Group α1 is distributed in cardiovascular, intestinal, CNS and urinary systems, while group α2 is located in pancreas, CNS, and cardiovascular regions as well 24. If it’s cognitive enhancement you want, Piracetam might be the way to go. Part of the overarching “racetam” family, it provides a fair-to-middling brain boost and improves performance on some mental tasks by enhancing “cellular membrane fluidity.” You won’t get the stimulating or mood altering effects that Phenylethylamine offers, though. The interactions with other compounds are not understood to a great degree as of yet, though, there is some evidence showing that amines like Phenylethylamine will inhibit the secretion of prolactin (the hormone responsible for milk production in females). Proponents use it to increase their athletic ability, lose weight, increase their attention spans, combat depression, and as a supplement to support better overall mood. The amount of phenylethylamine that you take depends on how you consume it, the specific results you are seeking and whether you are pairing the supplement with other chemicals.

These patients should refrain from this supplement, unless a medical professional prescribes them. Phenylethylamine HCL is a stimulant that can cause harsh, unwanted side effects. For those looking to give their workouts an extra boost or get an extra edge on their weight loss efforts, PEA supplements can be a reliable option.
In this review we investigate how phenylethylamine (PEA) works in the human brain. Phenylethylamines are a group of phenethylamine derivatives which contain PEA as a backbone. Due to the paucity of studies on PEA, it is difficult to determine the ideal dosage. However, several studies have employed daily doses split into two or three, ranging from 500 to 1500 mg.
Data Availability Statement
Finally, pretreatment with SCH23390, a DA D1 receptor antagonist, attenuated β-PEA-induced circling behavior and β-PEA-taking behavior in rodents. Taken together, these findings suggest that β-PEA has rewarding and reinforcing effects and psychoactive properties, which induce psychomotor behaviors and a positive affective state by activating the DA D1 receptor in the dorsal striatum. Β-phenylethylamine (βPEA) is an endogenous amine that has been shown to increase the synaptic levels of dopamine (DA).
Figure 8
While small amounts of PEA are found in some foods, taking PEA supplements is the best way to increase levels. Even so, some experts think that supplementing may not have significant effects, due to how this compound is rapidly broken down into inactive components. There’s evidence that phenylethylamine may have similar effects as natural endorphins and serve as a possible factor in the antidepressant actions of exercise.
Phenylethylamine ADHD

Medicinal chemistry leads and state-of-the-art research on novel molecules are described here. Still, there seems to be some potential, particularly with the mood enhancing and stimulating effects that this compound confers. Specifically, because of its stimulating effects and similarities with amphetamines, using it with nootropics could be a risky proposition for some. As such, researchers advocate for more study into the long-term effects if for nothing else than safety’s sake. Professionals also advise certain groups against attempting supplementation with Phenylethylamine.
2 Natural Occurrence And Biological Synthesis Of PEA
Furthermore, our results suggest that βPEA-induced increase of extracellular DA does not require functional monoamine vesicles as genetic ablation of the C. Elegans homologue vesicular monoamine transporter, cat-1, did not compromise the ability of βPEA to increase extracellular DA. Finally, our electrophysiology data show that βPEA caused fast-rising and self-inactivating amperometric currents in a subset of wild-type DA neurons but not in neurons isolated from dat-1 knockout animals. Taken together, these data demonstrate that in both DA neurons and heterogeneous cultures of differentiated C. Elegans neurons, βPEA releases cytoplasmic DA through DAT-1 to ultimately increase the extracellular concentration of DA. The phenyethylamine moiety has risen from humble beginnings as a presumed metabolic by-product to serve as a noteworthy scaffold for therapeutically useful agents, and for an even greater number of abused substances.

If you’re ADHD or ADD You should notice improvements in your mood and attention span concentration as well as mental clarity. It’s not quite the same result that you’d experience from Adderall but with the added benefit of a greater social connection. PEA increases libido, social behavior, a feeling of well-being, and improves overall performance. A higher level of neurotransmitters can increase the feeling of pleasure and motivation, enhances the memory and cognitive abilities, and increases the ability to control impulses. PEA does not increases the amount of neurotransmitters released when a nerve is stimulated when it receives an signal from a nearby neuron.
- Introduction of other simple substituents enhance its lipohilicity to increase its BBB penetrability, or alter its actions.
- In particular, collaborators Dr. Richard Young and Dr. Małgorzata Dukat deserve special recognition for their critical scientific input and assistance with many of these studies.
- Researchers believe that when it comes to improving mental health, PEA can be a safe alternative to drugs, such as amphetamine or methylphenidate, which are capable of causing unwanted side effects.
- It is advised to start with a modest dose of PEA and gradually increase it, as well as to avoid taking it with other medications that can interfere with it.
- Phenylethylamine, in its simplest form, is a naturally occurring trace amine found in the human brain.
1 Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
This quick turnover is one of the reasons why the effects of naturally occurring PEA are usually subtle and transient, unlike those of synthetic stimulants that can have more prolonged and intense effects on dopamine systems. Specifically, bacteria from the families Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae can produce cadaverine and putrescine in spoiled turkey meat. It was suggested to use tyramine, putrescine, and cadaverin to quantify meat freshness (Fraqueza et al., 2012). In vegetables, high levels of tyramine were only seen in brine, unless the vegetables were contaminated prior to processing or the temperature and storage time were extreme (Moret et al., 2005). While phenethylamine supplements are thought to be relatively safe for humans, high doses of phenethylamine supplements have been shown to cause death in mice 68.
Catecholamines Test: Understanding High Norepinephrine And Dopamine Levels
Furthermore, PEA has been studied for its potential benefits in treating certain neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. Research has shown that PEA may have neuroprotective effects and could potentially slow the progression of the disease. And S.S.; funding acquisition, J.-W.S.; investigation, I.S.R. and J.S.K.; methodology, J.S.K., S.S., R.-N.L. And T.W.K.; resources, E.S.C.; software, E.S.C.; supervision, E.S.C. and E.Y.J.; validation, J.S.K.; writing—original draft, I.S.R. and E.Y.J.; writing—review and editing, O.-H.K. And E.Y.J. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. In summary, we demonstrated that β-PEA has rewarding and reinforcing effects and induces stereotypical behaviors and a positive affective state by increasing the DA concentration and expression of DA-related proteins (TH and p-DAT) in the striatum of rodents.
In humans, α-ET purportedly produces relatively weak hallucinogenic and central stimulant actions. DOM-trained animals recognized α-ET (Table 8); however, when administered to (+)amphetamine-trained animals, only partial generalization occurred.109 Because α-ET possesses a chiral center, both optical isomers were prepared and individually examined (Table 8). Arylalkylamines we had termed classical hallucinogens included indolealkylamines (e.g. LSD, 5-OMe DMT) and phenylalkylamines (e.g. mescaline, DOM). On the basis of drug discrimination studies, we showed that they produced a common DOM-like stimulus effect in rats.
A nootropic substance called PEA may improve mental clarity, attention, and alertness. Before ingesting this supplement, it is crucial to know the ideal dosage, possible adverse effects, and possible drug interactions. Before taking PEA, you should also speak with a healthcare provider, especially if you are already taking any drugs or have any underlying medical concerns.

Chocolate also has small amounts of other stimulants like caffeine and theobromine 53. Similar to patients with depression, children and adults with ADHD may have decreased levels of phenylethylamine. One study in schizophrenic patients found lower amounts of phenethylamine and its metabolite, phenylacetic acid, in cerebrospinal fluid (CFS) 20. Excess phenethylamine in the urine of patients with specific types of schizophrenia has been reported, indicating it is being removed the body at an increased rate 18, 19. In another study, 9 out of 10 depressed patients that previously did not respond to conventional antidepressant treatments reported elevated mood after taking a combination of phenethylamine and selegiline.
Factors That May Increase Phenethylamine Levels
However, as with any supplement or medication, it’s important to carefully consider the potential risks and side effects before trying it out for yourself. The 2-phenethylamine motif is widely present in nature, from simple, open-chain structures to more complex polycyclic molecular arrangements. Several naturally occurring alkaloids, i.e., morphine, (S)-reticuline or berberine, embedded in the 2-phenethylamine unit form more complex cyclic frameworks derived from its natural biosynthetic pathways (Figure 1). As a supplement and in its natural form, PEA plays a key role in helping patients focus and remain alert. PEA increases dopamine levels in the brain and also helps augment the concentration of epinephrine and norepinephrine in the body.