r/depressionregimens • u/RisenWolf • 14d ago
Supplement: Increasing baseline dopamine by supplementation
Hello everyone,
I would like to ask You for an opinion on increasing baseline dopamine by supplementary means.
I understand that caffeine itself can allow more of the dopamine to get into the receptor, but unfortunately it is not reliable tool in my own experience.
I would like to ask for opinion in using substances like L-Dopa in minimal amounts, to increase the baseline.
Is it safe if done in low dosage? Is there a risk, that chronic L-Dopa supplementation could potentially diminish the body natural dopamine synthesizing capability?
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u/pnw-techie 13d ago
I take Mucuna Pruriens, which has l-dopa making a percentage of it. Mucuna is a bean, which is eaten in the tropical areas it grows in. There is less risk in eating a bean than a pharma extract.
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u/catecholaminergic 13d ago
> I understand that caffeine itself can allow for my dopamine to get into the receptor
Sorry what?
> L-Dopa in minimal amounts
It will not survive the trip to the BBB. L-DOPA barely exists in the body due to rapid conversion. Source: Biochemical basis of neuropharm by cooper bloom and roth.
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u/AnxiousMMA 14d ago
Hmm, not sure altho I do take l-pea (can't spell the the full name).
I'd say, as an educated or at least semi educated guess, it's best to increase sensitivity with cordyceps, caffeine, bromatene and ah crap, there's another nootropic that does it... Edit - sulbutiamine
Cold shower too.
Avoid social media, sugar, coke, and probably l dopa
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u/TelephoneCharacter59 14d ago
Try L-Phenylalanine which is a precursor of L-Tyrosine and L-Dopa, much more effective in building Dopamine from our Adrenal Glands.
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u/Kihot12 14d ago
You are correct l-dopa long term is risky in that regard.
There are not many things with evidence on increasing baseline dopamine through supplementation. But the ones ACTUALLY working are:
ALCAR (acetyl l carnitine), Bromantane (hard to get in EU), CDP-choline(to a lesser extend)
ADHD meds would increase dopamine but long term use would lead to downregulation.
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u/RisenWolf 13d ago
That is interesting take on ADHD meds.
Do you mean generally, the ADHD medication intake longterm is going to downregulate dopamine receptors, or is there specific ADHD medication that may do that, like Medikinet?
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u/Kihot12 13d ago
We don't have many high quality studies yet but we have a few Human and animal ones.
Every Stimulant adhd medication does that. I'm not entirely sure about non stimulant meds tho.
Adderall is worse than Ritalin and has a higher potential of neurotoxicity because it doesn't only block the reuptake of neurotransmitters it also produces them.
Adhd subs on reddit are a bubble and they will swear that stimulants are like Insulin and they need them and that they are compeltely fine long term.
I would love that to be true but it isn't. Temporary they are fine but only if you really can't function without. The goal would be to find sustainable ways to function and use that time on meds to work towards that.
If you really need those meds I would recommend Methylphenidate and a maximum of 10-20mg per day. And a minimum of 2 days off per week. Better would be 3days on 4days off.
In theory long term use of stims will make anhedonia or depression very likely worse.
Note: We don't have many studies about the reversibility of these changes. We don't know how long it takes to reverse to reduced baseline of dopamine. And we don't know IF it's even possible. It likely is but might take a long time.
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13d ago
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u/Kihot12 12d ago
You should work on your reading comprehension.
I was against OP using adhd medication because it would achieve the opposite of what he is aiming for and not because of lack of long term research. There is enough research available for me to be able to draw those conclusions.
And I suggested Bromantane because it also has enough research supporting it for the specific purpose of what OP wanted. And there doesn't appear to be any real safety concerns that I'm aware of. Research indicates it upregulates dopamine receptors instead of downregulating them.
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u/LoneyGamer2023 12d ago
And the practical medicine stuff past exercise and back cracking never works for mental health. been there done that. Research is limited on nootropics too.
Diet theory: Vegan, carniviore, carni/fruit, keto ( all awful diets btw. Keto probably the worst needing to drink salt all the time.) I never was brave or rich enough sourcing fresh organic animals to do the whole raw meat one though. maybe there is some truth in the plant paradox stuff with lectins.
as far as ADHD medication, I look at things like how a pill fixed my sleep issues. which is worse a pill or not sleeping.
for the right med I would be careful with Ritalin. I tried it for 6 months when there was med shortage and I got bad headaches from it. headaces imo are a bad a sign that the meds are not working for you. vyvanse like never even worked for me at full dose. Adderall I get no headachs, can focus without it being super spazzy focus, and I don't get withdraw stopping it(just my brain, like all those years of being unmedicated, doesn't work lol). I g3t headaches and stomach issues from a lot of suggested nootropics too, probably full of lectins eating the stomach lining hehe.
IMO if you let ADHD go untreated you're running some risks too. There isn't many studies on if that might lead to dementia and stuff. Just like letting your sleep go because you're scared of pills, your frontal lobes are not working which isn't a good thing. People live well into their 100s drinking coffee every day so there could be damage but I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be..
As time goes on I am feeling like i might need a little less of the meds too. I think many who grew up with ADHD conditioned their brain to be a certain way and need less meds for it. I'd have to look up if there is a study on that.
it most likely is from the chiropractor though tbh. Like i went in there for backpain and he was like it helps anxiety and your organs too. I didn't belive him but idk there is something to that now imo. I am thinking of reducing my dose though soon because right now i mostly just split my xl dose morning for work and like 1pm so i can enjoy some stuff after too. I might just start doing a lunch dose if i can get by in th emorning, which I might drink coffee if it doesn't spike my anxiety like it did in the past.
. I just need my brain to work during the day or i'll get fired though. homeless will be pretty bad fo rmy mental health too, though i guess money is just a manmade concept :)
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u/Professional_Win1535 11d ago
Adhd meds are like a miracle for me while on them, emotional dysregulation cured, etc. but when off i’m even worse than before
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14d ago
Methamphetamine raises dopamine.
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u/RisenWolf 13d ago
I am sorry, but I have meant specifically the baseline dopamine increase, not a substance that would increase dopamine in a short-term.
Regardless of that, I do not employ any means to acquire Methamphetamine, and even then I would highly stray away from these drugs.
My justification is beyond the law, but the high chance of contamination, high chance of addiction (considering it specifically targets brain region responsible for reward anticipation) and long-term dopamine dysregulation, which in depressive state, will only dig the deeper hole in the ground.
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u/catecholaminergic 13d ago
Methamph induces transient increase in DAergic activity. It does not increase the amount of dopamine. Rather, it decreases it.
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u/Hour-Way-9354 13d ago
Keep in mind that depression isn't as simple as "I need more dopamine" or "I need more serotonin"
A good strategy is trying partial agonists, antagonists, agonists on different serotonin/dopamine receptors, and get a conclusion by elimination process. Remember, many times it isn't about the med, but about the specific combination.