How do you get to know what drug inhibits a neurotransmitter release? It can be difficult to answer this question without knowing what a neurotransmitter is. A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger used by brain cells to communicate information.
Neuromuscular pathways in the brain consist of electrical signals that link one nerve cell to another. Neuromuscular pathways control the transfer of information from nerve to nerve. Neuromuscular pathways are organized chemically. Neuromuscular pathways control information from different areas of the brain to different regions of the body. These chemical messengers are responsible for coordinating and sending information from the brain to various parts of the body (1)(2).
When chemicals in the brain that control neurotransmitters are released in the absence of those chemicals, it causes a problem. Sometimes, these chemicals become over-excited and send confusing signals to various areas of the brain. This can result in messages being sent that are not completely correct.
Alcohol, like most other drugs, affects the actions of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. However, it does so in a way that seems counterintuitive to what is known about how the brain actually works. It is common to find that alcohol, when taken in large amounts, has a very powerful effect on the brain (3).
Some people argue that alcohol is more addictive than other drugs. Although this is true, the addiction to alcohol is caused by how alcohol affects the neurotransmitters in the brain (4). Alcohol affects your sense of smell and taste, your memory and learning, as well as your coordination and balance. In fact, alcohol is even known to have an effect on your heart rate!
What drug inhibits neurotransmitters?
There are several, including drugs that affect serotonin and dopamine, both of which are involved with mood. Cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamines all affect the same neurotransmitters. The difference between them, however, is that one is structurally linked to alcohol and can be particularly addictive. Others, such as alcohol, are not structurally linked to dopamine and alcohol does not have an addiction potential like other drugs.
With monoamine neurotransmitters, drugs like tenocyclidine, benocyclidine, ketamine, and dizocilpine are known to inhibit their reuptake.
Neurotransmitters and Alcoholism
What drug inhibits neurotransmitters and how does this relate to alcoholism and drug abuse? Alcoholism, in general, is a disease of the brain. In a normal functioning person, a variety of neurotransmitters are released from the brain, including ones that help to control emotion and movement. When alcohol enters the body, the neurotransmitters are over-excited and altered in a process called neuro-transformation. Neuro-transformation can impair judgment, impulse control, and perception. It can also increase the risk of developing a substance addiction (5).
If a person has too many neurotransmitters altered or not functioning properly, then the result can be alcohol or drug addiction. People with abnormally low dopamine levels (which are associated with depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, and similar mental disorders) do not show any of the classic symptoms of alcohol or drug addiction. As a result, they may drink frequently but do not exhibit the above-mentioned mental illnesses.
Interestingly enough, there are some people who have abnormally high levels of dopamine but do not suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction. These individuals still have normal or low self-esteem and are usually healthy. They simply drink alcohol in excess and engage in other risky behaviors. Other mental disorders are irrelevant when a person has abnormally high dopamine levels (6).
To understand alcohol and drug addiction, you must be aware of how neurotransmitters work. Monoamine is one neurotransmitter that is found throughout the brain and the entire central nervous system. It helps to transmit information between nerve cells. It is widely thought that the reward pathway is involved in the development of alcoholism and drug addiction. Any disruption of this pathway results in the release of a substance known as dopamine (7).
Other neurotransmitters are affected by alcohol and the resulting withdrawal effects can be severe in some people. Alcohol and other drugs affect many areas of the brain and, more importantly, many neurotransmitters. If your question is “what drug inhibits a neurotransmitter release?” then the answer is alcohol and especially alcohol addiction.
If you or somebody you love is suffering from alcohol or drug addiction, please seek professional help and advice. There is help available and you don’t have to continue to be destroyed by the disease. You can begin to get the help you need today. Remember one important fact – you are never alone. Reach out for help now!
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