Dopamine acting compounds [Mood and Motivation]

Dopamine is involved in mood and motivation as well as many functions of the brain and body. Dopamine is made from the amino acid L-DOPA (also called L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine). Raising your Dopamine levels can result in positive effects in memory, mood, motivation, sexual drive & function, and motor skills.

The most common way to effect Dopamine levels is by taking precursors:

The amino acid L-Phenylalanine converts into the amino acid L-Tyrosine in the body (which further converts into L-DOPA the direct precursor for Dopamine). It also converts into small amounts of the neuromodulator PhenylEthylAmine (commonly called PEA for short) which plays an important role in focus.

L-Tyrosine converts directly into L-DOPA and also converts into thyroid hormones that separately play an important role in cognition.

L-DOPA is the direct precursor for Dopamine and the most potent.