What are the symptoms of low dopamine?

Depression, low sex drive, lack of drive, lack of concentration

Originally Posted by Cordeen

Depression, low sex drive, lack of drive, lack of concentration

Any thoughts or comments on one can differentiate? Sounds just like low T!

True you are correct it could be low T also.

However, most hormones being significantly above or below normal levels can can cause a lot of the same symptoms though really, so I guess the true answer would be to have a full panel blood test done.

Originally Posted by anyman

Any thoughts or comments on one can differentiate? Sounds just like low T!

This, I believe is the reason that people feel crappy with lowT. Low T=Low Dopamine=high prolactin.

yeah my T was low but my prolactin seemed to be okay. but i deffinitly have the symptoms of low dopamine

Depression is more low serotonin, low dopamine is boredom, lack of interest and motivation, poor communication(particurly verbal), lack of confidence.

How do you raise dopamine? Doesdoes the your regulat doc or endo doc check your level of dopamine? Anyone take Ritalian?

Originally Posted by ItsHectic

Depression is more low serotonin, low dopamine is boredom, lack of interest and motivation, poor communication(particurly verbal), lack of confidence.

How to raise serotonin?


Oxitriptan - WorldHealth.net

Oxitriptan
Posted in Hormones & Pharmacological Agents on Wed March 19, 2008
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Oxitriptan or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5HT) is converted into the neurotransmitter serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a key factor in mood regulation, and the reduction of depression and anxiety. A lack of serotonin has been linked to compulsive disorders, especially the overeating of carbohydrates. Serotonin is also the precursor to the pineal gland’s production of melatonin. As serotonin levels decline with age, supplementation with the amino acid L-tryptophan (the body produces serotonin by converting L-tryptophan to 5 hydroxy-tryptophan via a vitamin B3 dependent enzyme, and then converting 5HT to serotonin via a vitamin B6 dependent enzyme), or the drug Oxitriptan is beneficial. Oxitriptan’s advantage is that, unlike L-tryptophan, it is used solely by the brain for the manufacture of serotonin, and is thus more effective in increasing serotonin levels.

ROLE FOR ANTI-AGING:

Oxitriptan’s anti-aging benefits may include the prevention and treatment of depression, maintenance of serotonin levels as the body ages, prevention and treatment of compulsive disorders like overeating, improved daytime alertness and treatment of insomnia.

Originally Posted by anyman

Any thoughts or comments on one can differentiate? Sounds just like low T!

low T causes low DA. Could be one in the same issue. Higher T should increase DA.

Originally Posted by JanSz

How to raise serotonin?


Oxitriptan - WorldHealth.net

Oxitriptan
Posted in Hormones & Pharmacological Agents on Wed March 19, 2008
GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Oxitriptan or 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5HT) is converted into the neurotransmitter serotonin in the body. Serotonin is a key factor in mood regulation, and the reduction of depression and anxiety. A lack of serotonin has been linked to compulsive disorders, especially the overeating of carbohydrates. Serotonin is also the precursor to the pineal gland’s production of melatonin. As serotonin levels decline with age, supplementation with the amino acid L-tryptophan (the body produces serotonin by converting L-tryptophan to 5 hydroxy-tryptophan via a vitamin B3 dependent enzyme, and then converting 5HT to serotonin via a vitamin B6 dependent enzyme), or the drug Oxitriptan is beneficial. Oxitriptan’s advantage is that, unlike L-tryptophan, it is used solely by the brain for the manufacture of serotonin, and is thus more effective in increasing serotonin levels.

ROLE FOR ANTI-AGING:

Oxitriptan’s anti-aging benefits may include the prevention and treatment of depression, maintenance of serotonin levels as the body ages, prevention and treatment of compulsive disorders like overeating, improved daytime alertness and treatment of insomnia.

Oxitriptan, hmmm. Is it a script? If so, for what exactly. I've never heard of it. Sounds worth trying.

Ah, I now see it's just 5HTP. Never did much for me. I take 100 mgs at night.

So how do you raise dopamine then?

Originally Posted by jinxie

Oxitriptan, hmmm. Is it a script? If so, for what exactly. I've never heard of it. Sounds worth trying.

Ah, I now see it's just 5HTP. Never did much for me. I take 100 mgs at night.

I did try it too, did not feel difference.
My pills are 100mg

Latter I seen someone claiming that 50mg works while 100mg is not.

.
.

I'm on an amino acid program to balance neurotransmitters. Amino acids can cross the blood-brain barrier and raise neurotransmitter levels in the central nervous system. L-tyrosine is the amino acid that raises dopamine. So does mucuna pruriens. You have to have a 'tyrosine base' before adding mucuna. Try working up to 1 - 1.5 grams of tyrosine 3 times per day on an empty stomach. Then add 300 mg mucuna to each of the 3 tyrosine doses.

Originally Posted by superstar

I'm on an amino acid program to balance neurotransmitters. Amino acids can cross the blood-brain barrier and raise neurotransmitter levels in the central nervous system. L-tyrosine is the amino acid that raises dopamine. So does mucuna pruriens. You have to have a 'tyrosine base' before adding mucuna. Try working up to 1 - 1.5 grams of tyrosine 3 times per day on an empty stomach. Then add 300 mg mucuna to each of the 3 tyrosine doses.

have you tested this before and after?

i am currently on some adrenal fatigue meds and my testosterone is normal about 600 and i can have sex, although some more motivation wouldn't hurt

in the past i used to take a product called dopafibra which has 400 mg mucuna pruriens and it made me feel a lot better

also tyrosine did this

how do i know it's not just the stimulating function of tyrosine that's at work, but that it in fact is increasing dopamine?

may be my final missing link

Originally Posted by superstar

I'm on an amino acid program to balance neurotransmitters. Amino acids can cross the blood-brain barrier and raise neurotransmitter levels in the central nervous system. L-tyrosine is the amino acid that raises dopamine. So does mucuna pruriens. You have to have a 'tyrosine base' before adding mucuna. Try working up to 1 - 1.5 grams of tyrosine 3 times per day on an empty stomach. Then add 300 mg mucuna to each of the 3 tyrosine doses.

Never heard this before. Are you certain? I though tyrosine increased NA. I know there is a nexus between NA and DA, so you may well be correct. I've just never heard it before. I cant afford to increase NA any more, as I am already elevated.

I've spoken to a Dr on another board, and he told me to stay away from l-tyrosine and stick only to l-dopa (because of adrenals).

fwiw, I have been using Unique Nutrition's L-dopa (not mucuna puriens). It's not stimulating, it tends to make me a bit sleepy.

L-DOPA (3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine) is a naturally occurring amino acid found in the human brain and in certain plants (Macuna pruriens aka velvet bean). L-Dopa is produced from the amino acid L-Tyrosine via the enzyme tyrosine 3-monooxygenase (previously called tyrosine hydroxylase). Afterwards L-Dopa is able to cross the blood-brain-barrier and converts into Dopamine by the Vitamin B-6 dependant enzyme aromatic-L-amino-acid decarboxylase.

Something else to keep in mind:

Conversion to dopamine also occurs in the peripheral tissues, i.e. outside the brain. This is the primary mechanism of the adverse effects of levodopa. It is standard clinical practice to co-administer a peripheral DOPA decarboxylase inhibitor—carbidopaCarbidopa

Carbidopa is a drug given to people with Parkinson's disease in order to inhibit peripheral metabolism of levodopa....
or benserazideBenserazide

Benserazide is an inhibitor of DOPA decarboxylase that does not enter the central nervous system....
—and often a catechol-O-methyl transferaseCatechol-O-methyl transferase

Catechol-O-methyl transferase is an enzyme first discovered by biochemist Julius Axelrod....
(COMT) inhibitor, to prevent synthesis of dopamine in peripheral tissue. Co-administration of pyridoxine without a decarboxylase inhibitor accelerates the extracerebral decarboxylation to such an extent that it cancels out the effects of levodopa administration, a circumstance which historically caused great confusion.

Originally Posted by Gutterpump

Something else to keep in mind:

Wow, it would explain a lot of my problems. I have high prolactin and this causes a low dopamine. I've been having brainzaps (like little electric shocks in the head) for almost two years and I feel them often thru the body till my left feet... The same symptoms are usual after using Antidepressants... I've never used antidepressants

Originally Posted by Gutterpump

I've spoken to a Dr on another board, and he told me to stay away from l-tyrosine and stick only to l-dopa (because of adrenals).

fwiw, I have been using Unique Nutrition's L-dopa (not mucuna puriens). It's not stimulating, it tends to make me a bit sleepy.

Gutter, is L-Dopa pretty similar to Levodopa? And does it play nicely with Deprenyl? It seems I recall suggestions to combine the two. Do you take it before bed, and does it help getting to sleep and/or promoting restful sleep?

TIA.

isnt horny goat weed supposed to raise dopamine levels?

i have a similar experience with regards to dopamine and motivation

on my regime of hc/dhea i have normal testosterone levels (576) but am currently with an employer, but have no assignment in the meantime

i can watch stupid tv or computer all day long without motivation to do anything worthwhile like careerwise

yesterday i took mucuna pruriens before bed about 1.5 grams and 2 caps of 5-htp

i woke up pretty rested but also motivated much more and am currently learning for my career

it's really strange i always had this experience and guess i have low dopamine

i can have normal erections feel normal but not motivated much

any others have experience on increasing dopamine with something else than l-dopa/mucuna?

Not with l-dopa/mucuna...doesn't do much for me besides make me tired. But caber I believe is having a decent effect on motivation. I am curious of throwing in some low dosed l-deprenyl with the low dosed caber and cycle both.

Originally Posted by jinxie

Gutter, is L-Dopa pretty similar to Levodopa? And does it play nicely with Deprenyl? It seems I recall suggestions to combine the two. Do you take it before bed, and does it help getting to sleep and/or promoting restful sleep?

TIA.

Yes they are recommended to take together along with B6 and possibly carbidopa for alzeimer's patients.

I haven't taken it for a while, I used to take it morning and night. It made me more drousy but it didn't have a profound effect on sleep for me.

High dosed deprenyl did not work out well for me either, it made things worse...my head was not clear on it...I expected a big raise in cognitive functioning and libido but had neither.

Originally Posted by Gutterpump

Not with l-dopa/mucuna...doesn't do much for me besides make me tired. But caber I believe is having a decent effect on motivation. I am curious of throwing in some low dosed l-deprenyl with the low dosed caber and cycle both.

define low or high dose on deprenyl. I see dosages ranging seriously from 2.5mg/week to 10mg a day. i'd say no more than 1mg a day, or since its a suicider could try 2.5mg 2x a week. With caber, similarly i'd say no more than 250mcg 2x a week. and be REALLY careful taking l-dopa at that point, definitely titrate your way up.

Keep in mind what each does - the deprenyl slows the removal of dopamine from system by inhibiting the enzyme that converts it, and caber will upregulate receptors. so you have more in bloodstream longer and are more sensitive

Originally Posted by EasyEJL

define low or high dose on deprenyl. I see dosages ranging seriously from 2.5mg/week to 10mg a day. i'd say no more than 1mg a day, or since its a suicider could try 2.5mg 2x a week. With caber, similarly i'd say no more than 250mcg 2x a week. and be REALLY careful taking l-dopa at that point, definitely titrate your way up.

Keep in mind what each does - the deprenyl slows the removal of dopamine from system by inhibiting the enzyme that converts it, and caber will upregulate receptors. so you have more in bloodstream longer and are more sensitive

I take 2.5 mgs per day, sublingually -- pour capsule contents in mouth. 5 mgs per day interrupted sleep. I also take SAMe and Rhodiola, and find they help dopamine as well.

Will Caber cause tolerance and rebound? I've read it's not good to take on a continuous basis, but not from an authority. Is it safe to take with Deprenyl?

Thanks.

how old are you? thats a lot of deprenyl if you are under 50-55. Not so sure on caber as far as tolerance/rebound goes, but i'll look and see if i can find anything

I tried 5-10mg per day of deprenyl and I felt no increase in motivation or anything except for loss of balance and fuzzy mind. I then tried 2.5 mg once or twice per week. Didn't notice much. I gave up on it except for occassionally with PEA> that's when it works great for motivation, mood and libido.

I have seen people recommend 500mcg of caber 2x per week. I have been trying this. Maybe I will lower my dose.

Originally Posted by Gutterpump

I have seen people recommend 500mcg of caber 2x per week. I have been trying this. Maybe I will lower my dose.

I think that dosage is generally for prolatin control on cycle, but if you have relatively low dopamine levels that alone might not make a huge difference

My dopamine levels tested very low. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but you can find them under one of my most recent posts. My doc prescribed Cabergoline, which I’ve been taking for 2-3 months, but I haven’t noticed any change. I have an appointment to review my most recent blood tests tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see if the Cabergoline has done anything. My understanding is various medications used to treat Parkinson’s are useful to treat low dopamine levels.

I’m also taking HCG (low testosterone) and Levoxyl (hypothyroid).