Complete Neuropharmacology & Clinical Drug Mastery: Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA, Opioids, Anticonvulsants, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Epilepsy, Analgesia, Anesthesia, Local & General, Malignant Hyperthermia, Serotonin Syndrome, Drug MOAs, Side Eff

Complete Neuropharmacology & Clinical Drug Mastery: Dopamine, Serotonin, GABA, Opioids, Anticonvulsants, Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, Anxiety, Epilepsy, Analgesia, Anesthesia, Local & General, Malignant Hyperthermia, Serotonin Syndrome, Drug MOAs, Side Effects, DAT/5HT/Na+/Ca2+ Channels, AEDs, Benzodiazepines, SSRIs, MAOIs, Triptans, Buprenorphine, Naloxone, Suggamadex, High-Yield Exam Essentials Questions Verified and Provided with A+ Graded Rationales Latest UPDATED 2026 Brupropion MOA: blocks dopamine transporter Use: depression & smoking cessation dopamine transporter (DAT) membrane protein that enables the presynaptic neuron to reabsorb dopamine after releasing it ***usually inhibited to ↑ dopamine in the synaptic cleft EX: brupropion Parkinson's involves what dopamine pathway? nigrostriatal pathway Parkinson's positive symptoms tremor at rest muscular rigidity involuntary movements (not enough dopamine) Parkinson's negative symptoms abnormal posture festination abnormal speech akinesia (blank expressions) bradykinesia (not enough dopamine) Selegiline MOA: MAO-inhibitor - cannot metabolize dopamine as fast and it stays in the synaptic cleft longer Carbidopa/L-Dopa blocks conversion - ↑ dopamine in the synaptic cleft What drugs can directly activate dopamine receptors? pramipexole ropinirole bromocriptine ways to increase dopamine in the synaptic cleft: MAO-Inhibitors (selegiline) Dopamine receptor agonists ↑ L-DOPA Block DAT (brupropion) What brain circuit does amphetamines work on? mesolimbic dopamine circuit Amphetamines MOA: BLOCK NET/DAT transporters to stop their re-uptake and ↑ NE/DA release Use: ADHD Adverse effects: - easily abused/addicting - insomnia, anxiety, ↓ appetite Schizophrenia positive symptoms hallucinations delusions TOO MUCH dopamine in the MESOLIMBIC Schizophrenia: (+) symptoms = too ________ dopamine in the meso_______ (-) symptoms = too ________ dopamine in the meso_______ Schizophrenia: (+) symptoms = too MUCH dopamine in the MESOLIMBIC (-) symptoms = too LITTLE dopamine in the MESOCORTEX Schizophrenia negative symptoms Disturbance of affect: expression of emotion Blunting: severe reduction in the intensity of affect expression Flat affect: no signs of emotional expression conventional antipsychotics control the "positive" symptoms of Schitzophrenia - such as hallucinations, delusions and confusion MOA: D2 antagonists ***make depression & negative symptoms WORSE atypical antipsychotics most effective on (+) symptoms of schizophrenia, also limit negative symptoms as well MOA: D2 antagonist & 5HT2 antagonist clozapine schizophrenia drug MOA: D4 antagonist & 5HT2 antagonist ***used if usual/previous atypical antipsychotics are not working etc. Which dopamine receptors are excitatory? D1 and D5 Which dopamine receptors are inhibitory? D2, D3, D4 What drug combo will resu