Tyrosine
Summary sheet: Tyrosine |
Tyrosine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chemical Nomenclature | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common names | Tyrosine, L-Tyrosine or 4-hydroxyphenylalanine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Systematic name | L-Tyrosine | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Class Membership | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Psychoactive class | Stimulant (Weak) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Chemical class | Phenethylamine / Amino acid | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Routes of Administration | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Interactions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alcohol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DXM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MXE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MDMA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stimulants | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25x-NBOMe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
25x-NBOH | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tramadol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
MAOIs |
Tyrosine (also known as L-Tyrosine and 4-hydroxyphenylalanine) is a non-essential amino acid that serves a precursor to dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine in the human body. As a supplement, it is reported to act as a mild stimulant. It is also one of the 22 amino acids that are used by cells to synthesize proteins and is abundant in many high-protein foods, such as chicken, turkey, fish, cottage cheese, cheese, yogurt, almonds, milk, avocados, bananas, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and soy products.[1]
Some evidence suggests tyrosine supplementation can affect performance on working memory tasks under certain conditions, especially stress. Tyrosine may enhance convergent (double-task) thinking. In one study, tyrosine even seemed to reverse some of the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance. However, if tyrosine increases working memory performance by elevating catecholamine levels, the effect could easily be short-lived. Some animal studies have shown dopamine levels quickly return to baseline.[citation needed]
Chemistry
Tyrosine is a non-essential phenylalanine-derived amino acid. Tyrosine's structure comprises a para-hydroxylated phenyl ring connected to a pentanoic acid group, which is a five member carbon chain with a carboxyl (C(=O)OH) group on the terminal carbon. This pentanoic acid chain is substituted at R2 with an amino group in levorotary orientation.
Pharmacology
The effects of tyrosine as a supplement or psychoactive compound are due to it being a precursor to catecholamine neurotransmitters.[2] Supplemental L-Tyrosine is converted by the body into L-DOPA which is then decarboxylated into dopamine, which later turns into norepinephrine and is then finally converted to epinephrine. This means it effectively boosts the levels of these neurotransmitters in the brain, resulting in stimulating and euphoric effects. These three neurotransmitters are collectively referred to as "catecholamines."
The process of catecholamine synthesis within the body is limited to a localized substrate pool, meaning that the subjective effects of tyrosine can often reach an "upper-limit" at heavy dosages in which additional supplementation for the purposes of intensify one's stimulation becomes ineffective.[citation needed]
Subjective effects
In comparison to traditional stimulants such as amphetamine and methylphenidate, tyrosine can be described as more "natural" feeling, less jittery, and with fewer side effects and a milder come down or "crash." It is significantly less forced, with no distinct body high. It is also less euphoric and recreational but more functional.
Disclaimer: The effects listed below cite the Subjective Effect Index (SEI), a research literature based on anecdotal reports and the personal experiences of PsychonautWiki contributors. As a result, they should be regarded with a healthy degree of skepticism. It is worth noting that these effects will not necessarily occur in a predictable or reliable manner, although higher doses are more liable to induce the full spectrum of effects. Likewise, adverse effects become much more likely with higher doses and may include addiction, serious injury, or death.
Physical effects 
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- Stimulation
- Appetite suppression
- Headache[3] - This effect is usually only present at heavy doses
- Nausea[4] - This effect is usually only present at heavy doses
After effects 
- The effects which occur during the offset of a stimulant experience generally feel negative and uncomfortable in comparison to the effects which occurred during its peak. This is often referred to as a "comedown" and occurs because of neurotransmitter depletion. It is significantly less intensive and uncomfortable with tyrosine in comparison to other more traditional stimulants such as amphetamine or methylphenidate, but it still exists and its effects commonly include:
Cognitive effects 
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- Anxiety suppression[5][6][7]
- Analysis enhancement[8]
- Cognitive euphoria - Tyrosine can cause mild euphoria at strong doses
- Creativity enhancement
- Focus enhancement
- Increased libido
- Increased music appreciation
- Wakefulness
- Memory enhancement[9][10]
- Thought acceleration
- Motivation enhancement
- Stamina enhancement
Experience reports
There are currently no anecdotal reports which describe the effects of this compound within our experience index. Additional experience reports can be found here:
Toxicity and harm potential
Tyrosine is physically safe, is not known to cause brain damage, and has an extremely low toxicity relative to dose. Similar to many other nootropic drugs, there are relatively few physical side effects associated with acute tyrosine exposure. Various studies have shown that in reasonable doses in a careful context, it presents no negative cognitive, psychiatric or toxic physical consequences of any sort. However, it is still strongly recommended that one use harm reduction practices when using this drug.
Tolerance and addiction potential
Tyrosine may potentially be mildly habit forming and the desire to use it may actually increase with use. This is because of its dopaminergic properties. However, in comparison to other more traditional stimulants such as amphetamine or methylphenidate, it is not nearly as addictive or compulsive.
Tolerance to the effects of tyrosine are quickly built after repeated and frequent usage. After that, it takes about 7 days for the tolerance to be reduced to half and 14 days to be back at baseline (in the absence of further consumption). Tyrosine presents cross-tolerance with other dopaminergic stimulants, meaning that after the consumption of tyrosine, most other stimulant compounds will have a reduced effect.
Dangerous interactions
Although many psychoactive substances are reasonably safe to use on their own, they can suddenly become dangerous or even life-threatening when combined with other substances. The following list includes some known dangerous combinations (although it is not guaranteed to include all of them). Independent research (e.g. Google, DuckDuckGo) should always be conducted to ensure that a combination of two or more substances is safe to consume. Some of the listed interactions have been sourced from TripSit.
- Stimulants - Tyrosine is stimulatory on its own. Therefore, it may theoretically interact with other stimulatory pharmaceuticals or supplements and cause dangerously high blood pressure or heartrate.
- 25x-NBOMe & 25x-NBOH - Members of the 25x family are highly stimulating and physically straining. Combinations with stimulants should be avoided due to the risk of excessive stimulation. This can result in panic attacks, thought loops, seizures, increased blood pressure, vasoconstriction, and heart failure in extreme cases.
- Alcohol - Alcohol can be dangerous to combine with stimulants due to the risk of accidental over-intoxication. Stimulants mask the sedative effects of alcohol, which is the main factor people use to assess their degree of intoxication. Once the stimulant wears off, the depressant effects of alcohol are left unopposed, which can result in blackouts and respiratory depression. If combined, one should strictly limit themselves to only drinking a certain amount of alcohol per hour.
- DXM - Combinations with DXM should be handled with extreme care due to DXM's effects on serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. This can lead to panic attacks, hypertensive crisis, or serotonin syndrome with stimulants that increase levels of serotonin (MDMA, methylone, mephedrone, etc.). Monitor blood pressure carefully and avoid strenuous physical activity.
- MDMA - The neurotoxic effects of MDMA may be increased when combined with other stimulants. There is also a risk of excessive heart strain.
- MXE - Combinations with MXE may dangerously elevate blood pressure and increase the risk of psychosis.
- Stimulants - Tyrosine can be potentially dangerous in combination with other stimulants like cocaine as they can increase one's heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels.
- Tramadol - Tramadol lowers the seizure threshold.[11] Combinations with stimulants may further increase this risk.
- MDMA - The neurotoxic effects of MDMA may be increased when combined with amphetamine and other stimulants.
- MAOIs - This combination may increase the amount of neurotransmitters such as dopamine to dangerous or even fatal levels. Examples include syrian rue, banisteriopsis caapi, and some antidepressants.[12]
- Cocaine - This combination may increase strain on the heart.
Legal status
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This legality section is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it. |
Tyrosine is unscheduled across the world and is not known to be specifically illegal within any country.
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Foods highest in Tyrosine | http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000087000000000000000.html
- ↑ Role of N-terminus of tyrosine hydroxylase in the biosynthesis of catecholamines (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19396395
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1037/tyrosine
- ↑ https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1037/tyrosine
- ↑ NMDAR2B tyrosine phosphorylation regulates anxiety-like behavior and CRF expression in the amygdala | http://molecularbrain.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1756-6606-3-37
- ↑ Neonatal thyroxine treatment: changes in the number of corticotropin-releasing-factor (CRF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) containing neurons and density of tyrosine hydroxylase positive fibers (TH) in the amygdala correlate with anxiety-related behavior of wistar rats (ScienceDirect) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452203009126
- ↑ Protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha (PTPα) knockout mice show deficits in Morris water maze learning, decreased locomotor activity, and decreases in anxiety (ScienceDirect) | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006899303028397
- ↑ Food for creativity: tyrosine promotes deep thinking (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25257259
- ↑ Tyrosine improves working memory in a multitasking environment (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10548261
- ↑ Tyrosine supplementation mitigates working memory decrements during cold exposure (PubMed.gov / NCBI) | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17585971
- ↑ Talaie, H.; Panahandeh, R.; Fayaznouri, M. R.; Asadi, Z.; Abdollahi, M. (2009). "Dose-independent occurrence of seizure with tramadol". Journal of Medical Toxicology. 5 (2): 63–67. doi:10.1007/BF03161089. eISSN 1937-6995. ISSN 1556-9039. OCLC 163567183.
- ↑ Gillman, P. K. (2005). "Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, opioid analgesics and serotonin toxicity". British Journal of Anaesthesia. 95 (4): 434–441. doi:10.1093/bja/aei210
. eISSN 1471-6771. ISSN 0007-0912. OCLC 01537271. PMID 16051647.