Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are They?Similarities and DifferencesCauses of ImbalancesMental Health ImpactsDigestionSleepHigh LevelsWays to BoostFAQs
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are They?
Similarities and Differences
Causes of Imbalances
Mental Health Impacts
Digestion
Sleep
High Levels
Ways to Boost
FAQs
Serotoninanddopamineare neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that allow nerves to communicate with each other or with other structures in your body. These commonneurotransmittersact on similar parts of the body but have different effects on mood and memory, digestion, and other functions.
Certain health conditions includingdepressioncan arise due to imbalances in the levels of serotonin and dopamine in your body. Medications, as well as lifestyle changes like exercise and stress management, can help to regulate these levels.
This article discusses serotonin and dopamine functions, as well as the similarities and differences between these two neurotransmitters.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
What Are Serotonin and Dopamine?
Serotonin and dopamine are both keyneurotransmitterslinked to your overall well-being, but they have completely different chemical properties and pathways for how they work.
Serotonin
Serotonin, also known as5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT), is a neurotransmitter that is produced in the part of your brain stem called theRaphe nuclei.Serotonin is made from an amino acid calledtryptophan.
This neurotransmitter is best known for its ability to boost your mood, but it also plays an important role in digestion and the immune system.
Dopamine
Dopamineis made in the base of your brain through a two-step process. An amino acid calledtyrosineis first made into another amino acid called L-dopa, which is then made into dopamine.
Dopamine is known as the pleasure neurotransmitter. That’s because dopamine is responsible for making you feel good after you’ve had sex or eaten a good meal—or done any other activity that activates the reward system in your brain. It also helps you pay attention and learn new information.
Dopamine has lesser-known functions as well. This neurotransmitter plays a role in muscle movements, management of heart rate, lactation, pain, sleep, and function of your kidneys and blood vessels.
Similarities and Differences: Serotonin vs. Dopamine
Serotonin and dopamine can both impact our mood, our digestive system, and our sleep. Some of these effects are similar. For example, low serotonin and low dopamine can both lead to depression.
However, some of the effects are different. For example, while both serotonin and dopamine can impact digestive health, low serotonin can cause constipation, while low dopamine can cause electrolyte imbalances.
Causes of Serotonin and Dopamine Imbalance
Serotonin and dopamine deficiencies can occur for a variety of reasons. Your body might not make enough of these neurotransmitters or be able to respond to them appropriately. Certain medications can affect levels of serotonin and dopamine as well.
Other causes of these deficiencies are:
Signs of Low Serotonin and Dopamine
Low levels of serotonin or dopamine can cause similar symptoms. However, dopamine also affects the muscles, while serotonin does not.
Serotonin deficiency can cause:
Low levels of serotonin can also cause mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders. In severe cases, it can lead tosuicidal thoughts.
Symptoms of dopamine deficiency can include:
Dopamine deficiency can also occur with Parkinson’s disease—a progressive neurological disorder that develops when cells in the brain that produce dopamine no longer function correctly.This condition causes tremors, stiffness throughout the body, difficulty with balance, and slow movements.
Impact on Mental Health
There are some wide-ranging impacts on mental health when serotonin and dopamine levels are too low or too high, and some of these imbalances can prove serious. Both serotonin and dopamine play a role in depression.
Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter associated with depression. This chemical has a significant impact on mood and positive feelings, such as satisfaction, joy, and empathy for other people.
Depression is commonly treated with a group of medications calledselective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs) that help boost serotonin levels in your brain.
Low levels of dopamine can also contribute to depression. Inability to feel pleasure and lack of motivation are two symptoms of depression that have been linked to dopamine dysfunction.
While SSRIs are considered first-line treatment for depression, medications that increase dopamine levels in the brain are sometimes prescribed in addition to these drugs to specifically improve energy levels and motivation.
Impact on Digestion
Neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine, are important for gut health. These chemicals help your body absorb nutrients from food, improve blood flow to your digestive system, help maintain levels of healthy gut bacteria, and improvegut motility(movement of waste products through your intestines).
Serotonin is best known for its impact on mental health. However, most of the serotonin in your body is made in your gut, not your brain.This neurotransmitter helps control the release of digestive enzymes that affect the function of your intestines.
Too much serotonin can contribute to GI disorders, such asirritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Too little serotonin can cause constipation.
Unlike serotonin, most dopamine is made in your brain. In the digestive tract, a low amount of dopamine increases blood flow and helps your intestines absorb electrolytes.
What’s the Gut Microbiome Got to Do With Depression?
Impact on Sleep
Serotonin and dopamine affect your body’s sleep-wake cycle.
Serotonin can both help and interfere with sleep. It is needed for your body to makemelatonin—the main hormone involved in sleep.
However, too much serotonin can also interfere with your ability to getrapid eye movement (REM) sleep. This stage of sleep is important for brain health. It helps with:
Serotonin in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Dopamine impacts your body’s light-relatedcircadianrhythm—your brain’s ability to adapt to the time of day. Dopamine helps your brain know when it’s time to be alert and stop melatonin production.
When Levels Are Too High
Although rare, it is possible for serotonin and dopamine levels to be too high.
Too much serotonin can causeserotonin syndrome—a potentially life-threatening condition.This typically occurs when a person takes too much medication that increases serotonin levels.
Symptoms include:
Dopamine levels that are too high can also cause unwanted side effects. These can include:
Varying levels of dopamine also play a role in other conditions, including addiction,attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), andschizophrenia.
Increasing Levels of Serotonin and Dopamine
Medications are often used toboost serotoninand dopamine levels in the body. However, there are several ways that you can boost levels naturally, too.
Natural Boosts
Medication
Certain medications can help to boost serotonin and dopamine levels synthetically. These medications include:
Therapeutic serotonin levels fall in a range between 101 to 283 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) in your bloodstream.Normal dopamine blood levels are 0 to 30 pg/ml, a measure of protein.
Summary
Serotonin and dopamine are two important neurotransmitters that affect mental health. They also are important for gut health. Deficiencies in both of these chemicals can lead to symptoms of depression and issues with eating, sleeping, and concentrating. Dopamine also affects the muscles, and low levels can cause tremors and difficulties with coordination.
Serotonin and dopamine levels can be boosted with medications as well as lifestyle habits, such as getting more sunlight, exercising regularly, and following a healthy diet.
A Word From Verywell
If you think you might have issues with your serotonin or dopamine levels, talk to your healthcare provider. Small changes in your daily habits, with or without the help of medication, can make a big difference in your quality of life.
Four Coachable Parts of Your Mental Health
Frequently Asked QuestionsSerotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a large role in positive mood and happy feelings. Dopamine does not directly impact mood, but can affect motivation and feelings of pleasure.Deficits in serotonin and dopamine can cause a host of signs and symptoms, including depressed mood, fatigue, lack of motivation, decreased sex drive, and difficulty concentrating. A dopamine deficiency can also cause tremors, muscle cramps, and difficulty with balance.Serotonin and dopamine work together to provide a chemical balance in the brain and other parts of the body. This balance helps maintain mental health and improve digestion and sleep.Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids can help boost serotonin levels. Examples include fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, nuts, seeds, and plant oils.Using cannabis can stimulate your brain to release more serotonin.Using cannabis can cause your brain to release more dopamine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a large role in positive mood and happy feelings. Dopamine does not directly impact mood, but can affect motivation and feelings of pleasure.
Deficits in serotonin and dopamine can cause a host of signs and symptoms, including depressed mood, fatigue, lack of motivation, decreased sex drive, and difficulty concentrating. A dopamine deficiency can also cause tremors, muscle cramps, and difficulty with balance.
Serotonin and dopamine work together to provide a chemical balance in the brain and other parts of the body. This balance helps maintain mental health and improve digestion and sleep.
Foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids can help boost serotonin levels. Examples include fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, nuts, seeds, and plant oils.
Using cannabis can stimulate your brain to release more serotonin.
Using cannabis can cause your brain to release more dopamine.
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21 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Correia AS, Vale N.Tryptophan Metabolism in Depression: A Narrative Review with a Focus on Serotonin and Kynurenine Pathways.Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 31;23(15):8493. doi:10.3390/ijms23158493.Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges.The difference between dopamine & serotonin.Watson S.Dopamine: The pathway to pleasure. Harvard Health Publishing.Vahid-Ansari F, Albert PR.Rewiring of the serotonin system in major depression.Front. Psychiatry.2021;12:802581. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.802581International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology.Serotonin deficiency: Causes, effects & how to fix low serotonin.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Endocrine Society.Brain hormones.National Library of Medicine.Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome. MedlinePlus.National Institute on Aging.Parkinson’s disease.Cowen PJ, Browning M.What has serotonin to do with depression?.World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):158-160. doi:10.1002/wps.20229Belujon P, Grace AA.Dopamine system dysregulation in major depressive disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;20(12):1036-1046. doi:10.1093%2Fijnp%2Fpyx056Patel K, Allen S, Haque MN, Angelescu I, Baumeister D, Tracy DK.Bupropion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness as an antidepressant.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2016;6(2):99-144. doi:10.1177%2F2045125316629071Mittal R, Debs LH, Patel AP, et al.Neurotransmitters: The critical modulators regulating gut-brain axis. J Cell Physiol. 2017;232(9):2359-2372. doi:10.1002%2Fjcp.25518CalTech.Microbes help produce serotonin in the gut.National Sleep Foundation.What is REM sleep?.IntechOpen.Sleep and health: Role of dopamine.National Library of Medicine.Serotonin syndrome. MedlinePlus.Cui Y, Gong Q, Huang C, et al.The relationship between sunlight exposure duration and depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional study on elderly Chinese women.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0254856. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0254856Locher C, Koechlin H, Zion SR, et al.Efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and placebo for common psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(10):1011. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2432National Library of Medicine.Physiology, Serotonin.University of California San Francisco Health.Catecholamine blood test.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Correia AS, Vale N.Tryptophan Metabolism in Depression: A Narrative Review with a Focus on Serotonin and Kynurenine Pathways.Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 31;23(15):8493. doi:10.3390/ijms23158493.Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges.The difference between dopamine & serotonin.Watson S.Dopamine: The pathway to pleasure. Harvard Health Publishing.Vahid-Ansari F, Albert PR.Rewiring of the serotonin system in major depression.Front. Psychiatry.2021;12:802581. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.802581International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology.Serotonin deficiency: Causes, effects & how to fix low serotonin.National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.Endocrine Society.Brain hormones.National Library of Medicine.Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome. MedlinePlus.National Institute on Aging.Parkinson’s disease.Cowen PJ, Browning M.What has serotonin to do with depression?.World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):158-160. doi:10.1002/wps.20229Belujon P, Grace AA.Dopamine system dysregulation in major depressive disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;20(12):1036-1046. doi:10.1093%2Fijnp%2Fpyx056Patel K, Allen S, Haque MN, Angelescu I, Baumeister D, Tracy DK.Bupropion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness as an antidepressant.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2016;6(2):99-144. doi:10.1177%2F2045125316629071Mittal R, Debs LH, Patel AP, et al.Neurotransmitters: The critical modulators regulating gut-brain axis. J Cell Physiol. 2017;232(9):2359-2372. doi:10.1002%2Fjcp.25518CalTech.Microbes help produce serotonin in the gut.National Sleep Foundation.What is REM sleep?.IntechOpen.Sleep and health: Role of dopamine.National Library of Medicine.Serotonin syndrome. MedlinePlus.Cui Y, Gong Q, Huang C, et al.The relationship between sunlight exposure duration and depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional study on elderly Chinese women.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0254856. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0254856Locher C, Koechlin H, Zion SR, et al.Efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and placebo for common psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(10):1011. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2432National Library of Medicine.Physiology, Serotonin.University of California San Francisco Health.Catecholamine blood test.
Correia AS, Vale N.Tryptophan Metabolism in Depression: A Narrative Review with a Focus on Serotonin and Kynurenine Pathways.Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 31;23(15):8493. doi:10.3390/ijms23158493.
Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges.The difference between dopamine & serotonin.
Watson S.Dopamine: The pathway to pleasure. Harvard Health Publishing.
Vahid-Ansari F, Albert PR.Rewiring of the serotonin system in major depression.Front. Psychiatry.2021;12:802581. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.802581
International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology.Serotonin deficiency: Causes, effects & how to fix low serotonin.
National Institute of Mental Health.Depression.
Endocrine Society.Brain hormones.
National Library of Medicine.Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome. MedlinePlus.
National Institute on Aging.Parkinson’s disease.
Cowen PJ, Browning M.What has serotonin to do with depression?.World Psychiatry. 2015;14(2):158-160. doi:10.1002/wps.20229
Belujon P, Grace AA.Dopamine system dysregulation in major depressive disorders. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2017;20(12):1036-1046. doi:10.1093%2Fijnp%2Fpyx056
Patel K, Allen S, Haque MN, Angelescu I, Baumeister D, Tracy DK.Bupropion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of effectiveness as an antidepressant.Ther Adv Psychopharmacol. 2016;6(2):99-144. doi:10.1177%2F2045125316629071
Mittal R, Debs LH, Patel AP, et al.Neurotransmitters: The critical modulators regulating gut-brain axis. J Cell Physiol. 2017;232(9):2359-2372. doi:10.1002%2Fjcp.25518
CalTech.Microbes help produce serotonin in the gut.
National Sleep Foundation.What is REM sleep?.
IntechOpen.Sleep and health: Role of dopamine.
National Library of Medicine.Serotonin syndrome. MedlinePlus.
Cui Y, Gong Q, Huang C, et al.The relationship between sunlight exposure duration and depressive symptoms: A cross-sectional study on elderly Chinese women.PLoS One. 2021;16(7):e0254856. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0254856
Locher C, Koechlin H, Zion SR, et al.Efficacy and safety of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, and placebo for common psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.JAMA Psychiatry. 2017;74(10):1011. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.2432
National Library of Medicine.Physiology, Serotonin.
University of California San Francisco Health.Catecholamine blood test.
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