💊 Amphetamine ADHD Mechanism Release Simulator

A Quiet ADHD Dopamine Synapse

Placeholder: prefrontal dopamine signaling starts low and understimulated in ADHD.

• Full: Vesicular DA stores (placeholder caption)
• Normal uptake: DAT activity (placeholder caption)
• Low: Synaptic DA tone (placeholder caption)
• ~5–7%: ADHD prevalence (placeholder caption)

Storage before stimulation

Placeholder text: dopamine sits packaged in presynaptic vesicles, awaiting a release trigger.

Amphetamine Rides the Transporter Inward

Placeholder: amphetamine is a DAT substrate, entering the neuron via reverse transport.

• DAT substrate: Entry route (placeholder caption)
• ~30–60 min: Onset (oral IR) (placeholder caption)
• High: Lipophilicity (placeholder caption)
• Beginning: Transporter reversal (placeholder caption)

Substrate, not just blocker

Placeholder text: unlike methylphenidate, amphetamine is carried through DAT into the cell.

Vesicles Lose Their Dopamine Grip

Placeholder: amphetamine disrupts the vesicular pH gradient, dopamine leaks out.

• Present: VMAT2 disruption (placeholder caption)
• Rising: Cytoplasmic DA (placeholder caption)
• Collapsing: Vesicle pH gradient (placeholder caption)
• Releasing agent: Mechanism class (placeholder caption)

From vesicle to cytoplasm

Placeholder text: stored dopamine redistributes into the cytoplasmic pool, primed for efflux.

Placeholder highlight: this vesicular step is unique to amphetamine, not methylphenidate.

DAT Flips — Active Efflux Begins

Placeholder: the transporter reverses, actively pumping dopamine into the synapse.

• Reversed: DAT direction (placeholder caption)
• Active transport: Efflux mechanism (placeholder caption)
• Partial, also present: Reuptake blockade (placeholder caption)
• Dual release + block: Net effect (placeholder caption)

Dual mechanism in action

Placeholder text: efflux plus blockade together push more dopamine into the cleft.

A Larger Surge Than Reuptake Inhibition Alone

Placeholder: combined release and blockade out-perform blockade-only stimulants.

• ~2×: Surge vs. methylphenidate (placeholder caption)
• Up to 12–14h: Duration (Vyvanse) (placeholder caption)
• Release + block: Mechanism summary (placeholder caption)
• Stronger effect size: Clinical relevance (placeholder caption)

Why amphetamine feels stronger

Placeholder text: dual-action release plus blockade generally produces a bigger dopamine surge.

Placeholder highlight: prodrug formulations like Vyvanse smooth this surge over time.