Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2020 Jan 6;13(1):e232502.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2019-232502.

Low-dose naltrexone as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome

Monica Jane Bolton  1 , Bryan Paul Chapman  2 , Harm Van Marwijk  3
Affiliations
Case Reports

Low-dose naltrexone as a treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome

Monica Jane Bolton et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Naltrexone is used as an off-label treatment in low doses for several chronic immune-modulated disorders in many countries. Although only small-scale clinical trials have been performed, these suggest efficacy in several diseases including Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia and Gulf War Illness. Despite numerous internet reports of response to low-dose naltrexone (LDN), no clinical trials exist in people with chronic fatigue syndrome. This condition is characterised by chronic profound fatigue, postexertional malaise, pain and autonomic and neurocognitive disturbances. This series of three case reports compiled by people with long-term ill-health due to chronic fatigue syndrome shows the range of responses they observed when taking LDN, from life changing to a reduction in some symptoms only. Treatment doses ranged from 4 to 12 mg. Clinical trials may be warranted to explore the potential use of naltrexone in people with these debilitating illnesses which currently have no licensed treatments available.

Keywords: drugs and medicines; general practice/family medicine.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

References

    1. Institute of Medicine Beyond myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome: redefining an illness, 2015. Available: https://www.iom.edu/Reports/2015/ME-CFS.aspx [Accessed 1 Jun 2015]. - PubMed
    1. Bakken IJ, Tveito K, Gunnes N, et al. . Two age peaks in the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis: a population-based registry study from Norway 2008-2012. BMC Med 2014;12:167 10.1186/s12916-014-0167-5 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Collin SM, Bakken IJ, Nazareth I, et al. . Trends in the incidence of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia in the UK, 2001–2013: a clinical practice research Datalink study. J R Soc Med 2017;110:231–44. 10.1177/0141076817702530 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jason LA, Richman JA, Rademaker AW, et al. . A community-based study of chronic fatigue syndrome. Arch Intern Med 1999;159:2129–37. 10.1001/archinte.159.18.2129 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Nacul LC, Lacerda EM, Pheby D, et al. . Prevalence of myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) in three regions of England: a repeated cross-sectional study in primary care. BMC Med 2011;9:91 10.1186/1741-7015-9-91 - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types