Misc Dopaminergic drugs & Dopamine Receptor Stimulation

[blxnc]

TLDR: What drugs would you recommend that are dopaminergic? (help with increasing levels of dopamine, dopamine receptor stimulation, dopamine release). I came here looking more drugs off the beaten path, of course we all know about cocaine and meth being stimulants.


Regarding dopaminergic drugs, what are your experiences with these drugs if you've tried them or feel free to share insight and what you know about them.

- - -

I've been using caffeine to medicate my depression for about 7 years now, it significantly has helped with mood and motivation so that I can function.

After about 3 years of doing that, I ended up being put on SSRI's (lexapro) for mdd, anxiety & ptsd , and I've been taking lexapro 20mg ever since, so.

For three years I've been using the combination of caffeine and SSRI's to manage it, and I've come to a bit of a plateau.

The caffeine, even after ratcheting up the potency and dosage has not been helping anymore like it used to.

I'm experiencing anhedonia, and I'm pretty certain the cause is just a need for dopamine (to explain it in laymans terms). Hopefully, my dopamine receptors themselves are not inhibited or some sort of other biochemical issue is going on. Neuroscience is complicated but.

I feel like the right drug could probably alleviate the symptoms a little at least until I figure it out.


disclaimer
>I dont really want to up my dose of lexapro as the drug already makes me pretty lethargic. I'm not sure that would help.
>I've tried taking abilify to 'assist' the lexapro and buspar to replace a slight klonopin habit, didn't like the side effects of those drugs so I stopped taking them.
>Yes I've heard about ketamine, psychedelics, mushrooms, and ECT. Not particularly interested in those here at the moment.


Have you faced a similar issue before, and tried treating it? If so what methods and how'd it go.

 

[Snafu in the Void]

I'm sure one of our resident experts more knowledgable than me will chime in, however, in my opinion and experience general anhedonia which is not acute can often be fixed without drugs with things like exercise, nutrition, supplements and things like that.

I'm no doctor but what you are describing is likely not going to be treated by adding more medications such as abilify. Abilify is actually a 2nd gen antipsychotic that blocks excess dopamine in your brain and donwregulates.

My honest advise here is going to be natural things like exercise and supplements, not drugs. Psychedelics/ketamine might be great for you but they are not a long term solution. PLEASE DO NOT EVER GET ECT, that's a dead drop last resort.

Most recreational drugs I can think of that provides dopamine (most narcotic drugs) are very much more likely to do way more damage than help here

Adderall may be very useful to someone in your situation.

I'm just not sure exactly what you're asking here. There are many different drugs/ways to get dopamine, some much better than others.

Can you elaborate a little on what you're seeking here?

I can point you to some "dopamine" promoting supplements of questionable efficacy.

Often anhedonia can be just as psychological as chemical imbalance.

That's just my opinion. You'll get some more from others here.

Have you faced a similar issue before, and tried treating it? If so what methods and how'd it go.

I have battled general depression/suicidal thoughts/severe anhedonia for most of my life, comes in phases

The only thing that ever truly helped me in a very noticeable way that wasn't destructive was running/exercise and to a lesser extent nutrition+supplements.

Exercise is very amazing and cannot be undervalued for mental health. Running a 5k seems to give me the same amazing benefits as ketamine for a day or two (and it's free!).

 

[blxnc]

There are many different drugs/ways to get dopamine, some much better than others.

Okay, what drugs would you recommend in this category.

Can you elaborate a little on what you're seeking here?

Just wanted to know more about dopaminergic drugs and open a discussion on them.

I can point you to some "dopamine" promoting supplements of questionable efficacy.

Sure that would be great too.

Often anhedonia can be just as psychological as chemical imbalance.

That's just my opinion. You'll get some more from others here.

Ty

 

[Jabberwocky]

Have you looked into the Parkinsonian treatment drugs. They are about as powerful a dopaminergic pharmaceutical that you’ll find.

Be aware there are 2 classes: ergoline and non-ergoline with quite different side effect profiles.

 

[Snafu in the Void]

Okay, what drugs would you recommend in this category.

I would recommend adderall. Seems safe enough and relatively easy to get a script.

Just wanted to know more about dopaminergic drugs and open a discussion on them.

Well you're definitely at the right place it's just a really vague question. Cocaine, phenethylamines like meth and amphetamines, all opiates and opioids, nicotine, even some psychedelics like LSD. Most addictive drugs have an effect at dopamine to a varying degree. It's hard for me, personally, to start recommending any of those drugs to people with general anhedonia, especially if you don't seem to have any current addictions already. (We are all about drugs here, but more importantly about harm reduction and reducing the damage they cause to people's lives)

As far as the dopamine supplements just google dopamine supplements on amazon and you'll find hundreds. I've tried them. They are OK but doubt they really have a major dopamine production effect. Questionable science.

Either way you'll get more replies than just my opinion

 

[tweakerguy]

I mean, the answer you're looking for is obviously a CNS stimulant like methamphetamine/amphetamine.

But you probably knew that

 

[telepathetic]

as for exercise, nutrition etc i don't think it will help (for complicated causes i will say it if someone want), the only non drugs way to partial treat depression/anhedonia is doing things that your reward system is already active in them, so if you have hypersexuality , so work in sex (don't mean something bad)
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firstly we need to know what things you can't enjoy/have anhedonia in, as for dopaminagic drugs there is no dopamine 1/4/5 agonists but there caberagoline which is selective dopamine 2/3 agonist that will cause hypersexuality/internet addiction/enjoy when being in danger/implusivity/gambling addiction etc
the best receptor is dopamine 1 which cause strong anti anhedonia effect in many life espect and also increase ability to solve problems and motivation, high doses might cause work addiction, the only way to agonist it is using ritaline/meth/adderall etc..

Nonsense and terrible advice.

Exercise certainly well help, loads more than amphetamines which will make it much worse in the long run.

 

[blxnc]

Thanks guys for all your support, I'll be seeing a specialist most likely. I think the real issue is my SSRI possibly being the wrong med for me or too heavy. As I seem to feel a lot better and more alive when I don't take it. Of course if a psychiatrist approves tapering I'd be doing this as safely as possible and as medically advised.

I'm going to try quitting the caffeine as well, and work therapeutically with a doctor over time to increase natural dopamine production. Will ask about ensuring there is not dopamine inhibition going on or something like that- like I mentioned.

I also have a great functional medicine doctor/dietition/nutritionist/endocrinologist who takes great care of me metabolically speaking. So no worries, I'm in good hands.

I've researched a bit about anhedonia enough to know there are ways you can work to treat it, should that continue to be an issue, I can work with a doctor on that as well.

I'm hopeful I can work on through this and get better.

 

[DeathIndustrial88]

Are you creative OP?

I found working on things like making music, making music videos, making artwork, as boring as it can be during the process, can feel highly rewarding once you make something good. And stimulates dopamine activity. This in addition to what others have already mentioned about exercise and diet can help.

L-tyrosine is good too. I found it particularly helpful for post-stimulant binge induced anhedonia.


Drugs/pharms might help in the short term (particularly stimulants) but they can actually make things worse in the long run with receptor downregulation and neurotransmitter depletion. And then you may find that ontop of all your other problems, you will now have an addiction/dependence problem.

But the choice is ultimately yours.

 

[HOOH]

even some psychedelics like LSD.

AFAIK LSD isn't dopaminergic despite the receptor affinity.

Binding affinity to the receptor doesn't mean much, that's like saying that ergotamine is a psychedelic.

 

[Snafu in the Void]

AFAIK LSD isn't dopaminergic despite the receptor affinity.

Binding affinity to the receptor doesn't mean much, that's like saying that ergotamine is a psychedelic.

I never looked into it, but anything that acts as an agonist at D2 sounds juicy, whether or not there is anything to that. I'm biased. I'd probably lubricate my eyeballs with LSD.

And due to the vagueness of the question I just started listing stuff lol.

I always attributed LSD's distinct euphoric effect on it's D2 agonism. It's euphoric in a way every other psych is not (discounting psychedelic phenethylamines). Obviously that's just my own speculative bias, though.

 

[psynce of sound]

Amfenolic acid is a curious pure DRI. Which may or may not serve as a temporary help.

 

[simstim]

apomorphine is in lotus and acts as a non selective dopamine agonist. It's used to treat Parkinson's too.