Dopamine Agonist

Dopamine is an important brain chemical for motor functions and general arousal. Dopamine is also involved in the ability to learn and encoding of stimuli, reward, and addiction. Virtually all drugs of abuse, including heroin and other opiates, alcohol, cocaine, amphetamine and nicotine activate dopamine neuronal systems. So called "natural" rewards such as food, positive social interactions and even humor, likewise activate dopamine neurons and are powerful aids to attention and learning. Sweet solutions are a well-characterized natural reward. When a source of sugar is encountered, animals will consume substantial amounts, return to it preferentially, and will work to obtain access.
   A number of psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and mood disorders, are attributed to imbalances in dopamine levels. Dopamine may also be involved in restless leg syndrome. For more dopamine information. In some people, increasing dopamine levels may be helpful in erectile dysfunction. For information on aphrodisiacs.

High on Dopamine
Temporary elevation of dopamine levels often leads to an improvement in mood, alertness, libido, and perhaps even an enhancement in verbal fluency and creativity. However, there can be side effects including the propensity to have an addictive behavior. For instance, there have been reports that patients with Parkinson's disease became involved in gambling when the dosage of their dopamine-enhancing medicines were increased.

How is Dopamine made?
Dopamine is made from the amino acid tyrosine. Once produced, dopamine can, in turn, convert into the brain chemicals norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Brain metabolism of Dopamine
When released into the synaptic cleft, dopamine is broken down by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO). This is an important point to keep in mind since many pharmaceutical drugs take advantage of this reaction. In fact, there are drugs that block the activity of MAO, and hence are known as MAO inhibitors. There are two types of MAO inhibitors—type A and type B. These monoamine oxidase inhibitors can act as antidepressants, and the type B inhibitors are also used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Selegiline (or deprenyl) is a well-known pharmaceutical MAO type-B inhibitor.

Dopamine and cognitive decline
A decline in dopamine activity in the brain is linked to cognitive (learning and memory) and movement problems in those with Parkinson's disease. The amino acids Phenylalanine and tyrosine, along with the nutrient NADH and some of the B vitamins, influence the production of dopamine. However, these nutrients are not consistent in their beneficial effects on mood enhancement. There are other supplements that work better for the treatment of depression.

Dopamine and depression
Effective treatment of depression may not be fully possible with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors. Depression is often due to shortages in several neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. The potential role of natural supplements than enhance dopamine levels should be explored in the treatment of depression.

Risk of dopamine agonists
The frequency of clinically important valve regurgitation is increased in patients taking pergolide or cabergoline, but not in patients taking non–ergot-derived dopamine agonists.

Dopamine agonist and gambling
The impulsive behavior that sometimes develops as a side effect of treatment with dopamine agonists drugs may not be limited just to patients with Parkinson's disease. Patients with restless legs syndrome who are treated with a drug belonging to this class may also be at increased risk for pathologic gambling. Dopamine agonists are a class of drugs that contain agents commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome, both neurological disorders. Some of these dopamin agonist drugs commonly used for one or both conditions include Requip (generic name ropinirole), Mirapex (pramipexole) and Sinemet (levodopa plus carbidopa). Dr. M. Tippmann-Peikert and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, conducted a review of the available medical literature, and found that the lifetime prevalence of pathologic gambling in the general U.S. population is 2 percent. A similar or even higher frequency has been suggested in patients with Parkinson's disease treated with dopamine agonists. The researchers described the case history of three patients -- two middle-aged women and an older man -- with restless legs syndrome who became pathologic gamblers after treatment with dopamine agonists began. None of the three patients had signs of parkinsonism on neurologic examination, and none was aware of the possible link between dopamine agonists and pathologic gambling reported for Parkinson's disease patients. One of the patients had never gambled before starting dopamine agonist therapy, and the other two patients had just a little past experience of recreational gambling. At the time gambling commenced or worsened, the three patients were taking an average of 0.5 mg/day of pramipexole, and one other patients was on a daily dose of 0.25 mg of ropinirole. The gambling behavior got worse with each dose increase. The patients had been treated with dopamine agonists for an average 9 months when the gambling compulsions began. Once dopamine agonist therapy was discontinued, the pathologic gambling disappeared or drastically decreased in all three patients. Two of the patients continued to gamble occasionally and without much financial loss. Neurology, January 2007.

Dopamine and Libido
Dopamine can improve sex drive. Certain natural supplements can elevate dopamine levels and increase sexual interest.

Dopamine questions
Q. I have parkinsonism and need to increase my levels of dopamine. In my internet quest, I found a product, Passion RX, indicating that it will increase dopamine levels. Is this true? I want to increase my mobility and am not necessarily interested in increasing my libido. Will this help me increase dopamine level?
   A. Passion Rx is not formulated to help Parkinson's patients, and the dopamine increase is only part of what it does, not the main objective.

Q. I'm interested in using dopamine-enhancing supplements but wonder whether this is safe over the long term. Is there evidence that supplements might "burn out" dopamine-sensitive neurons, perhaps with overuse? I'm reminded of the drugs ecstacy and methamphetamine, and I'm wondering how supplements -- agonists and MAOI-Bs -- raise dopamine levels without causing addiction to the supplements or killing cells.
   A. As a general rule, it is a good idea to take breaks from the use of herbs and thus safety becomes less of a worry. We have not seen any evidence of damage to dopamine sensitive neurons from the use of NADH, mucuna pruriens, and other dopamine enhancing supplements. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to take 2 days off a week and a week off each month.

Q. I was just wondering what you considered the most effective way of increasing dopamine? Would you say taking l-dopa directly as in mucuna or tyrosine or phenylalanine or a combination?
   A. The most effective way to increase dopamine is by taking the drug L-dopa. As to which increases dopamine more, mucuna pruriens or tyrosine, we are not sure. Rather than focusing on a single neurotransmitter, it is better to consider the whole body. These nutrients and herbs have additional effects besides dopamine increase.

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