What does it mean when a substance is known to “agonize serotonin and dopamine”?

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Does this mean it reduces serotonin and dopamine, or increases them? Wikipedia says an agonist, “is a chemical that activates a receptor to produce a biological response.” But that doesn’t answer my question. I’m not a scientist or medical person. (“Biology” flair because that seems closest…)

In: Biology

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Anonymous 0 Comments

An agonist binds to the same receptors and stimulates the same response as something like dopamine. An antagonist would bind to the same receptor , blocking dopamine from doing so , without stimulating the same response. So an agonist can boost the effect you might otherwise be getting by basically adding extra ‘pretend’ , imitation dopamine.

I think.

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