Hi Ron et al.,
Please read this info before you try intranasal dopamine. X
"[I]Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disease is not an exaggerated response to foreign matter. This syndrome occurs when foreign chemicals modify tissues or immune cells, affecting the regulation of immune response such as the production of antibodies and inflammatory response. The result is an immune response against our own tissues, tissue damage and disease. The mechanisms which allow this to occur in the body are complex, but there are genetic and environmental factors which affect an individuals susceptibility to autoimmune disease. Exposure to sulfa, penicillin, vinyl chloride, gold salts, silica, mercury, methyl dopa, and other compounds can induce this response by the immune system. Systemic lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are two autoimmune diseases. It should be noted that viral, hormonal, and emotional factors can also contribute to the development of autoimmune disease."[/I

let me see if I can explain a bit more.

Repeated inhalation of a compound can cause asthma. In fact thats how we induce asthma in experimental animals in the lab. Asthma is nothing but immune response to a compound, which includes inflammation, antibodies etc. If Dopamine is repeatedly inhaled, immune responses directed against dopamine or dopamine bound to its receptors can be generated. In essense you are generating an autoimmune responses to Dopamine. YOu may have great relief the first two times or 4 times, then asthma-like symptoms develop...........

I agree this is all based on theory and the immediate relief may be a better option than worrying about what might happen. But just thought I should let you know while I search for more on this topic and consult some of my colleagues.

Girija

Thanks Girija,
It pays to be cautious. My plan would be to try it once and if it worked, hand it over to the professionals. However, it is worth checking every aspect before it is even tried once. I felt it was not too much of a risk. Dopamine is naturally present in the body and the brain, but your information on asthma is valuble.
However, why don't drug addicts suffer from asthma, they repeatedly snort drugs daily. My wife uses an inhaler regularly. In several industries, like perfume, they have panels of sniffers to evaluate products.
Then there is increased use of the nasal route by the medical profession for other illnesses. It seems to be a up and coming drug delivery method.
I am not trying to knock your valuable warning, I agree with your cautious approach.
Thanks for your help.
Ron

Hi Ron,
Good questions and I expected questions from you and others! This is the best part about this forum!
Here are some answers or at least explanations!

What I wrote earlier is not a universal rule, just a possibility.

Inhalers used for asthma have steroids I think, and steroids are immuno suppresive.

Perfumes do cause allergies in some. since they are not made by your body and not "your own compounds" immune responses stop after the perfume is gone.

Newer intra nasal applications are coming up. There the compounds are packaged with PEG or liposomes or as nanoparaticles and some how are not recognized by the immune system.

I dont have an explanation for drug addicts......
girija

Is Mucuna snortable? Would that be an option?

Hi PaceM,
In theory yes it does not contain a decarboxylation inhibitor ie carbidopa. However, you would take in a much higher dose than from a dilute solution of dopamine. Not only would you get a high dose but you could not control the level. Our friend in Chile tried this some time ago, I can't remember all the details, but I think he was on a high for some time. He has since died of unrelated causes. It might be possible to cut it with a harmless solid, but I would not try it.
Ron

You have to watch what you snort up your nose. Long ago I had a friend who learned the hard way. Something very important went into spasm and he couldn't breathe. Had there not been a quick thinking asthmatic there with her inhaler he would have died.

Thought I would summarise this one before it dies out like all threads do.
Using dopamine in aqueous solution in a fine spray, inhaled through the nose is capable of depositing dopamine in the brain, by-passing the BBB. This has been confirmed in rats.
A couple of questions arise, notably dopamine as the pure compound is not very stable, and is sold as the stable hydrochloride salt. Sigma -ALDRICH sell lab quantities for $13 for 5 gms. This price would be dramatically lower for industrial quantities, similar to what sinemet costs.
This salt is easily transformed into the amine by neutralising with say sodium bicarbonate. The neutralisation should not be taken to completion, but to pH just on the acid side, 6,8. This solution would then be stable for at least 48 hours, and its stability may possibly be extended by using trace amounts of a natural water soluble antioxidant, eg vitamin C. The solution would contain salt, which would be difficult to remove.
Girija has rightly flagged up that long term use of a nasal spray could cause asthma. However, the route is being increasingly used as a drug delivery method. Is it any greater risk than me taking Pergolide for 10 years and now find it can cause heart valve problems.
So several points would have to be determined by a short research project.
1 What is the optimum aqueous solution, dopamine level, pH, antioxidant and level?
2. Does the spray give an immediate or longer term relief from symptoms?
3. What are the risks of long term use.
4. Side effects would not be expected but that would need to be confirmed
It would not be a cure, but far easier control of symptoms.
It could surely be checked relatively safely that it works or not for humans for a few thousand $. Compared to the billions spent up to date, it would be a small price to pay. One would find it difficult to attempt without laboratory faclities to carefully adjust and measure accurately the pH (acidity) of the solution. The spray would be no problem, any spray which forms a fine mist would do.
Compare this with the trauma of a DBS, clamping your head in a vice, drilling a hole through your skull, planting electrodes in your brain, wires and control unit in your body, etc. This is not a cure either. You still deteriorate, and many still need copious quantities of sinemet.
Ron