What Are The Benefits and Possible Side Effects of GABA?

Chapter: Hormones

AKA: GABA Calm, GABA Plus, Gabatol, gamma aminobutyric acid. A neurotransmitter and central nervous system depressant.

Effects: It metabolizes to produce GHB in the brain, reducing anxiety and inducing relaxation and sleep by regulating the firing of nerve cells and countering the excitatory effects of acetylcholine,

noradrenaline, and other neurotransmitters.

Precautions: One Chinese study indicates that increased levels of GAB A in the brain are not conducive to learning and memory.

It should not be combined with other drugs, especially alcohol and other depressants.

Dosage: Mark Mayell recommends 500 to 750 mg to reduce anxiety, and 750 to 1500 mg an hour before bedtime for insomnia. Its effects may be enhanced by taking it with 25 to 50 mg each of vitamin B-3 and B-6.

Questions and Answers

What is the relationship between the neurotransmitter GABA and depression?, Is it a positive or negative correlation? As in what does an increase in GABA cause? elevated mood or worse depression?

It is both excitatory and inhibitory depending on which nerve cluster and structures you are examining. In adults it is mostly inhibitory. Although increasing GABA would likely decrease depression.

Does caffeine have any effect on neurotransmitters, specifically GABA or dopamine?, Is it a GABA or dopamine agonist/antagonist?

Thanks.

I vaguely remember a project I did for a class about adenosine receptors, and I know caffeine works on them somehow... might be worth investigating.


EDIT: Okay, I dug out my Psychopharmacology book, and it looks like caffeine blocks GABAa receptors, stimulates Ca2 release within cells, and blocks the A1 and A2a receptors for adenosine.

What is a natural way to increase GABA in the brain?, having withdrawal from zopiclone/imovane. Just curious if there is a natural supplement or food that boosts the chemical in the brain?

You could listen to more of them. Songs such as Gamma Gia, Gernando and Gancing Gueen.

Is it safe to take GABA supplements while pregnant?, A friend of mine is pregnant and she bought some GABA supplements to take for anxiety in the evening time. Is this safe to do while pregnant?

I wouldn't recommend taking GA BA while you are pregnant but what are you wanting to use it for?

What is the danger of taking GABA for anxiety? any danger to the brain?, a friend of mine gives her teenage daughter 4 tablets of gaba in the morning, 2 at midday and 2 at night. is this safe? can it do damage to the brain? her daughter has been twice in icu with suspected meningitis and at another time with suspected encephylitis. now it is found that her daughter just suffers from spasms in the neck due to her streneous dancing concerts at an art/drama school. her daughter complains of constant severe head aches and stiff neck. can it be the GABA she is taking at age 14???

A doctor should be prescribing medication for a 14-year old, not her mother. GABA is a large molecule and cannot pass the blood/brain barrier when taken orally. It is usually used to build muscle in athletes.

The headaches & stiff neck might be related to the large dose of GABA, but it more possibly are signs of untreated anxiety.

Please tell her mom consult a qualified doctor, not alternative therapies that are not proven & don't have enough clinical data to show they are effective.

Whats the difference between Benzos and Herbal GABA?, Whats the difference and what is more effective, Benzos such as clonazepam which raise GABA levels, OR GABA, the supplement which can be purchased at health food stores without prescription?

Benzodiazepines operate by binding to what we call an 'allosteric' site on the GABA-A receptor. When they stick to this spot, it makes it easier for GABA to attach to the receptor, so it opens more often.

Taking direct GABA does absolutely nothing. There's an enzyme in the stomach that breaks it down very rapidly to prevent you from eating something that will interfere with such an important brain system. It's like eating adrenaline, it's broken down before it ever gets anywhere near your blood. If you were to inject said GABA substance (which is probably pristine given most 'natural medicine's' spectacular hygienic manufacturing processes) into your spine, it would probably do something. But as it stands, it cannot make it into the brain to do anything.

If I take a gaba supplement, valerian root, or st johns wort before going to work tonight what will happen?, I hate work and was thinking maybe one of these will help me be happier.

You will probably get sleepy. try it some time when you dont have to go anywhere.

Where can I find naturally fermented GABA?, It's really good for anxiety and such, and it's healthier instead of like xanax or what not. But I cannot find it in like GNC or anything. Does anyone know where it can be found. I saw it online, but I don't wanna get scammed by a fake site or anything.

I've taken the 500mg from SOLGAR and it is the best bar none. It helps me sleep, makes me wake up looking like I've been working out because it builds mucle and burns fat. (Triggers the release of HGH, the youth and beauty hormone, no wrinkles here!!!!!!!!!!)

How about a discount on top of their already discounted prices? If you use iHerb.com discount coupon HAW031 at checkout you'll get $5 off your first order, no minimum order. Over $60 gets free shipping so stock up on whatever natural body/hair care, supplements you need. Check out Weleda body care, AnneMarie Borlind, Aubrey Organics, just search whatever you need because you can't beat their prices

What antidepressant or other meds work to increase serotonin AND gaba?,

Not medication but healthy diet.

Forget medication.It hides the symptoms and the disease and makes it worse.

One of the greatest mass illusions is the one that drugs cure diseases.

Omega 3 fatty acids raise your serotonin levels.The more you have the better you feel among many other benefits.

Start the omega 3 diet.I have researched omega 3 acids for 2 years and performed a very successful experiment on myself and few of my volunteer friends.Few months of the omega 3 diet it significantly reduced stress[and/or cured depression] problems permanently and significantly raised my intelligence,improved memory,gave me high emotional and muscle control,sight,reflexes[and many other known and unknown benefits]and without any drugs or supplements in the form of pills.

http://www.naturalnews.com/021119.html

Take two table spoons of grinded flaxseed[rich with omega 3 and cheap]a day[with a glass of water] and in a few months you will start to notice significant improvement in your mental health[you will become more psychologically stable,among other things].Use a coffee grinder.Whole seeds cannot be digested by the hydrochloric acid in our stomach only grinded seeds.A fact and not a assumption.You have nothing to loose only gain by it.There are many articles on the internet about the omega 3 fatty acids.

Flax is the best source of ALA omega 3 fatty acid which our body converts to more important fatty acids called DHA and EPA.For the efficient conversion to take place,foods containing a large amount of the following nutrients must be consumed along with the flaxseed:C,B3,B6 [vitamins],zink and Magnesium [minerals].I recommend 3 table spoons of flax with 100 grams[or more if to your liking] of almonds and/or 250g of green peas,1 kiwi every day.[do not take more then 3 table spoons of flax because large amounts can cause intestinal gases which can cause abdominal pain and/or constipation.If three spoons causes abdominal discomfort lower the dosage to 2 table spoons of grinded flax and elevate it to 3 table spoons after your body adapts to high fiber content].

Does anyone know how safe GABA supplements are?, I've heard they help relieve anxiety. But are they safe? And are they sold over the counter in the US?

They're sold OTC, and they're essentially useless. Like all neurotransmitters, GABA is broken down specifically in your gut. When you eat GABA, or any other neurotransmitter like adrenaline, or dopamine, it never makes it to your blood intact. Your body is set up to not let what you take by mouth (ie your food) mess with your nervous system so easily and directly as that.

Remember, to sell something as a supplement in the US you don't have to prove that it's safe or that it works.

Continue reading here: Glutathione Benefits for Your Health and Body

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