Can Naltrexone Be Used To Lift ‘Long COVID Brain Fog’?

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, many Americans have reported experiencing chronic symptoms post-COVID, including symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and brain fog. To help address this, U.S. federal health agencies have been working to identify treatments capable of helping relieve long COVID symptoms, which for some can be debilitating.

One of those potential treatments includes naltrexone, a drug known for its use in treating addiction. According to a recently published study, naltrexone is one medication that is showing some promise in helping lift long COVID brain fog as well as other commonly reported symptoms.

What Is Naltrexone?

Naltrexone is the generic name for a medication that is also prescribed under the brand names Vivitrol and Revia. This medication is FDA approved for the treatment of alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder.

However, low doses of naltrexone have also for years been used as a treatment for symptoms of various health conditions, including autoimmune disorders.

LDN has been used as a treatment for symptoms of:

• chronic pain
• fibromyalgia
• Crohn’s disease
• multiple sclerosis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS)

How Does Naltrexone Treat Brain Fog?

Naltrexone is a drug with anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers of a study recently published in the journal Brain, Behavior, & Immunity say that low doses of naltrexone may help treat underlying issues that cause long COVID brain fog.

Clinical trials involving long COVID patients showed promising results, although it is too early to declare naltrexone a “cure” for COVID-related cognitive impairment and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, experts say naltrexone may not be effective for everyone with long-COVID, so it’s important to talk to your doctor about your full range of options.

Can Naltrexone Help Other Long COVID Symptoms?

Reduced brain fog is one of several improvements that people with long COVID have reported following the initiation of a treatment plan involving low doses of naltrexone.

Those taking naltrexone for long COVID have also reported improvement in:

• pain
• energy levels
• limitations in activities involved in daily living
• joint pain
• low mood
• concentration
• sleep quality
• chest tightness
• cough

It is important to note that these improvements may not solely be attributed to the use of naltrexone. Another pilot study evaluating LDN as a treatment is reportedly underway. Improved symptoms from taking naltrexone for long COVID may contribute to better mood, well-being, and overall quality of life.

What Causes Long COVID?

The exact cause of long COVID is a subject of ongoing study. According to Reuters, some experts believe this could be linked to a reduced function of natural “killer cells” in the immune system.

Others believe infectious diseases such as COVID trigger certain immune cells, known as microglia, in the central nervous system to create inflammatory molecules that can cause fatigue and “COVID brain.” Low-dose naltrexone has shown to be helpful in treating some immune-related conditions and thus could help those with long COVID by helping address damage to the immune system.

Antihistamines and antidepressants have also been proposed as therapies for symptoms of long COVID, but there is no drug that has been formally approved for long COVID at this time.

Is Naltrexone Safe For Treating Brain Fog?

Naltrexone medications are generally believed to be safe for use. LDN has been described as having a “high safety profile” with no major interactions with other pain medications or treatments for immunological disorders.

Potential side effects of LDN may include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• fatigue
• stomach pain
• decreased appetite
• headache

How Low-Dose Naltrexone Differs From Standard Naltrexone

Low-dose naltrexone (LDN) used for long COVID and other medical conditions is very different from the standard doses prescribed for addiction treatment. For alcohol and opioid use disorder, naltrexone is typically prescribed at 50-100 mg per day in pill form or 380 mg monthly as an injection (Vivitrol). However, for long COVID brain fog and other inflammatory conditions, doctors prescribe much smaller doses, usually between 1.5 mg and 4.5 mg per day.

At these lower doses, naltrexone works differently in the body. Instead of blocking opioid receptors to prevent substance use, LDN appears to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation. The medication is often compounded by specialty pharmacies since low-dose formulations aren’t commercially available.

Individuals typically start with the lowest dose and gradually increase under medical supervision to find the amount that provides relief with minimal side effects. It’s important never to adjust naltrexone doses on your own, as the medication requires careful medical management whether used for addiction or long COVID symptoms.

Getting Naltrexone Treatment For Long COVID

If you’re experiencing persistent brain fog, fatigue, or other long COVID symptoms, talk to your primary care doctor or a specialist about whether low-dose naltrexone might be appropriate for you. Not all healthcare providers are familiar with LDN for long COVID, so you may need to seek out doctors who specialize in post-viral illness, functional medicine, or long COVID clinics.

Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, and current medications to determine if naltrexone is safe for you. Because LDN is used off-label for long COVID (meaning it’s not FDA-approved for this specific purpose), insurance coverage varies and you may need to work with a compounding pharmacy to obtain the medication. Keep in mind that while early research is promising, naltrexone doesn’t work for everyone with long COVID, and it may take several weeks to notice improvements.

Naltrexone And Addiction

Naltrexone is one of three addiction drugs that are FDA approved for the treatment of opiate or opioid use disorder, along with buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone), and methadone drugs. These types of medications have also shown to be helpful for treating people with alcohol use disorder.

It is generally prescribed as a supplement to behavioral healthcare treatments for addiction, such as behavioral therapy, addiction counseling, and support groups as part of a holistic approach.

Finding Naltrexone Addiction Treatment

While the effectiveness of naltrexone for long COVID brain fog is still being studied, naltrexone has been approved as an evidence-based treatment for both opioid and alcohol addiction.

If you or a loved one is looking for addiction treatment, reach out to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or browse our directory.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff