Low Dose Naltrexone Therapy for Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Launched by HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY, NEW YORK · Mar 5, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Naltrexone, an FDA-approved medication since 1984, is classically prescribed in daily doses of at least 50 mg to mediate opiate and alcohol abuse as part of a comprehensive treatment program. By acting as an antagonist in the body, full-strength naltrexone competitively binds to opioid receptors and blocks the effects of opioid-classified drugs, thereby helping to reduce reliance and addiction. In much lower doses (1.5 - 4.5mg per day), naltrexone has been seen to reduce inflammation and nerve pain by instead blocking a different set of receptors involved in cytokine release and uptake. The...

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Between 18 and 65 years old
• • Meeting CRPS diagnostic criteria using the Budapest Clinical Diagnostic Criteria
• • CRPS patients with severe pain (NRS\>3) that affects their daily life.
• • CRPS patients with pain and other symptoms for more than 3 months.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients with suspected disc herniation, spinal stenosis, myelopathy, and suspected radiculopathy in detailed examinations and examinations (MRI, CT).
• • Systemic or local infection
• • Malignancy
• • Current or planned pregnancy within the study period.
• • Uncontrolled medical and psychiatric condition
• • Patients with known liver issues, including but not limited to end-stage liver disease, severe cirrhosis or an acute hepatic state.
• • Patients who are currently using opioid drugs
• • Patients who are currently using alcohol or considering using alcohol during the study period.
• • Allergy to naltrexone or naloxone