Dopamine

Category: neurotransmitter

Aliases: 3,4-Dihydroxyphenethylamine, DA

Pharmacological Mechanism

[[catecholamine_synthesis]] synthesised from [[tyrosine]] via L-DOPA (tyrosine hydroxylase, rate-limiting) → dopamine (AADC). Acts at [[dopamine_receptor_signaling]] D1-like (D1, D5) and D2-like (D2, D3, D4) GPCRs. Nigrostriatal pathway → motor control; mesolimbic → reward; mesocortical → executive function; tuberoinfundibular → prolactin suppression. Depleted in Parkinson's (nigrostriatal loss).

Dosing Guidelines

• IV: Typical 8mcg (Range: 2 - 20 mcg)

Target Organ Systems

• nervous
• endocrine

Interactions

• Levodopa
• Tyrosine
• Norepinephrine