Abstract

Use of low dose naltrexone has been advocated for a variety of medical problems. Only a few articles published in peer reviewed journals have documented side effects of low dose naltrexone. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of adverse effects of low dose naltrexone in patients who have been treated for a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. The secondary purpose was to determine global efficacy in a retrospective survey. Patients (206) from a single gastroenterologist’s clinical practice who had been prescribed naltrexone were mailed a survey to evaluate the side effects and efficacy of naltrexone. Patients had either irritable bowel syndrome without evidence for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome with evidence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, chronic idiopathic constipation, or inflammatory bowel disease. Patients with diarrhea were given 2.5 mg daily, constipation 2.5 mg twice daily, and inflammatory bowel disease 4.5 mg daily. In the patients w

Related Keywords

• low dose naltrexone
• adverse effects
• gastrointestinal disorders
• irritable bowel syndrome
• small intestine bacterial overgrowth
• chronic idiopathic constipation
• diarrhea
• inflammatory bowel disease

Related Categories

• GASTROENTEROLOGY
• MENTAL HEALTH
• PEER-REVIEWED
• ADVERSE DRUG EVENTS