Low Dose Naltrexone: A Unique Adjunct Therapy for Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy can be life-altering—causing burning, tingling, numbness, and sometimes severe pain in the feet. Most conventional treatments focus on masking these symptoms, often with medications like gabapentin or pregabalin. While these can help, they frequently come with significant side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, swelling, and cognitive slowing.

In my practice, I usually take a different approach. Rather than simply covering up the discomfort, I aim to support nerve health and regeneration. This may include:

• Class 4 Laser Therapy – to stimulate blood flow and cellular repair in nerve tissue.
• Glucopuncture – an injection technique using glucose to improve microcirculation and tissue healing.
• Medical Foods – targeted nutritional supplements to support nerve metabolism and repair.

I believe that restoring nerve function wherever possible is a better long-term goal than indefinite symptom-masking.

Why I Make an Exception for Low Dose Naltrexone

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is different. Unlike traditional neuropathy drugs, it’s used in very low doses—usually 1.5 to 4.5 mg—and is generally well tolerated. LDN appears to work by gently modulating the immune system, reducing inflammation in the nervous system, and increasing the body’s production of endorphins, which can improve pain signaling.

Patients often report fewer side effects compared to gabapentin or other nerve pain drugs. For some, it becomes a helpful adjunct to my regenerative protocols—providing symptom relief while the underlying nerve regeneration work is ongoing.

My Approach with LDN

When I use LDN in a treatment plan, it’s never as a stand-alone “quick fix.” Instead, it’s part of a layered strategy:

• Stimulate nerve repair with laser therapy and glucopuncture.
• Support nerve nutrition through medical foods.
• Reduce nerve inflammation with LDN, if appropriate.

The result is a more comprehensive, root-focused approach that doesn’t rely on high-dose medications with heavy side effects.