Exploring Low-Dose Naltrexone as a Potential Treatment for Long COVID

Recent research from Griffith University has indicated that low-dose naltrexone (LDN), a medication traditionally used for opioid addiction, may offer new hope in the fight against Long COVID. A study published in Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences demonstrated that LDN successfully restored cellular function in human cells affected by Long COVID.

Long COVID, affecting over 77 million people worldwide, causes persistent symptoms such as fatigue, neurological issues, and immune dysfunction long after the initial infection resolves. The study’s lead researcher, Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik of Griffith’s National Center for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED), emphasized the urgency for effective treatments, and highlighted that LDN is a safe, repurposed drug.

The team’s prior investigations revealed that TRPM3 ion channels, which facilitate calcium transport into cells and are vital for cellular signaling, are faulty in Long COVID patients. Ph.D. candidate Etianne Sasso explained that these defective ion channels can be likened to malfunctioning doors in a house, preventing essential calcium entry. This impairment hampers various bodily functions, including immune responses and neurological activity.

The study demonstrated that low-dose naltrexone effectively fixes these dysfunctional 'doors,' enabling proper opening and closing of ion channels. Since these channels influence key processes such as immune response and pain regulation, restoring their function could significantly alleviate Long COVID symptoms. Currently, NCNED is conducting clinical trials to evaluate LDN’s effectiveness in improving symptoms, disability, and quality of life among Long COVID patients.

This promising discovery offers a new avenue for treating a condition that has been challenging to manage and highlights the potential of drug repurposing in medical research.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-drug-typically-opioid-addiction-covid.html