Low-Dose Naltrexone: A Novel Adjunctive Treatment in Symptomatic Alopecias?
January 2019
in “
Dermatology Online Journal
”
TLDR Low-dose naltrexone might be a cheap and effective additional treatment for hair loss with scalp discomfort due to its anti-inflammatory effects and few side effects.
The document from 2019 discusses the potential use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN), a competitive antagonist of opioid receptors, as an adjunctive treatment for symptomatic alopecias presenting with trichodynia, a scalp discomfort common in patients with hair loss. LDN, defined as daily doses ranging from 1mg to 5mg, is believed to increase endogenous opioids, including beta-endorphins, which have anti-inflammatory properties. These mechanisms may justify its possible role in treating inflammatory conditions. The authors suggest that LDN could be a cost-effective alternative to add to the therapeutic arsenal due to its anti-inflammatory properties, analgesic potential, and few reported adverse effects. However, they also note that further studies are needed to standardize dosing, better understand its mechanism of action, and evaluate its potential therapeutic indications.
