The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) as a novel anti-inflammatory treatment for chronic... - 0 views
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orally active competitive opioid receptor antagonist
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At the low dosage level, naltrexone exhibits paradoxical properties, including analgesia and anti-inflammatory actions
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In addition to the antagonist effect on mu-opioid and other opioid receptors, naltrexone simultaneously has an antagonist effect on non-opioid receptors (Toll-like receptor 4 or TLR4) that are found on macrophages such as microglia
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Once activated, microglia produce inflammatory and excitatory factors that can cause sickness behaviors such as pain sensitivity, fatigue, cognitive disruption, sleep disorders, mood disorders, and general malaise
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The neuroprotective action appears to result when microglia activation in the brain and spinal cord is inhibited
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By suppressing microglia activation, naloxone reduces the production of reactive oxygen species and other potentially neuroexcitatory and neurotoxic chemicals
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LDN has been reported to reduce not only self-reported pain in that condition but also objective markers of inflammation and disease severity