Posted by Conundrum on June 12, 2010, at 21:21:52 [reposted on June 13, 2010, at 12:38:03 | original URL]
In reply to Dopamine depletion / Dopamine Agonists, posted by jade k on June 12, 2010, at 19:21:00
My guess is that pure dopaminergic agonists aren't used often because they make people want to seek out pleasurable experiences outside their norm, like gambling, cross dressing, etc. It seems that it really makes you "Want" to do anything that flicks pleasure switches in the mind.
Indirect dopamine agonists include selegine, parnate, stims, and wellbutrin. Of course there are more but these are the most well known. Most of these drugs work on other systems like norepinephrine, serotonin and parnate works on a whole lot of things.
These drugs trap the brains own dopamine from being recycled or brought back out of the synapses. The results don't seem to be as extreme as drugs than direct agonists.
Wellbutrin is a commonly used drugs, but its dopaminergic effects are limited. I saw a psych who used ritalin to increase dopamine.
You are right ritalin is a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake. Amphetamines are norepinephrine,dopamine, and serotonergic releasers, but their actions also prevent reuptake. So its like a reuptake inhibitor on speed. :P
These drugs do help a significant number of people with depression but I think they're not first line treatments since IMO they've already determined for some reason SSRIs are the safest and best. I believe dopaminergics are considered addictive and dangerous. I think this is foolish. Some drugs like amphetamines are addictive and can lead to dosage escalations , but I've never heard of wellbutrin addiction, or low dose antipsychotic addiction or even addiction to direct agonists. I'm glad there are some companies like Servier that think outside the box. All of their big psychotropic drugs seem to go against the grain. The discontinued amineptine was a pure dopamine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant. Tianeptine is a serotonin reuptake enhancer, and the new drug agomelatine is a melatonergic agonist and a specific serotonergic antagonist.
Keep in mind that drugs that enhance serotonergic uptake or are agonists at certain specific receptors increase dopamine in some brain regions. There are actually a lot of drugs out there to increase dopamine. You just need to do a lot of research.
Post-SSRI syndrome: iatrogenic anhedonia, memory and concentration problems, sexual dysfunction. [NOTE no sadness or anxiety]
Location:USA
Currently taking 25mg Lamictal.
poster:Conundrum
thread:950902
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20100607/msgs/950903.html