Posted by Johnturner77 on June 19, 2000, at 12:39:13
In reply to Re: question about dopamine, posted by BBob on June 10, 2000, at 11:50:46
> Anything fun.
If you suffer from anhedonia, anything short of cocaine isn't fun.
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> Anything fun, or rewarding tends to promote the release of dopamine. Chemically, coffee, chocolate, and nicotine have all been connected with dopaminergic activity.None of these are primarily dopaminergic in effect which is one reason they are relatively unregulated.
Socially, things like sex, sports and power-brokerage are sometimes associated with dopamine.
All of these things are recognizably addictive when they become inappropriate.
>> When we discuss reinforcing properties of commonly abused drugs, we are talking about upregulation of dopaminergic synapses frontal-limbic networks associated with commonly abused drugs. When we talked about whether the President of the United States suffered from a sexual addiction, the presumption was that he had by practice upregulated dopamenergic receptor sites along the synapses of cognitive networks built around sexual habits.
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I suppose this is related to all the great problems of human existence. When your pleasure becomes my pain I want to make sure you suffer equally(or better!)>
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> Of course all of these answers fail to address the psycho-pharmaceutical question. Some diseases are associated with dopamine difficencies. Some activists say wider access to now-outlawed medications, such as cannibas or coca, would provide reliable, affordable treatments for diseases related to dopa deficits. But dopa-mobilizing substances, such as cannibas or coca, are outlawed for that very reason, and that is why we are unlikely to find substances that are very specific or efficacious for increasing dopamine among the legal pharmacopia - they tend to cause euphoria, and people tend to accept that chemically induces euphoria as an alternative to the pleasure that would otherwise be found in social activities.First the drug issue: Most of the the addictive dopamine enhancers don't provide useful effects as used. I don't know if there is a level of cocaine useage for example, that would only enhance the natural responsiveness of the dopaminergic systems. Just a little bit more and the drug becomes its own reward. Therefore, everyone crosses over the line and nearly everyone who tries it abuses it. If you chewed one coca leaf for breakfast and lunch would it be a useful treatment for ADD? Even the natural use tended to abuse in Bolvia and Peru.
Even a drug like GHB has gotten itself categorized as schedule 3(It should the no more than a 2 as its has definite medical uses) The only dopaminergic drug I cant think of that wouldn't get itself classified as abuseable would be one that is in some way self limiting. Amisulpride is in this category. More doesn't provide a better effect. In fact, more actually causes an opposite effect. St. John's Wort is supposed to effect serotonin, dopamine, and Epinephrine neurotransmitters. If it had a significant Dopiminergic effect it would have probably been classified as abuseable. In many people it actually suppresses dopamine through stimulation of H2 receptors.
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Maybe what we reaaly need is for Amisulpride to become an OTC med! 8>)
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> > I just suddenly wondered if anyone had heard of any natural ways to supplement dopamine? I mean, we have 5htp and St. John's Wort for Serotonin, and I'm not sure about where Sam-e's effectiveness is. But, I don't think I've ever heard of any dopamine effectors that didn't need prescriptions. Any ideas? Or has this been covered and I missed it? Just curious, CarolAnn
poster:Johnturner77
thread:36828
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000619/msgs/37805.html