What is the mechanism of action and common side effects of dopamine receptor agonists?

  Dopamine receptor agonists are a class of drugs that are functionally and structurally similar to dopamine and act directly on dopamine receptors. These drugs do not require conversion to dopamine and storage in nerve endings by the action of dopa decarboxylase. Based on biochemical and pharmacological properties, dopamine receptors can be divided into two major groups of at least five subtypes: D1-like receptors (including D1 and D5 receptors) and D2-like receptors (including D2, D3 and D4 receptors). Of these, D1 and D2 receptors are closely related to Parkinson’s disease. Normally the dopamine pathway can be divided into two: the direct pathway (D1 receptors involved) and the indirect pathway (D2 receptors involved). The direct pathway ensures that the body performs activities when excited, while the indirect pathway inhibits unwanted activities when excited, and the two are in balance to ensure normal activity. In Parkinson’s patients, due to dopamine deficiency, the effect on the direct pathway is diminished, resulting in reduced normal activity; the inhibitory effect on the indirect pathway is diminished, resulting in excessive inhibition of unwanted motor activity by the indirect pathway, resulting in symptoms such as reduced movement and muscle rigidity. Different dopamine agonists also act on D1 receptors or D3 receptors to restore the direct and indirect pathways to a normal or near-normal state, thus playing a therapeutic role. For example, bromocriptine directly stimulates D2 receptors and has a weak inhibitory effect on D1 receptors; pramipexole and tamsulosin activate D2 and D3 receptors. Bromocriptine and Cripa (dihydroergotocriptine) belong to the ergot class of dopamine receptor agonists, and this class of drugs is no longer recommended for Parkinson’s disease due to the susceptibility to pulmonary and retroperitoneal fibrosis, especially another ergot agonist, pergolide, which has been withdrawn from the Chinese market due to the side effects of cardiac valve fibrosis. Pramipexole and Tysudar are non-ergot agonists and are now advocated as the first choice in patients under 65 years of age.  Dopamine receptor agonists also have some side effects. Similar to levodopa, patients are prone to nausea, vomiting, upright hypotension and psychiatric symptoms after taking the drug. Therefore, the initial dose of agonist should be started at a small dose to gradually tolerate and adapt to the agonist, so that the chance of side effects will be less. Once side effects have occurred, symptomatic treatment can be given to ensure that the treatment is carried out. Agonists can be taken with meals, and if gastrointestinal gastrointestinal reactions still occur, morpholine can be given orally, and most patients can continue treatment with this treatment. When upright hypotension DD appears as dizziness when standing up from a lying or sitting position, and the high pressure of blood pressure decreases by 30 mmHg or low pressure decreases by 15 mmHg or more DD after changing position, care should be taken to change position slowly to avoid falling. If the symptoms are obvious, Midodrine (tube pass) treatment can be given. A few patients may also have some psychiatric symptoms, such as hallucinations, which can be relieved by reducing the dose or adding antipsychotics. Increased sleep is also a common side effect, which usually disappears after several weeks and months. A small number of patients may experience transient uncontrollable sleep episodes. Therefore, dangerous operations such as driving should be avoided during the initial 1-2 months of administration.