12 replies to this topic

[TheBatman]

It seems like most people (myself included) here only focus on a few different types of supplements or drugs, usually ones that act as a serotonin or a dopamine booster.

 

I've been doing a bit more research on Beta-endorphins and I can't seem to find many threads that discuss the role of BDs in mental health and well being. For all we know they could play a larger role in MDD or ADD than we've yet discovered. 

 

Is anyone aware of a legitimate way to up-regulate Beta-endorphins?

[Gorthaur]

You can upregulate beta endorphins with naltrexone, which is an opioid antagonist. The acute effects are mildly unpleasant, so most people take it before bed. I take 12.5 mg daily. The rebound effect of increased endorphins is very obvious for me, and it's much like an all-day runner's high. 

[Raza]

Yeah, low dose naltrexone is the go-to substance there. I'd be leery of anything that worked on µ-opioid receptors directly, but that might be prejudice on my part.

[TheBatman]

Sounds like a good idea. The only problem would be getting a prescription, I don't think any doctors would proscribe it off label for depression (at least not to a 19 yr old)

 

Gorthaur - are there any side effects you've noticed? Or do you dodge most of them through sleep?

[Gorthaur]

It's very powerful stuff, and at 50 mg a day I experienced dysphoria, anxiety, increased sensitivity to pain, and insomnia. At 12.5 mg a day, I don't notice any side effects. If you tell your doctor it's for alcohol cravings, they'll probably give you a prescription. Or you can get it from a number of online pharmacies.

[TheBatman]

Sounds like a good deal.

 

BTW what are you taking it for?

 

I was looking into endorphins as a shot in the dark for my ADD issues. If it helps you feel more energetic and mentally clear, I'll find a way to give it a go and report back here. 

[Cluzig]

Only Tramadol which is not synthetic after all as its been found in the roots of the West African Pin Cushion tree yet its claimed as a fluke....sigh. Venlafaxine is almost identical in structure and a copy of it in my own opinion. SNRIs are also used off-label for ADD/ADHD. Tramadol is pretty much a very good medication for depression & ADHD as it has 9 known actions on the human brain pre 2010 it had 3. Most think it works due to its serotonin releasing ability or some say reuptake inhibition (I think its dosage dependent) or SNRI and µ-opioid activity but there are other mechanisms at play namely NMDA antagonism & norepinephrine release and of course dopamine as its an opioid but its prescribed off-label for various conditions with good success - uncommon but it happens.

If you do some digging and research you'll see its helpful and many peoples depression and ADD/ADHD problems vanished when they are prescribed it legitimately for pain and are left bedazzled at how good it worked and usually end up buying it online when they are put back on whatever medication they came from but that all usually ends up bad, very bad unless you have mastered self control.

I used it as self-medication for years (2004 on/off) only to actually be prescribed it for TRD years later (probably the first where I live) but would strongly advise not using it and IF were one to do so certainly not daily only on rare occasion as its definitely habit forming despite how it came to market as....

Kratom is another which could be used but again its habit forming although not on the same level it acts mainly on the µ-opioid receptor but as with Tramadol has multiple actions. Both are messy and would probably involve ordering online. Endorphins are under-rated because opiates/opioids actually work for depression (treatment of choice before around 1950 with onset of TCAs) but addiction almost always ensues, the dose needs to be raised with most if not all of them eventually unless you stagger your usage and reset tolerance. Other drugs like what I'd regard as useless SSRI's SNRIs are much more expensive and supposedly non-habit forming but come with serious discontinuation syndromes but they earn/sell more so.....
MAOIs are the last go to with Phenelzine/Tranylcypromine probably being the most amphetamine like and a shrinks 6th step of treatment after which you get brain shocked and treated like a heap of shit.

To wrap up Gorthaurs suggestion is probably best as your not going to ever up abusing it. Buprenorphine may be worth a look I've heard it can be useful but not really looked into it and again expense, hard to find and tolerance would be probably issues.

[FW900]

Please keep in mind that naltrexone is just "prescription only" in the US and not a controlled substance. If your doctor refuses to prescribe it, you can always order it online. Personal importation of unscheduled medication is more or less legal so long as you have a valid medical reason and keep the supply under 90 days. It is rather pricey (ADC for instance) though from online pharmacies and does not come in low dosages.

[eon]

Or one can look at the amino acid D-Phenylalanine:

 

D-phenylalanine is a non-protein amino acid related to the essential amino acid l-phenylalanine. d- and l-phenylalanine are structural mirror images of each other. a small amount of d-phenylalanine may be converted to l-phenylalanine in the body. d-phenylalanine is reported to inhibit an enzyme that degrades enkephalins, which are naturally occurring substances in the body that belong to the class of compounds known as endorphins.

 

This is hard to find but amazon sells a Doctor's Best brand. Look at the reviews:

 

http://www.amazon.co...s/dp/B001TNQKLA

 

Understand that D and L phenylalanine has a similar structure to amphetamines, so if that means it can help with ADHD, I could only speculate. If anyone can chime in and bring their opinions with sources as well, go on.

 

Restoring the Natural Opioid System with D-Phenylalanine (DPA):

 

https://www.moodcure...oid-system.html

 

D-phenylalanine has euphoric qualities while L-phenlalanine does not:

 

http://www.digitalna...at/T378177.html

 

L-phenylalanine is widely available compared to D-phenylalanine. Does D-phenylalanine's limited availability mean it could be a diamond in the rust? I could only speculate.

 

Edited by eon, 24 April 2015 - 07:19 AM.

[VerdeGo]

You may find this thread interesting. It is a conversation regarding the relationship between endorphin breakdown and DLPA/DPA, among other things.

 

http://www.bluelight...p/t-104707.html

[eon]

I came across that thread earlier but it was too long to read through. Can you summarize it? LOL.

[VerdeGo]

LOL! Just start with the second post in the thread. That's where most of the DLPA/endorphin stuff is. 

[Area-1255]

Beta-endorphins do have their benefits, and they are released during running "creating the runner's high" and during other repetitive cardiotonic / aerobic exercises...the only issue with the concept of enhancing beta-endorphin, is that we don't know entirely what the side-effects can be and long-term effects on the HPG axis are questionable, and in some cases, worrysome.

Beta-endorphin is meant to be released naturally from activities, and while opiate antagonism has it's benefits, it can also have some downsides...

 

This mainly is reflected in opiate users who end up having their hormones shut down. Can result in sexual dysfunction and infertility, as well as memory issues...on the other hand, selectively antagonizing/blocking certain opiate receptors at the proper affinity, can enhance hormone release if enough is done. 

 

Therefore it depends on how you do it, nociceptin is virtually incapable of being blocked as no drugs have been developed and released to specifically block it or at high affinity. 

Mu-opioid which represents a high affinity target for both natural beta-endorphin and for dynorphin's that are released, can have many downsides to being over-activated, including but not limited to hyperthermia or hypOthermia, and depression and concentration issues..in many cases, it's actually better to antagonize the receptor..

 

KAPPA activation causes dysphoria in many instances, so antagonizing it with amentoflavone may be a good idea while experimenting with endorphin enhancement.