Naltrexone-For-Weight-Loss
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Naltrexone for Weight Loss

Naltrexone may help in weight loss, particularly when used in small dosages. This does not imply that it is a miracle drug for weight loss. It’s quite the opposite. However, it has some intriguing applications and could be helpful, particularly for those who have struggled to lose weight and keep it off.

What is naltrexone?

To lessen cravings and aid manage physiological dependence, naltrexone is a prescription drug used to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) and opioid use disorder (OUD). It also reduces the temptation to use opioids, naltrexone helps by neutralizing the effects, avoiding the pleasure and intoxication (the “buzz”) that these substances generate.

Alcohol use disorder sufferers who take naltrexone are able to cut back on their drinking, avoid relapses, and eventually have reduced desires for alcohol. Naltrexone helps persons with opioid use disorder stay drug-free by preventing euphoria and lowering physiological reliance on opioids like heroin, morphine, and codeine.

Because it may act as an anti-inflammatory agent in the central nervous system, low-dosage naltrexone (LDN) is used to treat illnesses like fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and complicated regional pain syndrome. The FDA has not approved the off-label use of low doses of naltrexone for these illnesses.

Naltrexone is available as an oral pill and an intramuscular injection (Vivitrol). Generic tablets are available; however, the branded ones (Depade, Revia) have been discontinued.

Naltrexone is an opioid antagonist. The mu-opioid receptor is blocked as its mechanism of action (MOA). This medication also alters the interaction between the pituitary, adrenal, and hypothalamus (also known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or HPA axis) to reduce the amount of alcohol ingested.

What is the purpose of naltrexone?

The FDA has approved the prescription drug naltrexone.

To prevent the effects of exogenously supplied opioids to treat alcohol dependence.
To stop opioid habits from returning following detoxification.

Before using this medication, you should cease using opioids and alcohol. If you were previously dependent on short-acting opioids, it is advised that you have an opioid-free period of at least 7 to 10 days to prevent abrupt opioid withdrawal. For up to two weeks, patients switching from buprenorphine or methadone may be susceptible to the onset of withdrawal symptoms.

The FDA has not approved the use of low doses of naltrexone (LDN).

Children and teenagers under the age of eighteen should not take this medication.

Naltrexone side effects

Common side effects of naltrexone include headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, joint pain, muscle cramps, tooth pain, or cold symptoms like sore throat, sneezing, stuffy nose, etc.

Serious adverse effects of naltrexone

If you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, get emergency medical attention.

Opioid withdrawal symptoms may worsen if you use opioid medications concurrently with this medication. Opioid craving, sweating, yawning, fever, stomach discomfort, vomiting, diarrhea, watery eyes, runny or stuffy nose, tingling, goose bumps, body aches, shaking, muscle twitching, difficulty sleeping, and feelings of anxiety, depression, dread, restlessness, or uneasiness are all common withdrawal symptoms.

Other severe adverse effects are possible with naltrexone. Make an immediate call to your physician if you have:

  • Weak breathing
  • persistent coughing
  • severe nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • a new or worsening cough
  • wheezing, or difficulty breathing
  • severe pain
  • swelling
  • blistering
  • skin changes
  • a dark scab
  • hard lump where the medication was injected
  • liver issues, such as upper right stomach pain, dark urine, exhaustion, vomiting, appetite loss, clay-colored stools, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
  • signs of depression, such as strange changes in mood or behavior, a loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy, crying, new sleep issues, or suicidal thoughts.
  • The first time this medication is injected into your body, you can experience nausea.

The first time this medication is injected into your body, you can experience nausea. In addition, you can experience nausea, vomiting, joint and muscular discomfort, fatigue, and headaches.

If you experience any side effects that annoy you or do not go away, let your doctor know.

How am I supposed to take this medication?

If you take opioids within 7 to 14 days before starting naltrexone, you may experience abrupt withdrawal symptoms. You should refrain from using short-acting opioids for at least seven to ten days before beginning treatment with this medication to prevent this.

How to take pills of naltrexone

Always take this medication exactly as prescribed by your physician. If you’re unsure, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
As directed by your doctor, take this medication orally once daily.

Your doctor will determine how long you should take this medication. A lengthier course of treatment might be advantageous in some circumstances.

How an injection of naltrexone is administered

A medical professional will provide your injection either once a month or every four weeks.
For maximum effectiveness, receive your injection regularly. Tell your doctor when you had your most recent injection.

  • Never try to inject this drug yourself. Serious responses could occur, some of which could necessitate hospitalization.
  • A particular needle that comes with the medication is used to inject it into a muscle in your buttocks.
  • Where the medication was injected, you can have discomfort, redness, itching, swelling, bruises, or a hard lump. If you experience this kind of reaction, especially if it worsens or does not go away in two weeks, give your doctor a call.

Information about general dosage

NALTREXONE-DOSAGE
NALTREXONE-DOSAGE

Naltrexone is merely a component of a comprehensive treatment plan that can involve other types of monitoring and/or therapy. Pay close attention to your doctor’s recommendations.

Your body will become more susceptible to opioids after using this medication. You will need to take fewer opioid medications in the future than you did before the naltrexone treatment. Overdosing or dying could result from using the same quantity of opioids as before.

Whenever you require medical attention, make sure to inform the treating physician that you are taking this medicine and the date of your most recent dose. This is crucial since naltrexone can also prevent the effects of opioid-containing medications that you may be prescribed for conditions including diarrhea, coughing or colds, or discomfort.

For medical professionals to treat you appropriately in an emergency, keep written documentation of your medicine with you at all times. Find out from your doctor how to obtain a wallet card to keep with you.

Information about Dosing for Naltrexone

Tablets of naltrexone dosage:
Alcoholism: One tablet (50 mg) should be used once daily.

Opioid use disorder: Take half a tablet (25 mg) at first, and then raise the dosage to one tablet (50 mg) each day if withdrawal symptoms don’t appear.

The intramuscular injectable dosage of naltrexone:

Naltrexone 380 mg administered intramuscularly (IM) as a gluteal injection every four weeks or once a month, with the buttocks switched for each consecutive injection, is the recommended dosage for alcohol dependency and opioid use disorder.

Naltrexone For Weight Loss

As was previously mentioned, tests on Naltrexone for weight loss have produced mixed results. By decreasing appetite, the medication aids in weight loss. Research suggests that for a more potent impact, it can also be taken in combination with other drugs.

It has been shown that the medication works well for treating obesity in patients when used with bupropion. By suppressing hunger, the antidepressant bupropion causes weight reduction. However, the medications won’t work on their own; the patient will need to make dietary and lifestyle adjustments.

Low Dose Naltrexone and Weight Loss

How-LDN-Causes-Weight-Loss
How-LDN-Causes-Weight-Loss

Initially intended to treat alcoholism, naltrexone was developed as an opioid agonist.

However, physicians eventually discovered that it has some extremely intriguing benefits when taken in smaller levels, making it effective for treating illnesses including autoimmune disease, chronic pain, metabolic damage, and resistance to weight reduction.

And I want to concentrate on those final two today.

Although we don’t fully understand how or why it aids in weight loss, we do know that it does.

For this reason, FDA-approved drugs like Contrave contain it.

However, it’s crucial to remember that the FDA has only approved the combination of drugs present in Contrave, not naltrexone alone, for weight reduction.

However, that does not imply that naltrexone taken alone cannot or will not be beneficial.

Here is how this medication most likely functions based on the research that is now available and my own experience with it:

  • It Helps in Body Set Point Resetting

The body set point is a straightforward notion that most individuals are ignorant of.

However, there aren’t many factors that are more crucial or indicative of your capacity to maintain your leanness when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off.

Your weight’s internal, unconscious thermostat is this set point.

Your body controls your weight within a very specific range using hormones, metabolism, and hunger signals.

You truly have no conscious control over this, which is the sole issue.

You will therefore need to struggle against these systems to normalize and reset your weight if it has been set to a greater level than you would like.

This concept of the body set point is believed to be one of the reasons why only 1% of people can lose weight and maintain it.

Sadly, there aren’t many factors that can affect this measure, but naltrexone might be one.

There are several reasons for this, but it probably has something to do with its influence on metabolic hormones and your brain’s reward system for eating.

Not so much an actual weight loss drug, as there are many superior alternatives, such as GLP-1 agonists.

However, it has the effect of making your weight loss “sticky.”

Because maintaining weight loss is frequently more important than attempting to force fat loss.

  • It Helps with Appetite Regulation

It alters the brain’s pleasure-reward system linked to eating in addition to controlling hunger.

And you might not understand how crucial this is. This is the reason:

Your ability to regularly eat healthily is one of the best indicators of long-term weight loss. You know, not for a few weeks, but for months and months.

And having control over your appetite is the only way to achieve this.

I don’t like low-calorie sweeteners, especially natural ones, for this reason.

Because when you eat them, your brain’s pleasure-reward system is activated even though they don’t have many calories.

Eating healthily for extended periods is nearly impossible due to these strong impulses.

However, naltrexone inhibits this reward response mechanism by blocking opioid receptors in the brain, which lessens cravings for some of the most pleasurable foods (think high-fat, high-sugar foods).

As a result, you will find it easier to keep your weight stable and your diet healthy.

Once more, this doesn’t immediately lead to weight loss, but it does make it much simpler to lose weight and keep it off.

  • It Enhances Thyroid Performance

One of the main regulators of metabolism is thyroid hormone, so maintaining optimal thyroid function is essential for weight loss.

It was a common joke for a while that people would attribute their weight to their thyroid.

In actuality, this might be more true than most people think.

Up to 20% of people today suffer from thyroid dysfunction, which is a significant percentage on its own.

However, given that obesity impairs thyroid function, it is reasonable to assume that many obese patients experience thyroid issues even if their weight gain was not initially caused by their thyroid.

Naltrexone might help, regardless of whether your weight gain was caused by your thyroid or if it was a side effect.

Low dosages of naltrexone may benefit the immune system, which can shield the thyroid gland from harm, according to research.

This holds for both those without thyroid issues and those who already have thyroid disorders, such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

This is because widespread inflammation causes low thyroid hormone levels and adversely affects thyroid hormone conversion.

Furthermore, naltrexone seems to affect the hypothalamus, which in turn controls thyroid function.

  • It Enhances Sensitivity to Insulin

Naturally, the hormone that causes your body to store energy and produce fat is insulin.

It will be more difficult for you to burn fat and lose weight if you have more insulin in your blood and your cells are more resistant to it.

It has been suggested that naltrexone may increase your body’s sensitivity to insulin.

This is due to several factors:

First, it aids in the reduction of inflammation, which frequently serves as the root cause of insulin resistance.
The second is via directly affecting weight reduction. Insulin sensitivity will improve with any weight loss efforts.

The third is how it affects other hormones, such as cortisol and thyroid hormone. Your other hormones, such as insulin, will be more balanced the more balanced these hormone systems are.

How strong is this effect?

In terms of drugs, it’s rather strong.

According to one study, type I diabetics on naltrexone experienced a 1.5% drop in their Hgb A1c after two months and a 2.5% drop after a year.

Although I don’t think this drug is very effective at lowering blood sugar, it might be worth considering if you need to lose weight and your Hgb A1c is in the pre-diabetes level.

  • Sleep and Sleeping Patterns May Be Improved by Naltrexone

It is impossible to overestimate the significance of sleep in weight loss.

Although you are likely well aware that gaining weight can lead to sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, it is also true that not getting enough sleep can make it easier for you to gain weight.

In addition to impairing cortisol and thyroid hormones, sleep deprivation weakens your willpower, making it harder to resist bad foods.

And since we just discussed that story, you are already familiar with it.

However, this is where naltrexone might be useful:

It has been demonstrated to aid people with sleep apnea in particular by improving their sleeping habits.

Additionally, it has been demonstrated to help people with chronic pain disorders sleep better.

I can also add that, anecdotally, I have observed this to be true with autoimmune illness patients.

Once more, you should not consider it a specific sleep aid; but, considering its positive effects on other bodily systems, it would be beneficial if it also helped you obtain a good night’s sleep.

Who Should Consider Using It?

The actual question is:

Should you make an effort to obtain this drug?

And “maybe” is the response to it.

I believe that this drug is most beneficial to two kinds of people:

The first group consists of folks who believe they have problems with their body set point.

These are individuals who, despite their best efforts, are unable to maintain their weight loss.

I think this is the greatest way to use naltrexone.

You should avoid using it as your main weight loss medicine in this case.

Instead, it’s one that’s used in conjunction with other therapies including hormones, nutrition, exercise, and possibly other drugs like GLP-1 agonists.

It should help you maintain your weight loss once you lose it if you combine it with these treatments.

Those with confirmed or suspected thyroid issues make up the second group.

Given that naltrexone can help your thyroid and cure autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s and Graves’ disease, using medication in this situation makes perfect sense.

These are just the folks I believe will benefit from it the most, but you may use it in other contexts as well.

However, avoid making the mistake of believing that this is a need. It isn’t.

In almost every circumstance, weight loss is entirely achievable with food, exercise, and a few basic lifestyle adjustments.

However, this is a possible choice if you have tried everything and nothing has worked.

How to Get It

You must obtain a prescription from your physician to use it.

You’ll likely need to have it compounded to bring it into the proper range for weight loss because the regular dosages that it comes in are unfortunately far higher than what you’ll want.

This range is around 1.5–13.5 mg.

Additionally, the drug Contrave contains naltrexone.

Contrave is FDA-approved for weight loss, thus acquiring it will likely be easier than getting your naltrexone compounded. However, do what is best for you.

It can be worthwhile to investigate some more natural over-the-counter supplements before committing to drugs that have possibly dangerous side effects.

Because taking the appropriate supplements can undoubtedly make losing weight quicker and easier.

In conclusion

It’s vital to keep in mind that naltrexone is not a panacea for weight loss, although it might be a useful tool for some people. It works best when taken under a doctor’s supervision and in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle.

FAQs

Can naltrexone alone help you lose weight?

Although naltrexone is licensed to treat drug abuse disorders rather than obesity or overweight, weight loss may be a side effect. Consult your doctor about Contrave if you’re searching for a medical weight loss option. According to studies, Contrave causes greater weight loss than naltrexone by itself.

Does naltrexone cause appetite loss?

It is well known that naltrexone by itself reduces appetite and food attraction. On its own, naltrexone use may result in weight loss; nevertheless, appetite reduction is typically a desired side effect for those who are worried about weight gain or increased hunger as a result of medication or lifestyle changes.

Which prescription medication is the most effective for weight loss?

Among the most potent weight-loss medications on the market right now are: Bupropion with naltrexone (brand name Contrave) Topiramate/phentermine (marketed under the name Qsymia) Orlistat (also known as Alli or Xenical)

What is naltrexone’s drawback?

Your attentiveness and/or coordination may be affected by naltrexone. If you feel impacted, stay away from operating machinery or driving. Within 7–10 days after using opioids, avoid using naltrexone.

What is the weight loss potential of naltrexone?

Weight loss may be significantly impacted by this decrease in cravings. According to a 2011 study, naltrexone users had a threefold higher chance of losing 15% of their body weight. In addition, patients who took naltrexone tended to lose more weight than those who tried more conventional methods.

What is the naltrexone success rate?

This study demonstrated that naltrexone (at a dose of 100 mg daily) was more effective than a placebo in increasing the percentage of days of abstinence (80.6% vs. 75.1%) and lowering the risk of a heavy-drinking day in patients who received medical treatment but no behavioral therapy.

Who is a suitable naltrexone candidate?

For people who are addicted to alcohol or narcotics
It is a useful yet underappreciated drug that can support people in staying away from alcohol and narcotics. It’s crucial to remember that naltrexone doesn’t lessen the effects of alcohol on judgment and coordination.

Does naltrexone make cravings less intense?

Patients on naltrexone experienced a faster decrease in alcohol cravings. Giving naltrexone to those undergoing alcoholism treatment may hasten the decrease in cravings, which could help the therapeutic process.

What’s better than naltrexone?

Conclusions. It has been discovered that naltrexone is marginally more effective in lowering heavy drinking and cravings, whereas acamprosate is marginally more effective in encouraging abstinence in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.

Reference

  • Early, J., & Whitten, J. S. (2015, April 15). Naltrexone/Bupropion (Contrave) for weight loss. AAFP. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2015/0415/p554.html
  • George, O., PhD, & George, O., PhD. (2024, May 22). Naltrexone for weight loss and other uses of LDN. Addiction Resource. https://addictionresource.com/drugs/naltrexone/weight-loss/
  • Naltrexone: uses, dosage, side effects, warnings. (n.d.). Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/naltrexone.html
  • Childs, W. (2024, November 20). ​6 Ways Naltrexone (LDN) Helps with Weight Loss. Dr. Westin Childs: Thyroid Supplements & Thyroid Resources. https://www.restartmed.com/naltrexone-weight-loss/

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