Drugs' Effects on Dopamine

Drugs' Effects on Dopamine

Drugs' Effects on Dopamine

Your body's cells rely on a complex system of chemicals to communicate. Long-distance communication relies on hormones, while shorter travel requires neurotransmitters. Dopamine, a natural chemical produced by your body, functions as both.

Two of the most important functions of dopamine are controlling muscle movement and regulating emotional response. The area of the brain that contains dopamine is called the substantia nigra. Doctors and researchers have been able to learn more about disorders like Parkinson's disease by studying dopamine in the substantia nigra. In people with Parkinson's, the substantia nigra appears less degraded and less distinct. Thus, reduced dopamine contributes to the loss of controlled physical motion associated with Parkinson's disease. Doctors will sometimes give Parkinson's patients a dopamine replacement in order to help with symptoms.

Besides muscle movement, dopamine is also associated with emotional response. Dopamine is closely linked to the feelings of happiness and pleasure and can be produced after eating or sex. Additionally, some drugs can cause the production of dopamine, which is possibly why these medications can become so addicting. The good feelings associated with dopamine production can act as rewards for the body.

Some drugs, on the other hand, can also disrupt dopamine in order to treat conditions like schizophrenia. For people suffering from schizophrenia, the overproduction of dopamine can contribute to unstable mental state. Thus, they may take dopamine-depressing medication to control symptoms. This is also true for other mental disorders.

Lastly, some drugs can negatively affect the important dopamine neurotransmitter pathway. Metoclopramide, a drug present in Reglan, is meant to treat heartburn. At the same time, though, metoclopramide can also eat away at the dopamine receptors, causing a loss of muscular control. This often results in neuromuscular disorders such as tardive dyskinesia.

While some drugs are prescribed for their effects on dopamine, metoclopramide's damage on this pathway is only a dangerous side effect of this drug. If you believe that you now suffer from a neuromuscular disease from taking metoclopramide or Reglan, you should contact a Reglan lawsuit attorney from Williams Kherkher today.

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