I keep reading all these recreational drugs increase dopamine – the ‘feel good’ drug in the brain. So why is just injecting dopamine itself not a thing?

Question

I keep reading all these recreational drugs increase dopamine – the ‘feel good’ drug in the brain. So why is just injecting dopamine itself not a thing?

In: Biology

Answer 1

We infuse dopamine into people quite regularly to treat hypotension (dopamine is an inoconstrictor). Maybe for the reasons people have mentioned or maybe because they’re usually dying of sepsis, the patients tend not to report feelings of elation.