L-tyrosine is an amino acid which is the precursor neurotransmitters like adrenaline, nor-adrenaline and dopamine. However, L-tyrosine information provided by searchers depicts that it has little effect on mood and behavior. A lot of studies about L-tyrosine information have remarked that this amino acid is helpful in decreasing stress, cold, fatigue, prolonged work and sleep deprivation by reducing stress hormone levels. It also improves cognitive and physical functions in human beings. L-tyrosine is present in many proteins found in every day foods and is a part of signal transduction processes in human body. In plants, it helps the process of photosynthesis. L-tyrosine supplements are used as natural antidepressants. Till now, no L-tyrosine side effects have been shown by any L-tyrosine information.
Ecstasy Effects
MDMA (Ecstasy) selectively destroys axon terminals of 5-HT neurons in the brain. Many studies have remarked that dopamine plays main role in this toxicity. More or less, it is clear from studies that dopamine produces toxic oxidative species like oxygen species and quinines. But, the production of these species by dopamine is, however, yet unknown. There are many hypothesis developed about its mechanism of action, one of which I would like describe here. When MDMA is administered with the L-tyrosine supplements, L-tyrosine MDMA is produced, which has damaging effects.
L-Tyrosine Effects
L-tyrosine contributes to the neurodegenerative process, as it is also the precursor of dopamine. After the administration of MDMA, L-tyrosine (natural antidepressant) is seen 5-fold increased in vivo. Contrary to dopamine, tyrosine amino acid is actively transported from the peripheral areas to the brain and neuronal cells. L-tyrosine produces deleterious effects in 5-HT neurons, as it is the natural precursor of dopamine in dopamine neurons and may lead to L-tyrosine ecstasy. MDMA produces oxidative environment and hyperthermia in 5-HT neurons. This damaging process causes non-enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine to dopamine precursor (DOPA). DOPA is then decarboxylated to dopamine by the action of an aromatic amino acid decarboxylase within the 5-HT neuron terminals, causing dopamine accumulation in the neuron terminals. Dopamine derives toxic oxygen species, thus, damage the 5-HT terminals. The purpose of describing this hypothesis was to extract the following specific functions of L-tyrosine:
• Non-enzymatic oxidation of tyrosine to DOPA and then to dopamine within the terminals of 5-HT neurons
• L-tyrosine contributes to MDMA and hyperthermia induced oxidative stress (effect of L-tyrosine MDMA)
• Assessment of neuronal damage
This hypothesis shows that L-tyrosine does not cure ecstasy hangover, rather it causes L-tyrosine ecstasy when L-tyrosine is used in combination with MDMA (due to L-tyrosine MDMA). In nutshell, it is believed that L-tyrosine is increased by MDMA and this leads to L-tyrosine side effects such as L-tyrosine ecstasy due to MDMA. L-tyrosine causes no side effects until it is used properly. But, when used with other medications like MAO inhibitors and MDMA, L-tyrosine side effects may happen to occur. And, thus, this natural antidepressant becomes dangerous to the body as it leads to 5-HT destruction at the neuronal endings. In conclusion, L-tyrosine produces deleterious effects when used with MDMA and may exaggerate the effect of MDMA.