CFS & Fibromyalgia Living With Low Dopamine in Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS By Adrienne Dellwo Adrienne Dellwo LinkedIn Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 03, 2022 Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD Medically reviewed by David Ozeri, MD LinkedIn David Ozeri, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist from Tel Aviv, Israel specializing in arthritis, autoimmune diseases, and biologic therapies. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Why should you know about low dopamine symptoms – that is, the effects of low dopamine – in fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome? Bartomeu Amengual / Getty Images First, because dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical released by nerve cells (neurons), it has a number of important functions in your brain. Second, people with fibromyalgia (FMS) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS or ME/CFS) generally have low dopamine levels, which makes them prone to a variety of symptoms and conditions. What Does Dopamine Normally Do? The different functions of dopamine in your brain include helping you: Focus your attention and concentrate on tasks – low levels of dopamine are linked with the development of ADD/ADHD Control how your body moves – extremely low levels of dopamine can lead to Parkinson's disease, characterized by tremors (shaking) and problems with balance and coordination Understanding Low Dopamine Symptoms No neurotransmitter acts alone. They all work together in your brain and body, forming a complex web of activity that scientists are only just beginning to understand. There has been progress, however: experts have been able to 1) link different neurotransmitter imbalances with certain symptoms and disorders and 2) find ways to help boost or decrease neurotransmitter activity. Low dopamine levels are associated with the following symptoms: Stiff, rigid, achy musclesTremorsImpaired fine motor skills -- problems making small movements, such as picking up small things or holding a forkCognitive (thinking) impairment (often called brain fog or fibro fog)Inability to focus attentionPoor balance and coordinationA noticeably odd, small-step walking pattern (gait) Does Taking Certain Medications Risk Lowering Dopamine Levels? Neuroleptic (antipsychotic) medications typically lower dopamine levels. If you're taking any of them, check with your healthcare provider about any symptoms you may have that could be due to low dopamine levels. You'll want to work with your healthcare provider to balance benefits and side effects of these medications. Common medications in this class include: Clozaril (clozapine)Haldol (haloperidol)Risperdal (risperidone)Seroquel (quetiapine)Zyprexa (olanzapine) Ways to Increase Dopamine Levels Treatment of low dopamine levels may include therapy with a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant medication containing methylphenidate, such as Ritalin, Concerta, or Metadate. There isn't a lot of research confirming that food can boost dopamine levels in your brain. What's more, even if it does, it's believed you'd need to consume huge amounts to get the desired effect. Nevertheless, despite the lack of hard evidence, some experts believe that the following foods may help: FruitVegetablesUnprocessed meatDairy foodsEggsFishNutsDark chocolateBeans Supplements believed to help raise dopamine levels include: Rhodiola rosea, an herb sometimes called golden root or Arctic rootL-theanine, also known as suntheanine, an amino acid derived from tea leaves A Note on L-Theanine Researchers aren't sure how L-theanine impacts levels of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter found mainly in your brain, bowels, and blood platelets. If you think you may want to try L-theanine, get your healthcare provider's okay first. You can also learn about serotonin-related symptoms; if you notice any, tell your healthcare provider. What Else Should I Know? While it's generally safe to experiment with these kinds of foods and supplements, don't expect miracles or make extreme or sudden changes to your diet. Instead, make changes slowly and track your dietary changes and symptoms in a symptom journal, which will give you an accurate sense of what's helping and what isn't. And remember, always work with your healthcare provider about managing your diet and taking medications and supplements. Frequently Asked Questions Which supplements can increase dopamine? Supplements believed to increase dopamine levels include L-tyrosine, L-DOPA, L-theanine, and rhodiola rosea (golden root). Speak with a healthcare provider before using these supplements. What are symptoms of low dopamine? Symptoms of low dopamine can include cognitive impairment, difficulty with focus and concentration, poor balance or coordination, impaired fine motor skills, stiff muscles, tremors, and more. In some cases, low dopamine levels can be the result of certain conditions such as Parkinson's disease. Does L-theanine increase dopamine? It is unclear how L-theanine impacts dopamine or serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects memory and mood regulation. However, it is hypothesized that L-theanine found in black or green tea may improve dopamine levels in people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. 11 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Albrecht DS, MacKie PJ, Kareken DA, et al. Differential dopamine function in fibromyalgia. Brain Imaging and Behavior. 2015;10(3):829-839. doi:10.1007/s11682-015-9459-4 Gold MS, Blum K, Oscar–Berman M, Braverman ER. Low dopamine function in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: should genotyping signify early diagnosis in children? Postgraduate Medicine. 2015;126(1):153-177. doi:10.3810/pgm.2014.01.2735 Masato A, Plotegher N, Boassa D, Bubacco L. Impaired dopamine metabolism in Parkinson’s disease pathogenesis. Mol Neurodegeneration. 2019;14(1). doi:10.1186/s13024-019-0332-6 NIH National Institute on Aging. Parkinson's disease. Dan X, Liu J, Doyon J, Zhou Y, Ma J, Chan P. Impaired fine motor function of the asymptomatic hand in unilateral Parkinson’s disease. Front. Aging Neurosci. 2019;11. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2019.00266 Kravitz HM, Katz RS. Fibrofog and fibromyalgia: a narrative review and implications for clinical practice. Rheumatol Int. 2015;35(7):1115-1125. doi:10.1007/s00296-014-3208-7 Gossman W, Sangani A, Saadabadi A. Neuroleptic medications. In: StatPearls. Drugs.com. CNS stimulants. BBC. What is the dopamine diet? University Health News Daily. Dopamine supplements to improve depression symptoms, mood, and motivation. Deb S, Dutta A, Phukan BC, et al. Neuroprotective attributes of L-theanine, a bioactive amino acid of tea, and its potential role in Parkinson's disease therapeutics. Neurochem Int. 2019 Oct;129:104478. doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2019.104478 By Adrienne Dellwo Adrienne Dellwo is an experienced journalist who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and has written extensively on the topic. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit