Stimulants Why do all dopamine releasing agents and DRI's also act on norepinephrine?

[the_integerian]

Why do drugs like meth, coke, speed, ritalin, and propylhexadrine act on dopamine AND norepinephrine? I know norepinephrine is synthesized from dopamine but it would be wonderful if there was a drug that only acted on dopamine and NOT norepinephrine. That way you could have a great euphoric rush but none of the jittery nervousness. Is such a drug possible?

 

[Captain.Heroin]

There are probably lots of strictly dopamine antagonists, which aren't recreational at all.

I am sure you would like heroin, but I am in no way condoning its use.

We typically close "what should I take?" Threads so that is what I'm doing here. If another moderator wants to reopen this, they will.

 

[sekio]

DA and NE have the same rough structure. The two transporter proteins - DopAmine Transporter (DAT) and NorEpinephrine Transporter (NET) actually have affinity for the "opposite" monoamine, though less than the "correct" one. Therefore reuptake or releasing agents have to be very carefully designed if they are to interact with only one protien. It is also interesting to note that one route of dopamine metabolism is hydroxylation to norepinephrine.

There are certainly dopamine-selective agents but they are not neccesarily immediately availiable, nor as Cpt.H suggests are they particularly desirable.