Dopamine Agonist Drugs List, Side Effects & Natural Supplements

A dopamine agonist is defined as any substance which activates dopamine receptors, imitating the physiological response of the same-named neurotransmitter.

Dopamine receptors exist in different parts of the brain and play a number of different cognitive and physiological roles. Depending on the type of agonist administered, some subset or all of the types of dopamine receptors may be activated.

A number of different pharmaceutical agents act as dopamine agonists, including stimulants, medications for treating Parkinson’s disease and some drugs used to treat Restless Leg Syndrome.

What are the different uses of dopamine agonists and what are some of the commonly used drugs that increase dopaminergic activity in the brain?

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Parkinson’s Disease and Dopamine

Many health professionals believe that dopamine deficiencies are inevitable with increasing age. It is estimated that as much as 70% of all people have dopamine levels that are less than what they should be for optimal health.

Low dopamine may be linked to mood dysfunction, poor executive function, low energy levels and more. But more serious problems can occur when amounts of dopamine in the brain decline to very low levels.

With age, levels of dopamine decrease in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia. Dopamine receptors also begin to die off; when enough of these cells are eliminated, a diagnosis of Parkinson’s is the result.

Neurons in the basal ganglia are responsible for controlling coordination and intentional motor movement. When dopamine levels are deficient here, movement can become slow and off-balance. If levels are high, then movement can be quirky and unpredictable.

Levodopa is the standard pharmaceutical used for treating dopaminergic disorders like Parkinson’s disease (PD). This drug increases levels of dopamine in the brain, but it may not work for everyone.

Dopamine agonists have also been studied for their effects in treating Parkinson’s symptoms. Unlike Levodopa, dopamine agonists do not require modification from brain enzymes to stimulate dopamine receptors.

Dopamine agonists like pramipexole and ropinirole may be used in place of Levodopa during the early stages of Parkinson’s. As PD symptoms almost always worsen with time, dopamine agonists are often combined with Levodopa in later stages.

Carbidopa is a levodopa enhancer. It allows for less levodopa to be used; decreasing chances for developing side effects. Dopamine agonists are of value because they provide options for levodopa/carbidopa therapy.

Long term use of Levodopa is associated with multiple potentials for adverse effects. In some cases, the side effect of common dopamine agonists are less concerning than those of Levodopa.

Dopamine Agonists

There are a number of different dopamine agonists used medicinally for the treatment of Parkinson’s, Restless Leg Syndrome and other conditions.

Aripiprazole (Abilify) is an agonist of the D2 dopamine family of receptors and is used as an atypical antipsychotic medication.

The illicit drug PCP (Phencyclidine) is a partial dopamine agonist. The primary active compound in the herb salvia divinorum also works by agonizing D2 receptors.

Most of the dopamine agonist drugs in use today are involved in the treatment of Parkinson’s. Below are some common examples.

Ropinirole and Pramipexole:

The two most commonly prescribed dopamine agonist in the United States are ropinirole (Requip®) and pramipexole (Mirapex®). Both of these gained FDA approval in 1997.

They are both effective for treating the motor movement-based symptoms of early-stage Parkinson’s disease. They serve important roles in controlling movement fluctuations.

Rotigotine:

Rotigotine is also called Neupro® patch. This dopamine agonist was taken off the market in 2008, but returned in 2012. It is formulated as a transdermal patch to be changed once daily.

Research has shown rotigotine to be as effective for controlling early-stage Parkinson’s as are pramipexole and ropinirole.

Apomorphine:

Apomorphine is also known as (Apokyn®). It began being used for Parkinson’s in the 1950s. It lost popularity because of common associated cases of nausea and vomiting. In the 1990s. apomorphine was reformulated as a self-use injection.

Apomorphine can be taken up to 5 times daily as needed. It is considered a “rescue” agent, used primarily for episodes of severe freezing or “off” episodes.

Dopamine Agonist Side Effects

Like levodopa, dopamine agonists are associated with multiple possible side effects. The most common of these include daytime sleepiness, swollen ankles, confusion, visual hallucinations, compulsive behaviors and dyskinesia (abnormal/impaired movement).

Other side effects associated with dopamine agonists include dizziness, dry mouth, vomiting and orthostatic hypotension (“head rush”). Sedation is also experienced in some people. Driving or operating machinery may become dangerous.

Between 5 and 10 percent of those using dopamine agonists experience behavioral side effects related to controlling impulses.

Certain behaviors like engaging excessively in gambling, sex, shopping and/or binge eating may become problematic. In most cases, these side effects are resolved by decreasing dosage or discontinuing use of the dopamine agonist.

Parkinson’s disease medications, including several dopamine agonists, may interact negatively with certain foods, diseases, herbs and dietary supplements. Anyone routinely using medications for controlling Parkinson’s disease should seek medical advice about these interaction potentials.

Natural Dopamine Sources

Many people look for natural compounds which can help boost dopamine synthesis inside the brain. The two most commonly used are L-tyrosine and Mucuna pruriens.

L-tyrosine (C9H11NO3) is an amino acid which is the precursor of natural L-DOPA (C9H11NO4). L-DOPA is the compound used to synthesize dopamine (C8H11NO2).

Mucuna pruriens is a legume that grows natively in tropical regions in Africa and Asia. It is commonly called velvet bean and contains about 5 percent natural L-DOPA in its seeds. Extracts of M. pruriens are used to help raise dopamine concentrations if the brain.

Both L-tyrosine and Mucuna pruriens are well tolerated in most healthy adults. They can increase brain dopamine without causing adverse effects commonly associated with dopamine agonists and levodopa.

Conclusions

It is commonly said that if we lived long enough, all of us would develop Parkinson’s Disease, and eventually die from it. Levodopa and dopamine agonists are used in millions of people to treat PD and other dopaminergic conditions.

Although levodopa is associated with various adverse effects, and those side effects get potentially worse over time of usage, it is still considered the best pharmaceutical option for Parkinson’s treatment.

By adopting certain lifestyle habits, you may be able to maintain healthy dopamine levels for longer. Eating foods which encourage dopamine synthesis is one effective method for this.

Some of the best dopamine foods include lean meats, fish, turkey, beans, green leafy vegetables and seeds. Bananas, cherries, strawberries, blueberries and other low-fat, high-protein foods also make good choices.

Regular exercise, managing stress effectively and getting proper sleep are also important for maintaining dopamine levels with aging.

Speak with a doctor about the safety and possible benefits of dopamine agonists for your unique health state.

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