Low-Dose Naltrexone, Receptors, & Lupus

Low-dose naltrexone and lupus Small doses of naltrexone have been taken by people with lupus to help reduce pain and regulate the immune system. We naturally produce neuropeptides that bond to the opioid receptors in the brain. They are endorphins and enkephalins. A lot of endorphins and enkephalins are produced during exercise, which is why exercise can be so good for Lupus Warriors in pain. They are also produced when you are injured, happy, relaxed, or believe that something can help you. (In fact, that is a part of how the placebo response works!) At a low dose, naltrexone blocks a few of the opioid receptors in the body. This make the body less sensitive to the pain-relieving and other effects of endorphins and enkephalins. While the blocking isn’t usually enough for you to feel, it is enough for your body to detect. In response, the body tries to make up for it by producing more endorphins and enkephalins and, also, producing more opioid receptors. When the small amount of naltrexone wears off, the combination of higher amounts of natural painkillers and more-sensitive cells reduce the sensation of pain. More than pain management The small flood of endorphins and enkephalins also trigger receptors throughout the cells of the immune system and help to reign it in. Endorphins and enkephalins are a major part of how the immune system functions. They are involved in antibody creation and the ability of the body to hunt down and kill cancer cells. They might also help “police” the immune system, preventing it from attacking the body’s own cells inappropriately — the basis for autoimmune disease. Low-dose naltrexone also interacts with glial cells, the “glue” of the brain, to stop pain. When these cells are activated, they help promote inflammation and are also involved in chronic pain, including fibromyalgia. Low-dose naltrexone may protect glial cells from irritation and prevent them from activating.

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