Dopamine is just one(1) neurotransmitter within your system's complex of neurotransmitters. Unfortunately, many have over exaggerated its importance in treating PD and related energy depletion issues. It isn't that simple. If it were, we would all just dump buckets of dopamine drugs down our mouths and live happily ever after. Obviously, all one has to do is look at the long term deterioration of PD patients on Sinemet, Stalevo or Rytary on this forum or any other PD forum and realize dopamine is not the only factor influencing PD.
As to fatigue and what to do about it in PD, I have my opinions.
IMO, dopamine is just one factor in the energy cycle (the production of energy is often referred to as metabolism) which takes place in every cell. When energy is required, walking, running, etc., your system goes into action to necessarily flood every cell to increase the available mitochondria. It isn't about the release of dopamine or not (I'm not talking about someone with almost no dopamine release here). The level of increase in your mitochondria (the number or size or both) is critical because if they don't increase during that process, the body has very little energy = fatigue. As part of this process, if you can't generate enough oxygen because you have no or minimal aerobic capacity, you are even more fatigued...one follows the other. Don;t kid yourself that some drug will do it for you.
Therefore, It isn't as simple as "dump more and more dopamine down your throat"...Contrary to popular opinion, dopamine is just one variable within the neurotransmitter complex and within the "sum" of our human system. It doesn't control everything, far from it.
Beyond very short term needs for energy, the KREBS cycle dominates because it produces more lasting energy than any other pathway. More lasting energy is the key for most of us on a daily basis. Dopamine release plays a role in doing that, but it is far, far, far from being a dominant factor. Not even close.
The role of enzymes in the KREBS energy cycle? Extremely important because they help produce energy in this cycle. You are playing with fire if you think you should "inhibit" them when you are playing with your chemistry set.
"One Trick Ponies" are rarely the answer, unfortunately.
S
Suggestions on natural herbs or vitamins to boost your mood?
PD Mechanics: Cause of Resting Tremors
Effects of coenzyme Q10 in early Parkinson disease: evidence of slowing of the functional decline
