Endogenous opioids inhibit ambulatory blood pressure during naturally occurring stress

Laboratory experiments suggest that endogenous opioids inhibit blood pressure responses during psychological stress. Moreover, there seem to be considerable individual differences in the efficacy of opioid blood pressure inhibition, and these differences may be involved in the expression of risk for cardiovascular disease. To further evaluate the possible role of opioid mechanisms in cardiovascular control, the present study sought to document the effects of the long-lasting oral opioid antagonist naltrexone (ReVia, DuPont, Wilmington, DE) on ambulatory blood pressure responses during naturally occurring stress.

Thirty male volunteers participated in a laboratory stress study using naltrexone followed by ambulatory blood pressure under placebo and during the subsequent 24-hour period. Within-subject analyses were performed on ambulatory blood pressures under placebo and naltrexone conditions.

Laboratory results indicate no significant group effects of naltrexone on blood pressure levels or reactivity. Ambulatory results indicate that during periods of low self-reported stress, no effect of opioid blockade was apparent. In contrast, during periods of high stress, opioid blockade increased ambulatory blood pressure.

These findings suggest that naltrexone-sensitive opioid mechanisms inhibit ambulatory blood pressure responses during naturally occurring stress.