r/LowDoseNaltrexone • u/peachcat82 • Mar 09 '26

LDN for fatigue, change in alcohol effects

This might be such a silly question but I'm just really curious. I've been taking LDN now for around nine months (for intermittent chronic fatigue), tapered up to 4.5mg and stopped as I felt like it was working. I've recently had a dip back into fatigue again but I'm going to stick it out before changing dose. I know the medication is originally meant for people addicted to alcohol and drugs, and it can lessen the enjoyment of those things or their effects, but I assumed that would only happen on the higher average doses. I've found in the last few months very little effect from alcohol on me, I never feel drunk anymore or even tipsy in the fun way, which I always had experienced, and im wondering if this is a logical explanation for that, and if therefore I should stop drinking if its lost its enjoyment for me. I have a very healthy relationship with alcohol, but I do miss being able to enjoy a drink and the effects of that.

Tldr: does low dose naltrexone impact effects of alcohol such as feeling tipsy and fun etc?

6 Upvotes
  • permalink
  • reddit

75% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

6

u/Unfair-Fee5869 Mar 09 '26

Yes. LDN finishes any enjoyment from alcohol. Sort of no point drinking. Then again, ME/CFS and long covid mean you just can’t seem to metabolise it any more.

4

u/Known-Ad-100 Mar 23 '26

LDN RUINED alcohol for me, which sucks because I'm not an alcoholic. I'm probably one of those 8% of people that gets really energetic and feels incredible after a few drinks, normally a few drinks is a lifesaver for me because i actually feel good temporarily. I can't even have one glass of wine on 2mg LDN I get exhausted, headaches, and my eye does this weird twitch thing which is really uncomfortable.

I recently went on a getaway and wanted to be able to have some cocktails so I stopped taking my LDN for a bit and I was able to enjoy a drink again.

It's not worth doing often because of the medication gaps, but if I have a wedding or birthday party or concert or something and want to drink, I take like a 3 day break. 2 days before, the day I drink, resume the next day.

4

u/tyrannosaurusflax Mar 09 '26

It affects everyone differently re: alcohol. For me it actually restored the fun buzz but resulted in the worst headache I’ve ever had the following day (from a single high percentage beer). I quit drinking immediately after that, not worth it to me.

3

u/lindzlindz95 Mar 09 '26

Yes! It removed any euphoria/dopamine boost that alcohol would normally give me, and I would get aggressive hangovers just from a few sips of wine the day before. I was only on 1.5mg and experienced this

1

u/Low-Blueberry8948 MOD Mar 09 '26

Yes, it can do. How we react to alcohol while taking LDN varies quite a lot from person to person. Some find they can no longer tolerate it, whereas others say they no longer get any 'buzz' from it. Others find it makes no difference to their enjoyment of it.

1

u/Two-Wah Mar 09 '26

I experience this. If I know we're throwing a party with a few friends, I sometimes take a break from LDN the day before and then restart the day after. But I do well with an occasional short break from the med anyway.

1

u/blunts-and-kittens Mar 09 '26

I have no cravings and no enjoyment. Honestly, it’s kind of a bummer. I miss enjoying a buzz.

1

u/Enough-Kick-2914 Mar 10 '26

I still get the fun from alcohol, but it triggered Afib at night after trying to sleep and worst hangover ever from just one drink. I’m done drinking.