Certain nootropics and Adderall or Ritalin question.

[JustADudeYep]

I am by no means a chemist nor doctor. In fact I hated chemistry and science until my 20s. But I have been looking into nootropics once again and OTC stuff that boosts dopamine and/or serotonin levels. Things like l Tyrosine, levadopa, hydergine etc. I am basically wondering, if I take some of stuff to up my dopamine and serotonin, would the Ritalin that I take get in the brain (cns) and blow all this extra released stuff wide open, so to speak? Really just meaning, will I get bigger doses of dopamine and all that? With nootropics that boost this stuff, it seems you tend to need something else to get things going or working. For example, piracetam potency has been shown to be increased when taken with choline.

Hopefully my question makes sense. Ritalin releases dopamine, yes. Soooo if I take something to up my dopamine levels, more dopamine will get released? Seems too simple.

 

[nauticaustin]

Most "nootropic" drug mechanism of action is to simply increase monoamines in the brain. Monoamines are the brains neurotransmitters, such as Dopamine, Serotonin, and Norepinephrine.

Now, these nootropics only stimulate the "release" of these chemicals. It basically tells the brain to begin synthesizing them. Well, if it doesn't have any precursors.. it won't work as efficiently as possible. (You can't make chocolate chip cookies without the chocolate chips, can you?)

As an example, Serotonin is synthesized from Tryptophan, and Norepinephrine/Dopamine are synth'd via Tyrosine.

Also, you'll want to make sure your brain has enough glucose (sugar). Additionally, I'd suggest taking SAMe supplements (S-Adenosyl Methionine).

 

[JustADudeYep]

I guess I am wondering if ritalin would be that precursor? I am learning that some need others in order to work or releaase.

 

[Fornax55]

My understanding of your question is "if I take something that releases dopamine, and then take something else that also releases dopamine, will more dopamine be released?" to which I'll say yes, but you don't want to dabble with too many chemicals that function as motivators for production of the same neurotransmitters. I'm sure you'd be fine taking ritalin with levadopa and tyrosine, but you wouldn't want to necessarily stack ritalin, a crapload of amphetamines, some oxycodone, get hammered and toss a bottle full of L-Dopa and Tyorisine on top of it. There can be too much of a good thing.

And to answer your question about ritalin being a direct precursor for the production of dopamine, no, it's not. Ritalin's a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, so it negates the transport of dopamine from the synaptic cleft. Basically, it lets more dopamine hang out in your brain - but tyrosine has to be in your body for the dopamine to even exist in the first place.

 

[badanga]

You might think that increasing dopamine is a pleasurable feeling, but with too much dopamine I'm sure there are negative symptoms that occur.

 

[shreddedlettuce]

And to answer your question about ritalin being a direct precursor for the production of dopamine, no, it's not. Ritalin's a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, so it negates the transport of dopamine from the synaptic cleft. Basically, it lets more dopamine hang out in your brain

^^ This.

Amphetamine releases dopamine.
Methylphenidate inhibits the reuptake of dopamine.

Tread carefully in your research in the sense that the brain will stop producing normal dopamine levels if there is no need for it to do this due to artificial dopamine "chargers" ( including those that are "marketed" as "natural").

It could take decades for normal levels to regenerate if you are lucky.

As you said in your post, you are not a chemist, but you are not a guinea pig either.............dopamine is the one thing you don't want to #$#k with, please be careful and rather study the science of dopamine instead of attempting to manipulate it.

The reward of gaining this knowledge in itself will give you a better dopamine "rush" without any need of chemical assistance or risk that comes with instant gratification.

Happy reading.