I’m sharing this question I received on my GABA Calm blog to illustrate how different people respond to GABA and how some people may not even have the low GABA type of anxiety. Here is the question this mom posted:
I have used GABA (several brands, just open capsule and sprinkle small amount under tongue) for years now, with calming results within minutes. It was recommended to me by 2 family members, both bi-polar, who were tested by Dr. Amen. I have also used it with my children (now adults); my daughter says it doesn’t work for her. (She has anxiety issues and occasional panic attacks, and Rescue Remedy helps her.) It does work to calm my 3 sons, but one says it makes him sleepy, and lasts into the next day, so he won’t take it. Trudy, have you heard of this reaction? It seems extreme for such a small amount used. He is a college student and ‘medicates’ with caffeine, if that makes a difference.
She shared that she uses 500mg or 750mg capsules of GABA, and get several doses from a single cap (so maybe 100mg per dose).
This is what I shared with her: we are all biochemically different and one form of GABA (or GABA combined with other amino acids/nutrients such as GABA Calm) may work for one person and not another. Also one person may need more and another may do fine with much much less. Also anxiety has many underlying causes, with low GABA only being one of them.
If I was working with your daughter I’d have her trial higher amounts of GABA for the anxiety and panic attacks. I’d also look into low serotonin and a trial of tryptophan too especially if her anxiety is the worry, ruminating anxiety with insomnia and the blues, with increased afternoon and evening cravings for carbs and chocolates.
If I was working with your son, because it does work to calm him, I’d start by having him trial just 25mg of GABA and increase slowly from there, monitoring how he feels. His anxiety may also be related to his caffeine consumption – which can also affect sleep and the fatigue he feels in the morning could be related to that.
Note: She did ask this question on the GABA Calm blog and was planning to have them trial this form of GABA. I typically don’t have clients use GABA Calm at night (because of the tyrosine) but it’s certainly worth a trial especially with her son.
If you’re completely new to the amino acids for anxiety here is an overview with questionnaire, precautions and how to do a trial.
Hi Trudy I tried Source Naturals gaba (not gaba calm) last year. I tried on tongue. And prob used 1/2 capsule . At the time I had gone cold turkey off Prozac ( very bad decision) and was trying to fix withdrawals with your recommendations. I found the gaba very irritating in my mouth. I have glossitis of the tongue. Anything acidy burns. I know why u recommend it sublingually but if I cant take it that way ( also thought at time it made me worse but that could have been anything, it was all so bad)
How should I take it? With food/without? Still small start doses titrating up?
Willing to give another go. Things still terrible and now stuck on Benzo . Thanks
Jodie
This is of interest to me too as my dry mouth from autoimmune disease gets hurt easily. Am also prone to gastritis and some supplements can exacerbate this.
Yes I have really bad GI distress as well so not even sure my stomach will handle it either. But willing to give it a go with a bit of advice from Trudy. Hoping with food will be the answer. And that it doesn’t react badly in there. Hope she gets back to us.
K – did you see my response to Jodie
Hi Jodie
Gosh sorry to hear re going cold turkey – not good! All the amino acids are best away from food and when swallowed more is often needed. I always start low and slow and do a trial to start.
With mouth sensitivity I’d also look into that and try and find the root cause so it’s not an issue.
For SSRI and benzo taper I get my clients nutritionally sound FIRST – real food, no gluten, no caffeine, no sugar, gut and adrenals addressed, other nutritional deficiencies addressed etc. I then work with them and their doctors on a SLOOOOOOW taper. For benzodiazepines benzo.org.uk and benzobuddies.org are excellent resources
Thanks for your reply. Yes I went AIP before I started my sari taper 2015. But I always still felt queasy and I believed it was the drug causing it. They changed me to Prozac from cymbalta because it has a longer half life and suppose to be easier to taper but My stomach cramps got so bad I ended up in ER. They agreed it was Prozac and water to change me to another AD but had to washout 4/7 days. In that time I started feeling so much better my go and I decided to just keep going, I started the benzo because of the cramping and so tapered that over the next four weeks. Two days after last little bit valium all hell broke loose. That’s when I tried going with the tryptophan and gaba but just got worse . So in June mental health stepped in and put me on tetracyclic AD. And back on valium. And been bedridden ever since. Still eating organic, flowing your eat protein in mornings and only drink purified water. But have no appetite and terrible GI upset. On enzymes cause test did show EPI moderate. Lost to much weight and can’t put any on. Even though 3 square meals forced a day. I see where your coming from getting nutrition etc sorted first but I’m doing everything I can, researching everything, currently watching SIBO summit, although I tested negative. Its a vicious circle. I will not be looking forward to taking the gaba between meals as everything upsets me but I ll give it a go. Thanks for letting me know. I’m hoping it can help me get off the valium. SLOWWWWWLY.
Jodie
I’d focus on nutrient dense food like bone broths and shakes initially. Also low zinc impact appetite and mood so this should be considered too.
I know I am on of the worse benzos there is. Clonazepam! Been on it a long time. I tried true calm by now foods and it did nothing. We are both dealing with volatile substances. They are very powerful! Mine being even worse! You are in the mild category!
I found something called water titration. Founded by Dr Heather Ashton. So you go through withdrawal with minimal side effects. This system may take longer. But the gaba isn’t. going to help until you get this horrible substance out of you body. Start to detox too. The tranquilizer is actually in your cells . Any drug. Especially psychiatric drugs or street drugs, will eventually embed themselves into the fat part of the cell.
You not only have to start detoxing the liver , but the whole body. I drink green tea with lemon in the morning with a little stevia. I also drink Triple A detox tea. My health food carries it. Magnesium helps too! Its the relaxation mineral. Make sure it is absorbable! Like mag glycine or citrate. Liquid is better. Not tablets , capsules are ok. We also need to sweat the toxins out of our body! You do not need to run. Walking at a fast pace is good. I am 57 yrs old . Ended up having a nerve break down in 1998 ! Went through shock teatment was put on antidepressant and the go ole benzos! bad marriage etc. Get rid of negative people , family or friends. Its called tough love. Have your adrenals checked through saliva testing. It can cause adrenal fatigue. Stress is killing people.
Take it slow. I know I did the cold turkey thing and Almost ended up in the hospital. I am a retired RN , who should have become a holistic practitioner. The use of a dry sauna also helps to remove the drug from your cells! But go slow, everything in little bites!
Any drug . Especially the psychic drugs will end up the fat tissues of your cells.
You may have periods of depression, I tried 5htp but found it to be too powerful, I should have went with the l,trpytophan that Trudy recommends. Always go with first intuition! I wish I had known about Trudy’s site earlier.
But I have been on the benzos since 1998! Broccoli has alot of natural gaba in it. I believe until we have both detoxed enough and titrated ourselves down that gaba is not going to help . That’s why Trudy says no to benzos.
Its harder to come off benzos , then cocaine!
I hope this has helped . Do not dwell on the past. Move forward. This was not your fault nor was it mine!
But we can do it. I would not be on the site if it weren’t for the grace of God! He is real and he cares for you!
Be blessed, LeeAnn.
I tried Gaba Calm twice in small amounts, and both times I felt pretty depressed within 30-60 minutes. Have you seen it cause depression in some people?
Mary
Too much of an amino acid can be an issue. It’s an unusual reaction that I’ve only seen once and it was the tyrosine that did it. It could also be the added ingredients. Doing a trial of GABA only would be my approach.