| Neurotransmitter | Type | Derived From | Clinical Relevance |
|---|
| GABA | Amino acid | Glutamate | The most ubiquitous. Involved in sleep, anxiety reduction, muscle relaxation. Involved in relaxing effects of alcohol. |
| L-tryptophan (L-T) | Amino acid | Can only be obtained in the diet. | Promotes sleep, especially when taken with a high carbohydate, low protien meal. Dangerous when consumed with MAO antidepressants. |
| Tyramine (Tyr) | Amino acid | Fats and carbohydates | Dangerous when consumed with MAO antidepressants. |
| Glutamate (Glu) | Amino acid | Fats and carbohydates | MSG reaction to Chinese food. The major excitatory amino acid. May be associated with neurotoxic effect in alcoholism. |
| Dopamine (DA) | Biogenic amine | Tyrosine, fats, and carbohydates | Mania, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s diease, attention deficit disorder, substance abuse, tics, blood pressure regulation. Antipsychotics (major tranquilizers) inhibit DA action. Some antidepessants act here. |
| Norepinephrine (NE) | Biogenic amine | Dopamine | Depression, anxiety, panic, blood pressure regulation. Necessary for learning and memory. |
| Serotonin (5-HT) | Biogenic amine | L-tryptophan | Depression, mania, anxiety, blood pressure and temerature regulation. Many antidepressants, new antipsychotics, and nonadicting antianxiety agents act on these conditions via this neurotransmitter. |
