Immune Support
What Is Immune Support?
Immune support is the use of medications to strengthen your immune system so it can keep you healthy. You may need these medications if you have any of the 100+ autoimmune disorders from rheumatoid arthritis to Crohn’s disease. But you don’t have to be ill to benefit from immune support.
Your immune system helps keep you healthy by creating and sending out well-trained attack cells (white blood cells) to fight foreign intruders like viruses and bacteria. It’s an important job and immune support can help your body do it effectively.
Benefits of Immune Support
The stronger your immune system, the less likely you are to fall sick with whatever is going around the office or mall, whether it’s as mild as the common cold or as dangerous as the newest coronavirus or MRSA.
Many lifestyle factors can help your immune system work well — a healthy diet with enough fruits and vegetables, a positive attitude, stress relief, and frequent hand-washing, for example. But in today’s fast-paced world, it’s not always easy to do everything you should. Plus, there are also factors that will work against your immune system — smoking, alcohol, poor nutrition, diseases such as HIV, certain cancers and viral hepatitis, and some medications.
Plus aging — something we all hope to do — also weakens your immune system. That’s why many infectious diseases are more dangerous for older patients. Your body produces fewer immune cells as you age, and the ones you do have don’t communicate as well with each other. That means they take longer to react to harmful invaders.
Immune support can help compensate for factors that may be weakening your immune system and give you a better chance at fighting off infections. If you do get ill, immune support can help you avoid complications or secondary infections and let you bounce back more quickly.
Types of Medications
Low dose naltrexone (LDN) is a medication that assists the immune system. It’s used in treating autoimmune disorders and providing general immune support. LDN works by increasing the amount of endorphins your body releases, and endorphins help to modulate the immune system. LDN may also lessen pain, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety. All of these are also helpful in boosting immune response.
Who May Benefit From Immune Support?
Anyone with the risk factors for a weakened immune system — including age, smoking, excess stress, certain diseases, and medications — should talk about immune support with their doctor.
With or without risk factors, pay attention to signs that your immune system may not be not at the top of its game. People with a weak immune system often get repeat infections:
- Pneumonia
- Meningitis
- Bronchitis
- Skin infections
Other symptoms can include:
- Inflammation
- Blood disorders or abnormalities, such as anemia
- Digestive issues, including loss of appetite, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping
Who Should Avoid Low Dose Naltrexone?
LDN has relatively few side effects as an immune support treatment. However, tell your doctor immediately if you have or have ever had:
- Hepatitis
- Liver disease
- Depression
- Kidney disease
- A bleeding disorder such as hemophilia
Your doctor may want to consider a different treatment option for you.
Common Dosage Forms of Low Dose Naltrexone
At Belmar, our expert pharmacists compound low dose naltrexone in a variety of dosage forms and strengths to suit specific conditions and patients. Dosage forms include:
- Oral Tablets
- Sublingual Tablets
- Capsules
- Cream
- Oil
Learn More About Immune Support
If you’re dealing with or concerned about one of the conditions listed above, visit our Conditions page to find resources and guides to help you discuss compounding solutions with your doctor.
If you’re a clinician who’s interested in prescribing compound medications for your patients, visit our Treatment Options page to find a formulary and learn more about the solutions Belmar offers.
