Low-dose Naltrexone for Cancer

Low-dose Naltrexone for Cancer: What It Is and How It May Help

Authors

Sophie Kakarala

Research Assistant

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Sophie received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Cambridge, where she studied Middle Eastern languages and the philosophy of science. She then completed a premedical post-baccalaureate at the City University of New York. Before joining CancerChoices, she worked for several years at the Cornell Center for Research on End-of-Life Care, where she helped to conduct research on terminal illness and grief. Working in end-of-life research filled her with the conviction that all patients deserve free, accessible, and scientifically accurate information about the therapies available to them. While taking classes in anthropology, she also became curious about traditional medical knowledge and philosophies. These interests led her to CancerChoices. She is delighted to be part of CancerChoices’s work creating rigorous, evidence-based treatment guides for patients and physicians.

Sophie Kakarala Research Assistant

Nancy Hepp, MS

past Lead Researcher

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Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.

Nancy Hepp, MS past Lead Researcher

Clinical reviewer

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS

Senior Clinical Consultant

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Laura Pole is senior clinical consultant for CancerChoices. Laura is an oncology clinical nurse specialist who has been providing integrative oncology clinical care, navigation, consultation, and education services for over 40 years. She is the co-creator and co-coordinator of the Integrative Oncology Navigation Training at Smith Center for Healing and the Arts in Washington, DC. Laura also manages the “Media Watch Cancer News That You Can Use” listserv for Smith Center/Commonweal. In her role as a palliative care educator and consultant, Laura has served as statewide Respecting Choices Faculty for the Virginia POST (Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment) Collaborative as well as provided statewide professional education on palliative and end-of-life care for the Virginia Association for Hospices and Palliative Care.

For CancerChoices, Laura curates content and research, networks with clinical and organizational partners, brings awareness and education of integrative oncology at professional and patient conferences and programs, and translates research into information relevant to the patient experience as well as clinical practice.

Laura sees her work with CancerChoices as a perfect alignment of all her passions, knowledge and skills in integrative oncology care. She is honored to serve you.

Laura Pole, MSN, RN, OCNS Senior Clinical Consultant

Last update: June 22, 2026

Low-dose naltrexone for cancer: what you need to know

• Naltrexone is a drug approved by the FDA to treat opioid or alcohol addiction
• Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is used off-label to treat cancer and other diseases and disorders
• Very few studies have investigated LDN for treating cancer or helping manage cancer side effects
• LDN must be used with medical supervision as it may interact with other medications 
• This is not a standalone treatment for cancer; it is a complementary therapy used alongside standard medical care to support treatment and/or well-being.

What is low-dose naltrexone?

Naltrexone is a pharmaceutical drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid or alcohol addiction. Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is used off-label—outside the FDA’s approval—to treat cancer and other diseases and disorders. However, research to date is sparse and, by our standards, provides only preliminary evidence for using LDN. 

Safety

• Supervision by a medical professional is essential
• Low-dose naltrexone shouldn’t be used among people using opioid medication, preparing for surgery, or taking immunosuppressant medication
• Known interactions, consult with your healthcare provider before adding to your regimen

See full safety details, side effects & drug interactions →

How low-dose naltrexone may help people with cancer

Strength of evidence rating

We rate the strength of the evidence with 0=no evidence, 1=weak evidence, 2=modest evidence, and 3=good evidence. Read more about our method in detail here ›

Optimizing your body terrain

People with non-cancer chronic illnesses who took LDN showed lower markers of inflammation in two small studies.⁵Parkitny L, Younger J. Reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines after eight weeks of low-dose naltrexone for fibromyalgia. Biomedicines. 2017 Apr 18;5(2):16; Lie MRKL, van der Giessen J et al. Low dose naltrexone for induction of remission in inflammatory bowel disease patients. Journal of Translational Medicine. 2018 Mar 9;16(1):55.

Reducing cancer risk or recurrence

We did not find any published studies investigating LDN for reducing risk of cancer or recurrence.

See the full evidence summary ›

Affordability and access

Is a prescription required?

• Yes

Other names and brands

You may find low-dose naltrexone under these alternate names and brands: 

Where to find it

• LDN must be obtained from a special compounding pharmacy.

Affordability

• Generally inexpensive (<$500 US/year); on average, low-dose naltrexone, in doses of 0.5 mg to 4.5 mg, costs between $20 and $30 per month⁶Roths A. How much does Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) cost? LDN Research Trust. Viewed September 19, 2021.
• Generally not covered by insurance

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FAQs

• Can low-dose naltrexone (LDN) help fight cancer?
  Research on this is limited. In one small study, people with high-grade malignant gliomas treated with naltrexone and radiotherapy showed better survival at one year than those treated with radiotherapy alone.
• Can low-dose naltrexone help with cancer side effects?
  There are no studies investigating whether low-dose naltrexone can help with cancer side effects. People without cancer who took LDN showed less pain due to inflammation or fibromyalgia in some studies.
• Can ​​low-dose naltrexone cause side effects?
  Typical side effects include sleep disruption, digestive symptoms, agitation or dizziness, and elevated liver enzymes. LDN can interact with other medications and must be used with medical supervision.
• Does low-dose naltrexone support immune function in cancer patients?
  There are no studies investigating whether low-dose naltrexone supports immune function in cancer patients.
• Can low-dose naltrexone reduce inflammation in cancer patients?
  People with non-cancer chronic illnesses who took LDN showed lower markers of inflammation in two small studies.

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