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How To Increase Dopamine Levels?

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Posted on Mon, 21 Jul 2014
Question: I have an adult son who was recently diagnosed with ADHD. He has his Master's, played college football, and was teaching when life just became more and more difficult. He is in therapy and taking Adderall. He uptakes slowly and really struggles with the dopamine deficiency, which gives him a tough time every day. He has always eaten a very healthy diet, he exercises regularly, struggles with sleep, distraction. It was never suggested in his childhood that he was ADHD, always well behaved and appropriately social. During the difficult time each day, he says he really struggles with distractions, and nothing quite feels right, which creates an anxious feeling. I just learned from this site that Adderall can lower dopamine levels, which are already lower in ADHD people, how can we treat the lower dopamine levels?
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Answered by Dr. Omprakash Ashokrao Deshmukh (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
methylphenidate can be tried

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for query.
Some studies have found that long term use of methylphenidate over 12 months can increase the dopamine levels by 24%.
So asked your treating doctor about giving the methylphenidate.
Let me know Any further query.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Omprakash Ashokrao Deshmukh

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 633 Questions

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How To Increase Dopamine Levels?

Brief Answer: methylphenidate can be tried Detailed Answer: Thanks for query. Some studies have found that long term use of methylphenidate over 12 months can increase the dopamine levels by 24%. So asked your treating doctor about giving the methylphenidate. Let me know Any further query. Thanks.