GABA supplement

Has anyone tried GABA nutritional supplements (with or without other RLS medication)? If so, what was your experience?

Does anyone know if GABA can be taken with prescription gabapentinoids?

[RLSEXP]

Hi Amrob

I have not tried GABA supplements but I have been taking Phenethylamine (PEA) which is an organic compound which my specialist suggested I try. I do believe it is helping a little. Apparently it improves your feeling of well being and may assist the absorption of the opioid so you do not need as much . I have been taking it along with the Temgesic 200mcg which has turned my life around. I have not seen any comments on this supplement on the any of the RLS posts.

[Hidden in reply to RLSEXP]

Thanks RLSEXP, I've just looked up PEA and read "it has been shown to have neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive (anti- pain) and anti-convulsant properties". Sounds like something we all need 😀

[DicCarlson]

GABA is Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - it is the relaxing neurotransmitter in the Brain - and is associated with Glutamate (the excitable neurotransmitter). They shift back and forth depending on what your body needs. Near night GABA will predominate (to help you sleep) then Glutamate predominates near morning and during the day - giving you the ability to be alert.

It would seem like a simple thing to supplement with GABA near night time. But there is a theory out there that if it does indeed help you - you have a leaky Blood Brain Barrier. The GABA molecule is too large to cross the BBB. I think Glutamate predominating is the reason that I could go to work and actually function - not falling asleep with 2 or 3 hours of sleep during severe RLS.

I've tried GABA and Pharmacological GABA - nothing. I've tried supplementing with the enzyme GAD that helps Glutamate transform into GABA and probiotics that help increase the GAD - still nothing yet.

This link is very informative and I actually did a consult with Cynthia Perkins. Her advice was Keto diet - which I haven't tried yet - too hard to stay on. I'm more Paleo (more carbs) than Keto.

holistichelp.net/blog/how-t...

[Hidden in reply to DicCarlson]

That is a very informative article. Thank you DicCarlson. Have you been on the Paleo diet for long and is it helping?

[DicCarlson in reply to Hidden]

I'm not strict Paleo - I still eat oatmeal and other grains. I am very conscious of carb counts - especially with snacking and casual eating. I tried cutting out the oatmeal (which I eat every day) and I just didn't have enough energy for bike riding, skiing, etc. Here is a good graphic on the amount of carbs (Mark IS the king of Paleo BTW!)...

marksdailyapple.com/dial-in...

Carbs are carbs - not so fast - there is a measure called the Glycemic Index. It measures how quickly a food item becomes sugar in the blood stream. So, complex carbs are combined with dietary fiber and become sugar to your body very slowly. Simple carbs (mostly processed foods) become sugar very quickly.

Many, many people on here report a diminishing of RLS with a low sugar, lower carb diet. But also I would caution there are reports of RLS suffers going strict Keto with poor results for RLS.

[Notlikinthis]

I have been using the GABA for a few weeks now while trying to wean off the ropinirol. It helps a lot. I only take it at night before I go to bed and then again sometimes when I wake up in the middle of the night. It works pretty fast, however I need to take it when I first feel that little twinge that tells me a twitchy attack is about to start. Once a full on restless leg attack starts, nothing seems to help. Walking it out, hot compresses with a essential oil blend help to end it a little quicker. (Sometimes). I'm down to 1.5 mg of ropinirol and can't seem to get lower without the twitchies.

[Hidden in reply to Notlikinthis]

Glad to hear it's working for you. People do seem to respond differently to it.

[DicCarlson]

Datis Kharrazian in his voluminous book "Why Isn't My Brain Working" cites the GABA "challenge". He give patients 1000 mg of straight GABA (during the day not at night, empty stomach) and if there is a response - you feel calmer, sleepier or more relaxed - he asserts that you have a "leaky brain". GABA should not produce any response, it is too large to cross The Blood Brain Barrier. You can read a lot on the preview page in Amazon (Chapter 15)

amazon.com/Isnt-Brain-Worki...

[Notlikinthis in reply to DicCarlson]

Interesting. Most of the time my RLS comes on at night but once in awhile I'll get it during the day. I have taken GABA during the day when I felt the twitchies coming on. I did not get sleepy, but it did seem to help the twitchies go away. That's all I really care about at this point. RLS is (can be) a living hell. Maybe I have a leaky brain? I don't know.