Eli5: When a dopamine agonist tricks the brain into thinking the molecules are actually dopamine, does the brain understand that it’s not dopamine and is like “that will work too I guess”?

Question

Eli5: When a dopamine agonist tricks the brain into thinking the molecules are actually dopamine, does the brain understand that it’s not dopamine and is like “that will work too I guess”?

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A molecule that looks like another can only simply sit in the receptor and prevent the actual molecule from getting to the brain. Caffeine works in a similar way by preventing the hormone that makes you sleepy from getting in. If you keep taking something that’s mimicking a molecule, the brain will eventually compensate and grow more receptors, but then that’s what causes withdrawal, cuz now you’re essentially overdosing on the actual hormone once you stop.