Ryan H asked:


I need to find a way to build up dopamine without taking antidepressants. Are there any vitamins I can take for this? If so, where would I get them?

Ranee

9 Responses to “Are there vitamins that can help build dopamine?”

1. kansas8099 on January 30th, 2010 1:50 pm

   Carlena

   no, dopamine is a chemical your body produces…it cannot be found in any herbal or vitamin treatments. Antidepressants are the only thing that can help if there truly is a chemical imbalance. is there a reason you do not wish to take them? If it’s side effects, talk to your doc – there are many different antidepressants and a lot of the newer ones have fewer side effects.

2. seemy silloute on February 2nd, 2010 11:52 am

   Joyce

   No but anti depressants do

3. summer_dawn_84 on February 4th, 2010 3:33 am

   Teofila

   Not that I know of. Antidepressants suck. I’m avoiding the necessity of taking them . There are ways of dealing with depression. I am battling it too. Good luck in your battles.

4. cyanne2ak on February 5th, 2010 8:59 pm

   Debi

   No, there aren’t any. You can only take the drug “El Dopa”, which is dopamine.

5. Ramuel on February 8th, 2010 10:42 am

   Dulce

   5-HTP builds up serotonin. Not the same thing, but it can help ease a dopamine crash while your body builds serotonin. You can buy it at any health food store and most wal-marts. It also helps you sleep.

6. Rare Indigo on February 10th, 2010 6:08 am

   Bettye

   Usually a lack of dopamine is associated with Parkinsons Disesase. L-dopa is prescribed to replace the lack of dopamine with little or no side effects. Some studies that I’ve read indicate that there is a link between the production of dopamine and Folic Acid but scientists haven’t been able to nail down a solution. You could at least ask your doctor if folic acid supplements would help.

7. Ryan Love on February 10th, 2010 11:35 pm

   Arleen

   If your desprate I know that a lot of CNSS type drugs have been shown or suspected to gradually increase dopamine levels over time.
   Drugs like Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy), Amphetamine (Speed) and Methamphetamine (Crystal Meth).
   Obviously these drugs have a lot of other effects too.
   Dopamine is not something easy to control. Not sure why you’re interested in that, since dopamine levels, high or low are suspcted to be directly realted to a lot of illnesses (like Schizophrenia or Psychosis)

8. bjoybeads on February 13th, 2010 2:34 pm

   Fred

   5-HTP, & there are other herbal formulas : Happy Camper is a favorite, and Ex-Stress…kava kava, passionfruit, B vitamins -
   Good luck !
   good luck !

9. spclsnwflk on February 16th, 2010 9:09 pm

   Laurice

   For one, don’t take 5-htp. It can actually *reduce* dopamine over time. L-tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine much the same way 5-htp is a precursor to seratonin. Be careful with it though. I tried it out and gave myself panic attacks. Vitamin B-6 is essential to dopamine production, so if you have a deficiency, your dopamine will be low.