Therapeutic potential of long-acting opioids and opioid antagonists for SARS-CoV-2 infection

Opioids and opioid receptors; understanding pharmacological mechanisms as a key to therapeutic advances and mitigation of the misuse crisis

“… 14 Moreover, there are recent data suggesting an interaction between opioids, COVID infection and outcome. 111 , 112 , 113 , 114 The precise target site for immunomodulation is controversial with three areas of interest; none fully explains immune modulation. These are (i) the immune cell itself, (ii) modulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and (iii) central actions.…”