Dopamine is an importantneurotransmitterthat plays a role in a variety of mental functions.
Dopamine levels can have an impact on mood, memory, and behavior.
Dopamine agonists are sometimes used to treat disorders linked to problems with dopamine, includingschizophreniaandbipolar disorder.
This article will explain how dopamine agonists are used to treat psychotic conditions.
This effect is best illustrated byAbilify (aripiprazole)and Rexulti (brexipiprazole).
These second-generation antipsychotic/atypical neuroleptics are different from all the otheratypical antipsychoticsbecause of how they work.
Dopamine is released into the synaptic space from vesicles housed in the pre-synaptic neuron.
These chemicals then bind to dopamine receptors in the postsynaptic neuron.
Thepositive symptomsof schizophrenia are thought to be a result of all these extra dopamine molecules.
Dopamine Antagonists
Some antipsychotic medications work as dopamine antagonists.
They bind to the dopamine receptors, thus blocking dopamine from binding to the post-synaptic cell.
And without the proper key, i.e.
dopamine, the lock does not open.
This prevents excess dopamine activity and helps relieve some of the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Dopamine antagonists are effective for positive symptoms because they block receptors in brain regions that have too much dopamine.
Dopamine Partial Agonists
A potential solution is to use partial agonists.
A dopamine partial agonist is a molecule that binds to the receptor and partially activates it.
In other words, a partial effect.
Because the receptors are only partially activated, dopamine activity is minimized.
This can help add to the dopamine effect in synapses that were previously dopamine-deprived.
Recap
Dopamine partial agonists, such as aripiprazole, act as a modulator of dopamine effects.
Serotonin is another neurotransmitter involved in mood.
Research has also found thatcannabidiol(CBD) acts as a dopamine partial agonist and may have antipsychotic effects.
These conditions are associated with too much dopamine activity.
Research suggests that aripiprazole is as effective as other antipsychotic medications in the treatment of schizophrenia.
A benefit of this medication is that it is less likely to produce extrapyramidal side effects than typical antipsychotics.
It is also less likely to produce metabolic changes than other atypical antipsychotic medications.
What Are Extrapyramidal Side Effects?
Extrapyramidal side effectsare involuntary movements that sometimes occur when taking antipsychotic medication.
Potential Pitfalls
Dopamine agonists can still have side effects and other adverse reactions.
These medications work by affecting dopamine receptors to help modulate dopamine levels in the body.
This may help relieve some psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking.
Seeman P.Cannabidiol is a partial agonist at dopamine D2High receptors, predicting its antipsychotic clinical dose.Transl Psychiatry.
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doi:10.1038/tp.2016.195
National Alliance on Mental Illness.Aripiprazole (Abilify).
2018;74(10):1215-1233. doi:10.1007/s00228-018-2498-1
FDA.Highlights of prescribing information: Abilify.
Divac N, Prostran M, Jakovcevski I, Cerovac N.Second-generation antipsychotics and extrapyramidal adverse effects.BioMed Res Int.
