Why do alpha agonists help ADHD?

[medstudent234]

My understanding that is they decrease sympathetic outflow and thus decrease norepinephrine. So why would decreasing norepinephrine help with ADHD? For instance, isn't Strattera blocking reuptake of norepinephrine, thus making it more available. Thanks so much for explaining!

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[hamstergang]

Magic!

Also, possibly post-synaptic alpha-2 receptors, not the typical pre-synaptic ones we're used to thinking of.

 

[Psychresy]

My understanding that is they decrease sympathetic outflow and thus decrease norepinephrine. So why would decreasing norepinephrine help with ADHD? For instance, isn't Strattera blocking reuptake of norepinephrine, thus making it more available. Thanks so much for explaining!

Increase of dopamine in the PFC. Could lend itself to better impulse control.

 

[michaelrack]

Just think of it as receptor "modulation "..... kind of like namenda and ketamine both block NMDA receptors but have very different effects

 

[clausewitz2]

Just think of it as receptor "modulation "..... kind of like namenda and ketamine both block NMDA receptors but have very different effects

That and ketamine is an agonist for opioid receptors to the point that naltrexone seems to block the anti-depressant effects, and namenda really doesn't interact with them.

When biologists say 'modulation', it means 'we have no idea how this works.'