Naltreksoon

Naltreksoon is a fictional synthetic compound described in speculative pharmacology and science fiction as a neuromodulator of the opioid system. It does not correspond to a real approved drug and has no verified chemical identity in the real world. In fictional portrayals, naltreksoon is characterized as a small molecule with high affinity for mu- and kappa-opioid receptors and limited activity at delta receptors.

In these narratives, the compound is often depicted as a receptor-biased modulator that blocks mu-opioid signaling while providing partial activation of kappa pathways. Writers sometimes attribute analgesic effects with reduced reinforcing properties, though effects vary between sources and contexts. Reported pharmacokinetic attributes in fiction include moderate oral bioavailability, efficient blood-brain barrier penetration, and a half-life on the order of hours; exact values differ by author.

Historically, the concept of naltreksoon emerged in speculative literature and thought experiments exploring how analgesia could be achieved with minimized addiction risk and how complex receptor signaling might be leveraged or misused. It is used to probe ethical questions about drug design, regulation, and patient safety in opioid pharmacotherapy.

Because naltreksoon is fictional, it has no real-world regulatory status or safety profile. In-universe concerns include dependence, tolerance, dysphoria, and off-target effects, underscoring the challenges of translating receptor theory into practice. See also: naltrexone; opioid receptor modulators; biased agonism.