List of dopaminergic drugs

Dopamine receptor ligands

Dopamine receptors are a class of G protein-coupled receptors that are prominent in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) and are implicated in many neurological processes, including motivational and incentive salience, cognition, memory, learning, and fine motor control, as well as modulation of neuroendocrine signaling. Abnormal dopamine receptor signaling and dopaminergic nerve function is implicated in several neuropsychiatric disorders. Dopamine receptors are therefore common drug targets.

Dopamine receptors activate different effectors through not only G-protein coupling, but also signaling through different protein (dopamine receptor-interacting proteins) interactions.

Agonists

Adamantanes: Amantadine • Memantine • Rimantadine

Aminotetralins: 7-OH-DPAT • 8-OH-PBZI • Rotigotine • UH-232

Benzazepines: 6-Br-APB • Fenoldopam • SKF-38,393 • SKF-77,434 • SKF-81,297 • SKF-82,958 • SKF-83,959

Ergolines: Bromocriptine • Cabergoline • Dihydroergocryptine • Lisuride • Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) • Pergolide

Dihydrexidine derivatives: 2-OH-NPA • A-86,929 • Ciladopa • Dihydrexidine • Dinapsoline • Dinoxyline • Doxanthrine

Others: A-68,930 • A-77,636 • A-412,997 • ABT-670 • ABT-724 • Aplindore • Apomorphine • Aripiprazole • Azodopa • Bifeprunox • BP-897 • CY-208,243 • Dizocilpine • Etilevodopa • Flibanserin • Ketamine • Melevodopa • Modafinil • Pardoprunox • Phencyclidine • PD-128,907 • PD-168,077 • PF-219,061 • Piribedil • Pramipexole • Propylnorapomorphine • Pukateine • Quinagolide • Quinelorane • Quinpirole • RDS-127 • Ro10-5824 • Ropinirole • Rotigotine • Roxindole • Salvinorin A • SKF-89,145 • Sumanirole • Terguride • Umespirone • WAY-100,635

Antagonists

Typical antipsychotics: Acepromazine • Azaperone • Benperidol • Bromperidol • Clopenthixol • Chlorpromazine • Chlorprothixene • Droperidol • Flupentixol • Fluphenazine • Fluspirilene • Haloperidol • Loxapine • Mesoridazine • Methotrimeprazine • Nemonapride • Penfluridol • Perazine • Periciazine • Perphenazine • Pimozide • Prochlorperazine • Promazine • Sulforidazine • Sulpiride • Sultopride • Thioridazine • Thiothixene • Trifluoperazine • Triflupromazine • Trifluperidol • Zuclopenthixol

Atypical antipsychotics: Amisulpride • Asenapine • Blonanserin • Cariprazine • Carpipramine • Clocapramine • Clozapine • Gevotroline • Iloperidone • Lurasidone • Melperone • Molindone • Mosapramine • Ocaperidone • Olanzapine • Paliperidone • Perospirone • Piquindone • Quetiapine • Remoxipride • Risperidone • Sertindole • Tiospirone • Ziprasidone • Zotepine

Antiemetics: AS-8112 • Alizapride • Bromopride • Clebopride • Domperidone • Metoclopramide • Thiethylperazine

Others: Amoxapine • Buspirone • Butaclamol • Ecopipam • N-Ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1,2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) • Eticlopride • Fananserin • L-745,870 • Nafadotride • Nuciferine • PNU-99,194 • Raclopride • Sarizotan • SB-277,011-A • SCH-23,390 • SKF-83,566 • SKF-83,959 • Sonepiprazole • Spiperone • Spiroxatrine • Stepholidine • Tetrahydropalmatine • Tiapride • UH-232 • Yohimbine

Reuptake inhibitors

Dopamine transporter (DAT) inhibitors

Piperazines: DBL-583 • GBR-12,935 • Nefazodone • Vanoxerine

Piperidines: 1-(1-(1-Benzothiophen-2-yl)cyclohexyl)piperidine (BTCP) • Desoxypipradrol • Dextromethylphenidate • Difemetorex • Ethylphenidate • Methylnaphthidate • Isopropylphenidate • Methylphenidate • Phencyclidine • Pipradrol

Pyrrolidines: Diphenylprolinol • Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) • Naphyrone • Prolintane • Pyrovalerone

Tropanes: 3β-(4'-Chlorophenyl)-2β-(3'-phenylisoxazol-5'-yl)tropane (β-CPPIT) • Altropane • Brasofensine • WIN 35428 (β-CFT) • Cocaine • Dichloropane • Difluoropine • N-(2'-Fluoroethyl-)-3β-(4'-chlorophenyl)-2β-(3'-phenylisoxazol-5'-yl)nortropane (FE-β-CPPIT) • N-(3'-Fluoropropyl-)-3β-(4'-chlorophenyl)-2β-(3'-phenylisoxazol-5'-yl)nortropane (FP-β-CPPIT) • Ioflupane (123I) • Iometopane • RTI-112 • RTI-113 • RTI-121 • RTI-126 • RTI-150 • RTI-177 • RTI-229 • RTI-336 • Tenocyclidine • Tesofensine • Troparil • Tropoxane • 2β-Propanoyl-3β-(4-tolyl)-tropane (WF-11) • 2β-Propanoyl-3β-(2-naphthyl)-tropane (WF-23) • 2-Propanoyl-3-(4-isopropylphenyl)-tropane (WF-31) • 2α-(Propanoyl)-3β-(2-(6-methoxynaphthyl))-tropane (WF-33)

Others: Adrafinil • Armodafinil • Amfonelic acid • Amineptine • Benzatropine (benztropine) • Bromantane • 2-Butyl-3-(p-tolyl)quinuclidine (BTQ) • BTS-74,398 • Bupropion (amfebutamone) • Ciclazindol • Diclofensine • Dimethocaine • Diphenylpyraline • Dizocilpine • DOV-102,677 • DOV-21,947 • DOV-216,303 • Etybenzatropine (ethylbenztropine) • EXP-561 • Fencamine • Fencamfamine • Fezolamine • GYKI-52,895 • Hydrafinil • Indatraline • Ketamine • Lefetamine • Levophacetoperane • LR-5182 • Manifaxine • Mazindol • Medifoxamine • Mesocarb • Modafinil • Nefopam • Nomifensine • NS-2359 • O-2172 • Pridefrine • Propylamphetamine • Radafaxine • SEP-225,289 • SEP-227,162 • Sertraline • Sibutramine • Tametraline • Tripelennamine

Vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) inhibitors

Deserpidine • Deutetrabenazine • Ibogaine • Reserpine • Tetrabenazine • Valbenazine

Dopamine releasing agent

Morpholines: Fenbutrazate • Morazone • Phendimetrazine • Phenmetrazine

Oxazolines: 4-Methylaminorex (4-MAR, 4-MAX) • Aminorex • Clominorex • Cyclazodone • Fenozolone • Fluminorex • Pemoline • Thozalinone

Phenethylamines (also amphetamines, cathinones, phentermines, etc.): 2-Hydroxyphenethylamine (2-OH-PEA) • 4-Chlorophenylisobutylamine (4-CAB) • 4-Methylamphetamine (4-MA) • 4-Methylmethamphetamine (4-MMA) • Alfetamine • Amfecloral • Amfepentorex • Amfepramone • Amphetamine (dextroamphetamine, levoamphetamine) • Amphetaminil • β-Methylphenethylamine (β-Me-PEA) • Benzodioxolylbutanamine (BDB) • Benzodioxolylhydroxybutanamine (BOH) • Benzphetamine • Buphedrone • Butylone • Cathine • Cathinone • Clobenzorex • Clortermine • D-Deprenyl • Dimethoxyamphetamine (DMA) • Dimethoxymethamphetamine (DMMA) • Dimethylamphetamine • Dimethylcathinone (dimethylpropion, metamfepramone) • Ethcathinone (ethylpropion) • Ethylamphetamine • Ethylbenzodioxolylbutanamine (EBDB) • Ethylone • Famprofazone • Fenethylline • Fenproporex • Flephedrone • Fludorex • Furfenorex • Hordenine • Lophophine (homomyristicylamine) • Mefenorex • Mephedrone • Methamphetamine (desoxyephedrine, methedrine; dextromethamphetamine, levomethamphetamine) • Methcathinone (methylpropion) • Methedrone • Methoxymethylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA) • Methoxymethylenedioxymethamphetamine (MMDMA) • Methylbenzodioxolylbutanamine (MBDB) • Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA, tenamfetamine) • Methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) • Methylenedioxyhydroxyamphetamine (MDOH) • Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) • Methylenedioxymethylphenethylamine (MDMPEA, homarylamine) • Methylenedioxyphenethylamine (MDPEA, homopiperonylamine) • Methylone • Ortetamine • Parabromoamphetamine (PBA) • Parachloroamphetamine (PCA) • Parafluoroamphetamine (PFA) • Parafluoromethamphetamine (PFMA) • Parahydroxyamphetamine (PHA) • Paraiodoamphetamine (PIA) • Paredrine (norpholedrine, oxamphetamine) • Phenethylamine (PEA) • Pholedrine • Phenpromethamine • Prenylamine • Propylamphetamine • Tiflorex (flutiorex) • Tyramine (TRA) • Xylopropamine • Zylofuramine

Piperazines: 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-bromobenzylpiperazine (2C-B-BZP) • Benzylpiperazine (BZP) • Methoxyphenylpiperazine (MeOPP, paraperazine) • Methylbenzylpiperazine (MBZP) • Methylenedioxybenzylpiperazine (MDBZP, piperonylpiperazine)

Others: 2-Amino-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (2-ADN) • 2-Aminoindane (2-AI) • 2-Aminotetralin (2-AT) • 4-Benzylpiperidine (4-BP) • 5-Iodo-2-aminoindane (5-IAI) • Clofenciclan • Cyclopentamine • Cypenamine • Cyprodenate • Feprosidnine • Gilutensin • Heptaminol • Hexacyclonate • Indanylaminopropane (IAP) • Indanorex • Isometheptene • Methylhexanamine • Naphthylaminopropane (NAP) • Octodrine • Phthalimidopropiophenone • Propylhexedrine (levopropylhexedrine) • Tuaminoheptane (tuamine)

Activity enhancers

Benzofuranylpropylaminopentane (BPAP) • Desmethylselegiline • Indolylpropylaminopentane (IPAP) • Phenethylamine • Phenylpropylaminopentane (PPAP) • Selegiline (L-deprenyl) • Tryptamine • Tyramine

Phenylalanine hydroxylase inhibitors

3,4-Dihydroxystyrene

Tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors

3-Iodotyrosine • Aquayamycin • Bulbocapnine • Metirosine • Oudenone

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase inhibitors (DOPA decarboxylase inhibitors)

Benserazide • Carbidopa • Genistein • Methyldopa

Degradation inhibitors

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

Nonselective: Benmoxin • Caroxazone • Echinopsidine • Furazolidone • Hydralazine • Indantadol • Iproclozide • Iproniazid • Isocarboxazid • Isoniazid • Linezolid • Mebanazine • Metfendrazine • Nialamide • Octamoxin • Paraxazone • Phenelzine • Pheniprazine • Phenoxypropazine • Pivalylbenzhydrazine • Procarbazine • Safrazine • Tranylcypromine

MAO-A selective: Amiflamine • Bazinaprine • Befloxatone • Befol • Brofaromine • Cimoxatone • Clorgiline • Esuprone • Harmala alkaloids (harmine, harmaline, tetrahydroharmine, harman, norharman, etc.) • Methylene blue • Metralindole • Minaprine • Moclobemide • Pirlindole • Sercloremine • Tetrindole • Toloxatone • Tyrima

MAO-B selective: D-Deprenyl • Selegiline (L-deprenyl) • Ladostigil • Lazabemide • Milacemide • Mofegiline • Pargyline • Rasagiline • Safinamide

Catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) inhibitors

Entacapone • Nitecapone • Opicapone • Tolcapone

Dopamine beta hydroxylase inhibitors

Bupicomide • Disulfiram • Dopastin • Fusaric acid • Nepicastat • Phenopicolinic acid • Tropolone

Others

Precursors

L-Phenylalanine → L-tyrosine → L-DOPA (levodopa)

Cofactors

Ferrous iron (Fe2+) • Tetrahydrobiopterin • Vitamin B3 (niacin, nicotinamide → NADPH) • Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, pyridoxal → pyridoxal phosphate) • Vitamin B9 (folic acid → tetrahydrofolic acid) • Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) • Zinc (Zn2+)

Neurotoxins

MPP+ • MPTP • Oxidopamine (6-hydroxydopamine)

Levodopa prodrugs

Etilevodopa • Foslevodopa • Melevodopa • XP-21279

Photopharmacological agents

Photopharmacology enables light-controlled modulation of neurotransmitter systems by designing molecules whose activity can be precisely switched on or off using specific wavelengths of light. This approach has recently been extended to the dopaminergic system. A photoswitchable agonist of D1-like receptors (azodopa) has been described that allows reversible control of dopaminergic transmission in wildtype animals. Several others photopharmacological tools have been developed to target dopamine receptors using light-responsive ligands that allow reversible and non-invasive control over receptor activation. These include both photoisomerizable agonists/antagonists and caged dopamine derivatives that release the active compound upon irradiation. Such compounds offer valuable insights into dopamine signaling dynamics and hold promise for the development of experimental therapies for dopaminergic disorders, including Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.

References

References

1. (2004). "The neurobiology of dopamine signaling". Arch. Neurol..
2. (June 2010). "The dopamine D4 receptor: biochemical and signalling properties". Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.
3. (2025-04-10). "Molecular Tools to Study and Control Dopaminergic Neurotransmission With Light". Medicinal Research Reviews.