very low Dopamine

**007cs** · 03-19-2005, 03:15 PM

i have got rerally low dopamine levels its seems, result were 38 (ug/gCr), normal range 125-175, my GP said she doesn't much about dopamine.

whats best to take for this, i have been feeling very flat lately

**Juddman** · 03-19-2005, 03:31 PM

Are you talking about gear? I think low dopamine levels would be better treated with some sort of perscription medication that raises dopamine levels.

**Jack87** · 03-20-2005, 08:49 AM

D-bol is known to increase dopamine levels, but that's only a temporary
solution... You are going to have to research and find more of a long term
fix to increse your levels... I would imagine you must also be feeling very
depressed or just down if they are that low?

**Chemical King** · 03-20-2005, 09:24 AM

You could try a little extasy but that also is a short term thing

**Nicky B** · 03-20-2005, 09:46 AM

Low dopamine levels may mean you have ADD and a simple 5mg tab of adderall would help very easy to get by perscription.

**Juddman** · 03-20-2005, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Nicky B

Low dopamine levels may mean you have ADD and a simple 5mg tab of adderall would help very easy to get by perscription.

Wouldn't it be the other way around? ADD means you have low dopamine levels?
Meaning low dopamine is the problem and ADD is a symptom of the problem. Either way, you need to get to the source and raise your dopamine levels...not take pills for different symptoms related to your dopamine levels.

**Jack87** · 03-20-2005, 10:49 AM

Just a little info I dug up and things to consider...
Low levels of Dopamine linked to Parkinson's Disease...

-------------------------------------------

Dopamine: Parkinson's Disease and ADHD to Smoking and Paranoia
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked to motor/movement disorders,
ADHD, addictions, paranoia, and schizophrenia. Dopamine strongly
influences both motor and thinking areas of the brain.

One type of Dopamine works in the brain movement and motor system.
As this level of dopamine decreases below the "normal range" we begin
to experience more motor and gross-movement problems. Very low
levels of Dopamine in the motor areas of the brain are known to
produce Parkinson's Disease with symptoms such as:

Muscle rigidity and stiffness
Stooped/unstable posture
Loss of balance and coordination
Gait (walking pattern) disturbance
Slow movements and difficulty with voluntary movements
Small-step gait/walking
Aches in muscles
Tremors and shaking
Fixed, mask-like facial expression
Slow, monotone speech
Impairment of fine-motor skills
Falling when walking
Impairment in cognitive/intellectual ability

Dopamine in the thinking areas of the brain might be considered
the neurotransmitter of focus and attending. Low levels impair
our ability to focus on our environment or to "lock on" to tasks,
activities, or conversations. Low levels of Dopamine make
concentration and focus very difficult with low levels also
associated with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
On the other end of the Dopamine dipstick, as Dopamine levels
in the brain begin to raise, we become excited/energized, then
suspicious and paranoid, then finally hyperstimulated by our
environment.

With low levels of Dopamine, we can't focus while with high
levels of Dopamine our focus becomes narrowed and intense
to the point of focusing on everything in our environment as
though it were directly related to our situation.

Mild elevations in Dopamine are associated with addictions.
Nicotine, cocaine, and other substances produce a feeling
of excited euphoria by increasing Dopamine levels in the brain.
Too much of these chemicals/substances and we feel "wired"
as moderate levels of Dopamine make us hyperstimulated –
paying too much attention to our environment due to being
overstimulated and unable to separate what's important and
what is not.

In an ADHD child, low levels of Dopamine don't allow the child
to focus or attend to anything in the environment, looking very
physically hyperactive when running about the room or switching
from activity-to-activity due to their lack of focus. As Dopamine
levels increase above the normal range, our ability to focus increases
to the point of being paranoid. Mild elevations make the environment
overly stimulating and excited.

Moderately high Dopamine levels make us on-guard, suspicious,
and prone to misinterpret experiences in the environment.
Known as an "idea of reference" in psychiatry, we begin thinking
unrelated experiences are suddenly directly related to us. People
observed talking across the street are now talking about us. As
Dopamine increases, it can become so intense that we feel the
radio, television, and newspaper contain secret messages directed
at us from Hollywood or elsewhere. It's as though we are attempting
to incorporate/add everything we witness into our life. Planes flying
overhead are snapping pictures of us and motorists talking on cellular
phones are calling in a report on us. Our mind speed increases and
aces in an attempt to add all we see into our life. In an attempt to
make sense, we may become extremely religious, paranoid, or feel
we are a very important person. Increased Dopamine also increases
the perception of our senses, as, and touch.

As Dopamine levels increase, the noises we heard loudly suddenly
become auditory hallucinations. Our inner thoughts are now being
heard outside our body. These "voices" begin talking to us, known
to take different forms such as derogatory (putting you down),
religious topics, command (telling you to do something), or sexual
content. Hallucinations (experiencing something that is not truly
there in reality) will soon develop in all our senses. We may begin
seeing faces in clouds, carpets, or patterns. We may sense the
touch of spirits or movements inside our body. We may experience
unusual smells or tastes.

High levels of Dopamine in the brain often cause us to lose our
contact with reality. As though living in a science-fiction movie,
we begin to develop unusual if not bizarre ideas about what is
happening to us. With our paranoia, we may experience delusions
(false beliefs) of persecution or may think we have super powers
(delusions of grandiosity) and can predict the future or read minds.
High levels of Dopamine are found in Schizophrenia, drug intoxication,
and other psychotic conditions where the ability to distinguish the
inner world from the real world is impaired.

Treatment for psychiatric/medical conditions associated with
Dopamine imbalance, as you might expect, involves increasing
or decreasing Dopamine levels in the brain. Low-Dopamine disorders
are treated with medications that increase Dopamine in the brain.
For Parkinson's Disease – L Dopa is prescribed and for ADHD,
medications that are psychostimulants. Amphetamines and
medications with similar action actually slow down the hyperactive
(ADHD) children by increasing Dopamine – boasting their level
into the normal range, allowing them to now focus and attend.

Mildly elevations in Dopamine are associated with addictions such
as narcotics, speed, and nicotine/smoking. Thus, medications
used in the treatment of addictions actually block or lower
Dopamine production. If a medication blocks dopamine, it also
blocks the effects of the addicted substance as well as blocking
the craving sensation. The medication to help smokers, Zyban,
is actually the antidepressant Wellbutrin that is known to block
Dopamine.

Moderate to high levels of Dopamine, associated with severe
psychiatric conditions such as Paranoia and Schizophrenia, are
treated with medications that block or lower Dopamine in the brain.
These medications, called antipsychotics, have been available for
many years. Early antipsychotic medications however, lowered
Dopamine throughout the brain, including the Dopamine located in
the motor/movement areas. For that reason, older antipsychotic
medications produced motor/movement problems that looked like
Parkinson's Disease – short-step gait, fixed facial expression,
tremors, poor balance, etc. Newer medications have fewer side
effects in motor areas, as they are able to specifically target one
type of Dopamine.

Dopamine levels typically change very slowly. Patients who develop
Paranoia and/or Schizophrenia often experience a gradual increase
in the severity of symptoms over those years. A typical high school
or college student may develop a sense of being on-edge or unusual
feelings, gradually becoming suspicious and feeling alienated, moving
into auditory hallucinations, and finally developing bizarre false
beliefs (delusions) of persecution or exaggerated self-importance
over the next several years. Stress can often rapidly increase
Dopamine, but it still rarely happens overnight.

When an individual becomes psychotic, paranoid, and hallucinates
in only a few days, we must strongly suspect medication/drug
intoxication or neurological events – something that could increase
Dopamine levels dramatically and almost instantly. The prolonged
use of amphetamines (speed) or steroids can produce a loss of
reality and sudden paranoia. As it might happen, a construction
worker taking "street" speed to increase his work productivity
finds his hand or foot talking to him (auditory hallucinations)
and decides to cut it off. The sudden presence of psychosis
(hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, etc.) in an individual with
a history of prior normal adjustment would suggest the need
for intensive medical and neurological workup.

**Jack87** · 03-20-2005, 10:51 AM

Another good link to research...

http://tcw2.ppsw.rug.nl/~vdbosch/pd.html

**Jack87** · 03-20-2005, 11:15 AM

Some natural cures and options...
I'll dig up some more, just pressed for time right now...

What Are Neurotransmitters and... How They Affect Your Life?

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Just like hormones govern many chemical functions in
the body, the brain's chemical functions are governed
by "neurotransmitters."

A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger used by
neurons (nerve cells) to communicate in one direction
with other neurons. Communication between neurons
is accomplished by the recognition of a receptor for a
specific chemical messenger; picture a ball (neurotransmitter)
in a cup (receptor).

The human brain is very capable of automatically
manufacturing the quantity of chemicals it needs IF it
is given the raw materials (nutrients from foods) to do so.

However, normal diet does not supply enough of the raw
materials the brain needs to manufacture enough
neurotransmitters. Additionally, stress, worry, depression,
emotional ups and downs, drugs, alcohol, poor nutrition,
pollution and other factors of modern life are known to
deplete neurotransmitter levels.

Neurotransmitter deficiency and/or unbalance can affect
your stress condition, energy, appetite, cravings, sleep,
mood, learning ability, focus, memory, sex drive, anger,
irritability, temper, addictions and many other functions
of daily life.

http://www.adhd-stress-relief.com/dopamine/

**Beefkake31** · 03-20-2005, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by buff87

Just a little info I dug up and things to consider...
Low levels of Dopamine linked to Parkinson's Disease...

-------------------------------------------

Dopamine: Parkinson's Disease and ADHD to Smoking and Paranoia
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter linked to motor/movement disorders,
ADHD, addictions, paranoia, and schizophrenia. Dopamine strongly
influences both motor and thinking areas of the brain.

One type of Dopamine works in the brain movement and motor system.
As this level of dopamine decreases below the "normal range" we begin
to experience more motor and gross-movement problems. Very low
levels of Dopamine in the motor areas of the brain are known to
produce Parkinson's Disease with symptoms such as:

Muscle rigidity and stiffness
Stooped/unstable posture
Loss of balance and coordination
Gait (walking pattern) disturbance
Slow movements and difficulty with voluntary movements
Small-step gait/walking
Aches in muscles
Tremors and shaking
Fixed, mask-like facial expression
Slow, monotone speech
Impairment of fine-motor skills
Falling when walking
Impairment in cognitive/intellectual ability

Dopamine in the thinking areas of the brain might be considered
the neurotransmitter of focus and attending. Low levels impair
our ability to focus on our environment or to "lock on" to tasks,
activities, or conversations. Low levels of Dopamine make
concentration and focus very difficult with low levels also
associated with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
On the other end of the Dopamine dipstick, as Dopamine levels
in the brain begin to raise, we become excited/energized, then
suspicious and paranoid, then finally hyperstimulated by our
environment.

With low levels of Dopamine, we can't focus while with high
levels of Dopamine our focus becomes narrowed and intense
to the point of focusing on everything in our environment as
though it were directly related to our situation.

Mild elevations in Dopamine are associated with addictions.
Nicotine, cocaine, and other substances produce a feeling
of excited euphoria by increasing Dopamine levels in the brain.
Too much of these chemicals/substances and we feel "wired"
as moderate levels of Dopamine make us hyperstimulated –
paying too much attention to our environment due to being
overstimulated and unable to separate what's important and
what is not.

In an ADHD child, low levels of Dopamine don't allow the child
to focus or attend to anything in the environment, looking very
physically hyperactive when running about the room or switching
from activity-to-activity due to their lack of focus. As Dopamine
levels increase above the normal range, our ability to focus increases
to the point of being paranoid. Mild elevations make the environment
overly stimulating and excited.

Moderately high Dopamine levels make us on-guard, suspicious,
and prone to misinterpret experiences in the environment.
Known as an "idea of reference" in psychiatry, we begin thinking
unrelated experiences are suddenly directly related to us. People
observed talking across the street are now talking about us. As
Dopamine increases, it can become so intense that we feel the
radio, television, and newspaper contain secret messages directed
at us from Hollywood or elsewhere. It's as though we are attempting
to incorporate/add everything we witness into our life. Planes flying
overhead are snapping pictures of us and motorists talking on cellular
phones are calling in a report on us. Our mind speed increases and
aces in an attempt to add all we see into our life. In an attempt to
make sense, we may become extremely religious, paranoid, or feel
we are a very important person. Increased Dopamine also increases
the perception of our senses, as, and touch.

As Dopamine levels increase, the noises we heard loudly suddenly
become auditory hallucinations. Our inner thoughts are now being
heard outside our body. These "voices" begin talking to us, known
to take different forms such as derogatory (putting you down),
religious topics, command (telling you to do something), or sexual
content. Hallucinations (experiencing something that is not truly
there in reality) will soon develop in all our senses. We may begin
seeing faces in clouds, carpets, or patterns. We may sense the
touch of spirits or movements inside our body. We may experience
unusual smells or tastes.

High levels of Dopamine in the brain often cause us to lose our
contact with reality. As though living in a science-fiction movie,
we begin to develop unusual if not bizarre ideas about what is
happening to us. With our paranoia, we may experience delusions
(false beliefs) of persecution or may think we have super powers
(delusions of grandiosity) and can predict the future or read minds.
High levels of Dopamine are found in Schizophrenia, drug intoxication,
and other psychotic conditions where the ability to distinguish the
inner world from the real world is impaired.

Treatment for psychiatric/medical conditions associated with
Dopamine imbalance, as you might expect, involves increasing
or decreasing Dopamine levels in the brain. Low-Dopamine disorders
are treated with medications that increase Dopamine in the brain.
For Parkinson's Disease – L Dopa is prescribed and for ADHD,
medications that are psychostimulants. Amphetamines and
medications with similar action actually slow down the hyperactive
(ADHD) children by increasing Dopamine – boasting their level
into the normal range, allowing them to now focus and attend.

Mildly elevations in Dopamine are associated with addictions such
as narcotics, speed, and nicotine/smoking. Thus, medications
used in the treatment of addictions actually block or lower
Dopamine production. If a medication blocks dopamine, it also
blocks the effects of the addicted substance as well as blocking
the craving sensation. The medication to help smokers, Zyban,
is actually the antidepressant Wellbutrin that is known to block
Dopamine.

Moderate to high levels of Dopamine, associated with severe
psychiatric conditions such as Paranoia and Schizophrenia, are
treated with medications that block or lower Dopamine in the brain.
These medications, called antipsychotics, have been available for
many years. Early antipsychotic medications however, lowered
Dopamine throughout the brain, including the Dopamine located in
the motor/movement areas. For that reason, older antipsychotic
medications produced motor/movement problems that looked like
Parkinson's Disease – short-step gait, fixed facial expression,
tremors, poor balance, etc. Newer medications have fewer side
effects in motor areas, as they are able to specifically target one
type of Dopamine.

Dopamine levels typically change very slowly. Patients who develop
Paranoia and/or Schizophrenia often experience a gradual increase
in the severity of symptoms over those years. A typical high school
or college student may develop a sense of being on-edge or unusual
feelings, gradually becoming suspicious and feeling alienated, moving
into auditory hallucinations, and finally developing bizarre false
beliefs (delusions) of persecution or exaggerated self-importance
over the next several years. Stress can often rapidly increase
Dopamine, but it still rarely happens overnight.

When an individual becomes psychotic, paranoid, and hallucinates
in only a few days, we must strongly suspect medication/drug
intoxication or neurological events – something that could increase
Dopamine levels dramatically and almost instantly. The prolonged
use of amphetamines (speed) or steroids can produce a loss of
reality and sudden paranoia. As it might happen, a construction
worker taking "street" speed to increase his work productivity
finds his hand or foot talking to him (auditory hallucinations)
and decides to cut it off. The sudden presence of psychosis
(hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, etc.) in an individual with
a history of prior normal adjustment would suggest the need
for intensive medical and neurological workup.

It's safe to say I got paranoid just reading this. I have a feeling in a few years I'll be going schitzo

. And I also get this weird thing that only people that do a lot of crystal meth get. I feel like a spider is crawling on my arm and it really isn't and the funny thing is I'm not even on meth.