heroin and other narcotics in addicts. Because the person does not experience a high on naltrexone, he or she can overcome the addiction to the narcotic. Naltrexone can also help alcoholics stop drinking.
A study just published shows that a low dose of naltrexone can significantly reduce pain in people with fibromyalgia. The research, done at Stanford University School of Medicine confirms earlier, similar findings from Stanford, published in 2009.
When given in low doses, naltrexone works in a different way… it affects the immune system. As a result, naltrexone can offer patients with autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis, and chronic diseases with immune components like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome some pain relief. In this newest study, women with fibromyalgia were given a daily low dose of naltrexene for 12 weeks, followed by a placebo for 4 weeks. Compared to the placebo, naltrexone decreased the pain in the women by over 48%.