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A 19-year-old male asked:

Can a neurotransmitter also be a neuromodulator? i want to know if medications that supposedly only affect one could affect multiple neurotransmitters

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Machanic
Neurology 54 years experience
YOU BET IT CAN: Generally, we have both excitatory (glutamate, glycine) and inhibitory neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, norepinephrine, seratonin, dopamine). However, each transmitter affects both types of receptors, and glutamate for example is ionotrophic (NMDA, AMPA, Kainate) and metabotrophic (numerous). Simply to maintain balance & homeostasis, and adjust or modulate signals, like a computer circuit.
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Last updated Apr 7, 2018
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