Boosting GABA?

[ethanol]

I was wondering what are some ways to increase GABA levels? I understand that GABA as trouble crossing the blood brain barrier, but at high doses it may be able. However when i take a dose of GABA in excess of 3g I get a very uncofortable burning sensation on my skin and hair roots; it also seem to slow down my breathing.

What supplements can icnrease GABA levels?

[At Heart]

Hi ethanol,

What gaba supplements are you talking about? Are you refering to gabapentin - or something you can get at a health food store? You should be able to look up (do a google search) gaba and how it interacts with other medications.

I am also concerned that you mention that when you take too much gaba it causes your breathing to slow down - that is not something to mess with (sounds more like a narcotic reaction), because supressing your respirations can lead to dire consequences.

Are you on other meds? What made you start taking GABA?

Sorry - guess I am unfamiliar with GABA other than as a neurotransmitter.

Anyone else familiar with GABA and how it works?

At Heart

[FrazzleDazzle]

I would strongly recommend doing supplementation aimed at neurotrasmitters to be done through a naturopathic MD or other complementary/alternative treatment provider. There are better ways to try to adjust the neurological chemistry with amino acids than taking GABA, it just depends on what direction you want specific ones to go, but you should only do that under a direction of a trained practitioner. Even though amino acids are natural, supplementing them beyond what normal diet provides can produce very untoward and or dangerous side effects.

[ethanol]

Originally Posted by At Heart

Hi ethanol,

What gaba supplements are you talking about? Are you refering to gabapentin - or something you can get at a health food store? You should be able to look up (do a google search) gaba and how it interacts with other medications.

I am also concerned that you mention that when you take too much gaba it causes your breathing to slow down - that is not something to mess with (sounds more like a narcotic reaction), because supressing your respirations can lead to dire consequences.

Are you on other meds? What made you start taking GABA?

Sorry - guess I am unfamiliar with GABA other than as a neurotransmitter.

Anyone else familiar with GABA and how it works?

At Heart

I am talking about just GABA, comes is 500mg tablets/pills and can be bought otc at vitaminshoppe and other stores. I am on no medication. Reduced respiration durring GABA intake of 3g or higher is normal and not life threatening, that much I know; it is unconfortable.

[ecu20]

Phenibut - been used in Russia as a GABA modulating drug that has nootropic and anxiolytic properties. It can also cross the blood brain barrier. With having tried it, I would say it feels most similar to a low dose of diazepam.

[ethanol]

Originally Posted by ecu20

Phenibut - been used in Russia as a GABA modulating drug that has nootropic and anxiolytic properties. It can also cross the blood brain barrier. With having tried it, I would say it feels most similar to a low dose of diazepam.

What stores (non-online) sell that. I cant find it at GNC or Vitaminshoppe.

[ecu20]

Originally Posted by ethanol

What stores (non-online) sell that. I cant find it at GNC or Vitaminshoppe.

I've found it at vitaminshoppe, but it's not 100% phenibut, only a "proprietary blend" in relaxall, or something. It's expensive in general, but for an unknown amount, no thanks .

I shopped online because nobody sells the bulk powder or pills offline.

[mammalspod]

Be careful with Phenibut. It develops a tolerance very quickly and has horrible withdrawl symptoms. It is useless for daily supplementation. Anything that significantly raises GABA levels will probably cause dependence as well as be sedating.

[mammalspod]

These probably won't do much, but manganese supplementation is known to be GABAergic. L-theanine also shows promise as well as Valerian. In Russia they sell GABA with niacin, I guess niacin is a prodrug to GABA.

[Crackerjack]

Originally Posted by ethanol

What supplements can icnrease GABA levels?

I used the Vitamin Shoppe version for a few times to help me sleep.

It was so effective that I was drowsy into the next afternoon, even after drinking a couple XL Dunkin Donuts coffees, so I stopped taking it after a few days.

[beachwalker]

Phenibut and similar drugs (wikipedia says it is like baclofen) I dont believe increase GABA levels on a sustainable basis. Phenibut, like alcohol, is an agonist at GABA a or is it GABA b receptors. but a more therapeutic one than alcohol. its tolerance issues have already been spoken of above.

I am not qualified in this field but I guess that phenibut tricks your brain into thinking you have plenty of gaba circulating when it sounds like that may be an issue for you (ie you are low on GABA or want to explore its effects). I wonder if such agonist drugs actually reduce your GABA levels overall in the longer term if feedback loops trick your brain into thinking it has enough GABA so slow down the GABA formation cycles. The same as opioid drugs do for our own endogenous processes of making endorphins etc and their receptors.

Supplements are so hit or miss with these processes. They work well for some and not at all for others. Just adding amino acids to replenish GABA (Taurine Glutamine? Glycine? etc) will only work if they are the rate limiting step. Often it is a depleted specific enzymne, that is if you are already eating a balanced diet with sufficient protein. Enzymne shortages may be hereditary or due to shortages of key minerals like zinc or manganese already mentioned or there are so many. but if you eat a wide cross section of whole foods, particularly some seafoods and seaweed, such shortages are more likely due to digestion and absorption issues. Its so complex that I have given up and gone back to the good diet and chewing my food very well as many ADHD have big issues with gulping down food mindlessly I think.

Besides Phenibut somebody above mentioned the russian niacin and GABA compound and I think it is called: picomilon or pikomilon, it apparently works very well for many, and apparently works on a sustainable basis. and it is hard to argue with the Russians for what they lacked in scientific rigour during the periods they introduced these drugs they certainly didnt lack in sample size, control of background noise and probably most importantly their motivation was not to sell a product to their citizens, roubles were short and workers needed useful drugs.

L theanine already mentioned is probably worth a test. Though I find it a bit weak.

I prefer gabapentin for a GABA like effect personally (for I find it non addictive and sustainable).

It is a pity pharmaceutical GHB (zyrem?) is so hard to legally get now days. I thought it was a very useful drug if used correctly it even had a positive dopamine rebound when you woke up in the morning.

but I have also used herbs:
like kava kava, which can be quite potent (in Australia we can get some Vanuatu strains)
ashwaghanda
skullcap
zizyphus
magnolia: a very interesting herb indeed
passiflora

there are so many.
hope this helps
beachwalker

ps There is a lot of complexity in that we have seperate benzodiazepam(?) receptors to GABA receptors and drugs and herbs that can effect both or just one. Some claim this is why some GABA drugs are not sedating.....its so complex.

[The ADHD Fan]

Mammalspod is correct about there being a manganese and GABA connection. One of the tough things about manganese supplementation is toxicity, since manganese can build up to toxic levels relatively easily via excessive supplements. Iron can help regulate excessive manganese in the brain and regulate GABA levels as well.

[ecu20]

yes sorry I should have mentioned the fact that since phenibut exerts gaba-like modulating effects, it does build tolerance and some users may experience physical and mental addiction along with withdrawl effects when ceasing continued use.

It should be used sparingly ( less than 2 nights in a row, and more than a week (if not 2) in between usage).