Dopamine, a sympathomimetic amine vasopressor, is the naturally occurring immediate precursor of norepinephrine. G protein-coupled dopamine receptors (D1, D2, D3, D4, and D5) mediate all of the physiological functions of the catecholaminergic neurotransmitter dopamine, ranging from voluntary movement and reward to hormonal regulation and hypertension. Dopamine HCl is indicated for the correction of hemodynamic imbalances present in the shock syndrome due to myocardial infarction, trauma, endotoxic septicemia, open-heart surgery, renal failure, and chronic cardiac decompensation as in congestive failure.

Levodopa (L-DOPA) was first isolated from seedlings of Vicia faba by Marcus Guggenheim in 1913. Levodopa, a dopamine precursor, is an effective and well-tolerated dopamine replacement agent used to treat Parkinson's disease. Oral levodopa has been widely used for over 40 years, often in combination with a dopa-decarboxylase inhibitor carbidopa, which reduces many treatment complications, extending its half-life and increasing levodopa availability to the brain. Entacapone, a catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor, can also be used to improve the bioavailability of levodopa, especially when used in conjunction with a carbidopa.

Oxidopamine (6-Hydroxydopamine) is an antagonist of the neurotransmitter dopamine with potential antineoplastic activity. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-HOD) can be taken up by selective adrenergic terminals, thereby causing acute degeneration of adrenergic terminals that leads to depletion of norepinephrine, and of dopamine in the dopamine-sensitive sites. This agent is auto-oxidated at physiological pH that leads to the formation of reactive free radicals, thereby leading to cytotoxicity in neural cells. 6-Hydroxydopamine is often used to induce CNS and sympathetic neural lesions that model aging and various nervous disorders in animal systems. The growth of C-1300 neuroblastoma was markedly slowed in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated mice. The growth of the A-10 breast adenocarcinoma was also significantly retarded in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated mice but the growth of B-16 melanoma was not affected.

Tyramine is a naturally occurring monoamine compound and trace amine derived from the amino acid tyrosine. Tyramine occurs widely in plants and animals, and is metabolized by the enzyme monoamine oxidase. Tyramine is an alpha-adrenergic agonist. Hypertension can occur, from ingestion of tyramine-rich foods in conjunction with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. The possibility that tyramine acts directly as a neurotransmitter was revealed by the discovery of a G protein-coupled receptor with high affinity for tyramine, called TAAR. It exhibits sympathomimetic effects by causing the release of endogenic norepinephrine. It has been used in mydriatic eyedrops. This has been said to reduce the intraocular pressure in rabbits and in some patients with open-angle glaucoma.

3-Methoxytyramine (3-MT) is a human trace amine that occurs as a metabolite of the neurotransmitter dopamine. It has been shown to act as an agonist of human TAAR1, and an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration. 3-MT has garnered research interest for its potential links and implications to Parkinson's disease and other Neurological disorders.

Docarpamine (marketed under the tradename Tanadopa) is a dopamine prodrug developed in Japan for the treatment of chronic heart failure. The drug does not cross the blood-brain barrier and shows no effect on CNS activity. It is supposed that the drug exerts its action by activating dopamine receptor D1.