Anyone using Gaba

[akgirlsrock]

Since our neurotransmitters are out of balance, has anyone tried Gaba for anxiety.

[silvestrov]

GABA for anxiety is a nice idea but it does not cross the blood brain barrier so any effect it has is in the 'periphery' - doctor's name for the body, and not the brain. For anxiety the best supplement I can think of is L-theanine. Theanine is a non-protein amino acid found in teas derived from the camellia sinensis plant - the source of white, green, black, oolong and pu-reh tea(s). Theanine has also been shown to be neuroprotective in chemical PD studies.

The neuropharmacology of L-theanine(N-ethyl-L-glutamine): a possible neuroprotective and cognitive enhancing agent.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/171...

Theanine & anxiety: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/169...

There are multiple studies: google.com/search?client=fi...

Theanine & chemical PD: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/184...

Other theanine studies: google.com/search?client=fi...

The maximum recommended daily dose of theanine is 1,200 mg per day with a dose no larger than 400 mg. Studies showed that more than 400 mg at a time has diminishing returns...meaning taking 600 mg has no greater effect than 400 mg. Theanine is not toxic and cellular studies showed that much higher doses are safe to nerves and will not cause damage. 1,200 mg is (somewhat) an arbitrary number, but if you need more of 6 of this 'chill pill' a day, your anxiety is pretty bad. Theanine is one of the safest amino acids I can think of and I, and my 84 yo mother, take it every day.

[parkie13 in reply to silvestrov]

I always knew you couldn't live without us. So glad to see that you are back Mary

[Hidden in reply to silvestrov]

Wait....what...you're back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everybody, """""""""""""silvestrov"""""""""""""" is back!!!!

Welcome back, you have been missed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Art

6 likesReply

[ConnieD in reply to silvestrov]

Welcome back!!!! You’ve been missed!!!!

[kgold in reply to silvestrov]

My husband takes 200 mg of l-theanine at dinner every night. It does seem to help him. When he takes it during the day, it doesn't appear to. His holistic psychiatrist wanted him to go off the sinemet, slowly, and use more l-theanine, as she believes he has "atypical" PD (and believes that mold is a factor). Anyway, I'm never sure if he should take with a meal or in between meals, as it is an amino acid.

Glad to see you post again.

[Basih101 in reply to kgold]

Please state why at night. Does it help him to sleep?

[kgold in reply to Basih101]

It's not to help sleep. Coincidentally found that if he took it at dinner he had a very calm evening, that's all.

[Basih101 in reply to kgold]

Thanks

[rideabike in reply to Basih101]

I take it every night to help me sleep along with 2 mg of melatonin. It really works for me and if I wake up I take a magnesium capsule and go back to sleep.

[Earrings123 in reply to kgold]

hi KGold, my husb has "atypical" pd as well, i'm curious about the mold aspect - do you have more info - thanks sharon

[kgold in reply to Earrings123]

Hi Sharon - In our search for a doctor who MIGHT be able to help him (she's the one who said he was "atypical") we came across a holistic psychiatrist who has been trained by William Walsh, author of Nutrient Power. In a blood test we found that his copper to zinc ratio was high and has been on Walsh's protocol to lower it - that does have an effect on balancing neurotransmitters. Also, in the process she tested him for mold (which was positive) because she felt that that might have had something to do with his extreme histamine response to nystatin (an antifungal prescribed by another doctor). Since his reaction in Oct 2017 he has been homebound. Frankly, we are grasping at straws. You can read more in my profile. And yes, he is on Sinemet, which he is trying to reduce. And, yes, we have tried the B1 - currently on 300 mg. When I upped it to 600 mg about a month ago, husband seemed to get worse. So back down to 300 mg. A lot more to the story, but those are the highlights. Best of luck to you and your husband.

[Basih101 in reply to silvestrov]

Do you know of any help with balance issues and fatigue. Just started Ribose. Any thoughts?

[sharoncrayn in reply to silvestrov]

Contrary to some popular opinions, GABA actually does cross the BBB, but in extremely small amounts, which means rather high doses are required to achieve any worthwhile amount. Theanine is a good adjunct with GABA as suggested.

Liposomal GABA will facilitate crossing the BBB for GABA as will its analogs. Figure about $30-$35 for a month's supply of liposomal GABA (2:1 ratio with theanine which mimics to some extent the literature).

[MarionP in reply to sharoncrayn]

Sorry, didn't understand a part: when you say "which mimics," I didn't understand WHICH THING mimics WHICH THING. Can you specify them? Thanks.

[sharoncrayn in reply to MarionP]

One study used a ratio of GABA to Theanine of 5:1, so the liposomals which use a ratio of 2:1 essentially mimic (duplicate) the study to some extent but not exactly. Remember, GABA does not pass the BBB very easily, so rather large amounts will be required as in multiple grams daily. Gabapentin gets around this issue by using what we would call a "transport" mechanism attached to GABA. Unfortunately, GABA isn't meant to cross the BBB easily, (if it was meant to cross the BBB easily, it would be so constructed by the creator), so Gabapentin can often prove detrimental.

[Despe in reply to silvestrov]

Reading an older post of yours, I purchased Insomnitol (chewables). Is it better that my husband sticks to L-theanine or continue with Insomnitol?

Thank you, Silvestrov, and welcome back to HU. You were surely missed.

[MBAnderson]

The collective brainpower on this forum just went up several notches.

Hooray!

Marc

[lingfield222]

Hi, my husband has been recommended GABA skin cream, it smells nice but not sure how much good it is doing!

[Nivrac77--]

I assume you mean Gabapentin? I am taking it for alleviating a back nerve problem and haven’t noticed any impact on me other than relief from pain. In my current stage of PD I am not depressed, nor suffering from anxiety, but other than when I first started taking it, (it made me a bit drowsy), I’ve not noticed it making me seem more relaxed than normal. Just from my experience and current view of the drug.

[Hidden in reply to Nivrac77--]

Gabapentin is a GABA analogue and a prescription med and it does increase GABA in the brain however it does not have the same safety profile as GABA. GABA is sold as a supplement.

Art

[MarionP in reply to Nivrac77--]

GABA is gamma-amino-butyric-acid, is over the counter....and GABA is not "gabapentin," which is a prescription man-made derivative.

Typical anxiolytics, like the "benzos," stimulate or un-block your brain's production of GABA, which is your brain's natural "brake-fluid."

Klonopin (clonazepam) and all the other "-azepam"s are like that, and they are some of the "benzo's" (short for "benzodiazepines." They DO get into your brain, which is generally the idea, rather than your outside body's muscles, but some of them also do muscle relaxation.

Often used for a little push off into sleep too, and clonazepam is especially good at that, makes you drowsy...very few side effects, and in this case that drowsiness side effect is the intended main effect for me, I use it for sleep andit has helped me a bunch with stopping my night terror/nightmares.

A doctor or advanced nurse practitioner, or going to google.com with a few thoughtful search questions will help describe the differences. Not at all risky at the low doses usually prescribed for those purposes, say up to 2 mg per dose, usually you will not need 2mg. but rather you would need less.

For anxiety, if we are talking clonazepam specifically, 1.0 mg per or 0.5 mg pill is a good starter, several times a day...if it makes you too drowsy, use a cutter to cut it in half, or quarters, or ask the doctor to just prescribe 0.5mg pills and if you need 1 mg, just take two, etc. During very anxious periods I cut my 0.5 mg pills in half and that is a dose for me. But years ago I was up to 4.0 mg per day, now I am at 1.5 (and most of that is for sleep). Very easy and safe stuff, clonazepam.

Benzos basically lets your brain release it's own GABA, the bodies natural braking system.

Now, if you are producing less GABA to start with, which can happen with aging, there will be less to release...but it's a start, pretty safe stuff, and will get more of what you have out into your brain where it can help. Again, it just gets your GABA-cells to release what they have produced. And again, at up to 4 mg per day total, quite safe.

Xanax (generic: "alprazolam") is another "benzo," and it is a little more powerful on the drowsy part, BUT it also has a stronger muscle-relaxant effect, which also means if you are sensitive you will even sometimes feel a small chill, because your outside skeletal muscles are burning less fuel, this less heat sensing from your skin.

[davissw]

I had my neurotransmitters tested and my doctor said I was low in gaba. He suggested I take gaba at bedtime. He said it would allow me to sleep better, and it has.

[Mjm012]

Is gaba and gabapentin the same thing?

[glenandgerry in reply to Mjm012]

No they are not. Gaba is a supplement whereas Gabapentin is a pharmaceutical drug.

[sharoncrayn in reply to glenandgerry]

Use care with taking Gabapentin. It isn't for everyone in terms of its side effects nor does it work for everyone. However, when it works, it works.

[Hidden in reply to Mjm012]

Gabapentin is a GABA analogue and a prescription med and it does increase GABA in the brain however it does not have the same safety profile as GABA. GABA is sold as a supplement.

Art

[Sueberd]

Where do you purchase gaba?

[francis6]

I take L-theanine (usually at bedtime) and it seems to help. Some researchers believe that GABA decreases before the decline in Dopamine but mainstream doctors only seem interested in prescribing Dopamine boosting medication so the 2 neurotransmitters go out of balance, leading to anxiety. My own experience is that switching to a keto diet has improved my mood hugely and compulsive behaviours I used to suffer from no longer trouble me but, I realise, keto is not for everyone. What works for one person won't work for everyone else.

[Zardoz]

Life Extension has a test for neurotransmitters like GABA, Serotonin, Dopamine, etc. which uses urine, not blood. Not cheap, $199

lifeextension.com/Magazine/...

One of the comments at the bottom of that page raises the question of whether a urine test can give an accurate picture of neurotransmitters, and a Dr. Fogle acknowledges that the test has shortcomings. Life Extensions has a phone number which offers advice on interpreting test results so I called to ask what was available to alter low GABA levels. With some pressing on my part, the person offered Kava Kava, L Theanine & L Taurine.

If you take a look at the chart at the link below, you'll see that anxiety is not just indicative of low GABA, but also too high Glutamate or PEA (phenylethylamine):

lifeextension.com/Vitamins-...

[Zardoz]

... then there is something called picamilon which is a compound of niacin & GABA. This will cross the blood brain barrier. Unfortunately not readily available in the US since it was removed from the marketplace by the FDA. Its patent is held by a Russian company.

nootropedia.com/picamilon/

[CapSage]

According to Dr. Datis Kharrazian, if one gets any benefit from taking GABA, this indicates "leaky brain," or a blood-brain barrier that is not screening out the larger molecules such as GABA. I got this directly from Dr. Kharrazian.