[another_someone]

Do endorphins depress respiration

One of the physiological responses the body has to opiates is the depression of respiration (in the extreme, causing death by shutting down respiration altogether).  Endorphins are supposed to be the natural analogue of opiates, so I was wonderring if they too had this effect.

If they do have this effect, then why - what benefit is there to having this effect?

One of the situations where substantial endorphins are released is during intense exercise.  It is rational that intense exercise is normally associated with dangerous situations, and at that time one may well need to suppress pain responses in order to be able to continue to function in extreme conditions; but why would you require a reduced respiratory rate - on the contrary, one usually requires a heightened respiratory rate, which is usually the effect adrenaline has in these situations.  Is one of the purposes of endorphins to provide a limit to the effect that adrenaline has, to prevent the body for pushing its respiration beyond what it is capable of tolerating?

[paul.fr]

Not sure if this is what you are after, George. But, this link id from the New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/drugs-alcohol/dn9923-glossary-drugs-and-alcohol.html;jsessionid=AMIEBALCFAFB

[another_someone]

Not sure if this is what you are after, George. But, this link id from the New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-human/drugs-alcohol/dn9923-glossary-drugs-and-alcohol.html;jsessionid=AMIEBALCFAFB

That reiterates the relationship between opiates and endorphins, which I had referred to; but as far as I can tell it does not answer the question as to whether endorphins also depress the respiratory system.