Catecholamine metabolism in the attention deficit disorder: implications for the use of amino acid precursor therapy

The use of catecholamine precursors and agonists in the attention deficit disorder and various biochemical studies have implicated deficient catecholamine metabolism in the pathogenesis of this illness. The amino acid L-tyrosine, a catecholamine precursor, is capable of augmenting central dopamine norepinephrine. Study of its use in the treatment of the attention deficit disorder as a safer alternative to stimulant therapy is thus warranted.