How Can Dopamine Levels Be Checked When One's Enthusiasm And Drive Have Come Down?

Posted on Tue, 6 Mar 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 6 Mar 2018 Answered on

Fri, 25 Jan 2019 Last reviewed on

Question : I feel my dopamine levels have come down. how can I check the same. my enthusiasm and drive had come down drastically kindly help

Answered by Dr. salah saad shoman (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Catecholamines test.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Dopamine deficiency can lead to a wide range of symptoms including muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness, loss of balance, difficulty eating and swallowing that is accompanied with rapid weight gain and gastric reflux. It can also lead to low energy, constant fatigue, inability to focus and trouble sleeping or disturbed sleep. Other symptoms include anxiety, loss of libido and depression.

I would recommend that you get a blood test to check on your catecholamines level including dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine. If dopamine levels are found to be low then you should refer to your doctor to get a prescription of a norepinephrine and dopamine re-uptake inhibitor like Bupropion.

Adopting a healthy life style may help increase your dopamine levels like exercising daily for half an hour, avoiding high sugar and fatty foods and increasing your daily intake of vegetables, fruits and proteins.

I hope you find this helpful.

Regards,
Dr. Salah Saad Shoman
Internal Medicine Specialist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D