This question was recently asked in my online GABA Quickstart group program: What are your thoughts about using GABA with somebody who has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)? Are there any contraindications? My approach is always the same regardless of your diagnosis – if you have the low GABA symptoms of physical anxiety then it’s worth doing a trial to determine if supplementing with the calming amino acid GABA will help.
What is very interesting is that this rat study, Protective effects of GABA against metabolic and reproductive disturbances in letrozole induced polycystic ovarian syndrome in rats, reports some very specific benefits of GABA being protective against metabolic and reproductive disturbances in PCOS.
Letrozole or Femara, a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor (i.e. it lowers estrogen production) is used to treat breast cancer in postmenopausal women and it induced PCOS in the rats.
The following benefits were found when GABA was used in the rats with PCOS:
- reduced body weight
- reduced body mass index
- reduced testosterone
- a favourable lipid profile
- normal glucose tolerance
- a decreased number of cystic follicles in the ovaries
These results are profound. But wait for it …”the effects observed with GABA were comparable to that with metformin” with none of the side-effects (which can actually include anxiety, a racing heart, shakiness and depression).
The authors conclude as follows:
The results suggest that GABA treatment has shown protective effects in PCOS and provides beneficial effects either by reducing insulin resistance or by inducing antioxidant defence mechanisms.
The above paper didn’t measure anxiety levels but it’s very common with PCOS. According to this paper, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Review of Treatment Options With a Focus on Pharmacological Approaches
after PCOS is diagnosed, studies show that more than 50% of patients develop prediabetes or diabetes, and there is an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI), dyslipidemia, hypertension, anxiety, depression, endometrial cancer, and sleep apnea.
So it makes sense that using GABA will also help to ease any anxiety symptoms that are present. As always, look at the low GABA symptoms and if they exist rate them on a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being most severe), do a trial with GABA, and rate your symptoms afterwards, adjusting up or down as needed based on symptom relief.
A quick recap if you are new to GABA, these are the symptoms of low GABA:
- Unable to relax or loosen up
- Stiff or tense muscles
- Feeling stressed and burned-out
- Feeling worried or fearful
- Panic attacks
- Craving carbs for relaxation and calming
- Craving alcohol for relaxation and calming
- Craving drugs for relaxation and calming
- Insomnia *
- Have intrusive thoughts, perseverate or have an overactive brain
Or have unwanted thoughts – thoughts about unpleasant memories, images or worries (Updated Nov 17, 2017: new GABA research on intrusive thoughts) * - Inability to prioritize planned actions *
- Acrophobia (fear of heights) * – possibly other phobias too
- Poor focus *
- Rectal spasms *
- Burning mouth *
- Visceral pain/belly pain with IBS *
(* New additions that are not in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution”)
Keep in mind that the above PCOS GABA paper was an animal study and GABA was not listed as a treatment option in the second paper above so my approach would be to use GABA for easing the physical anxiety symptoms. At the same time, share this blog and study with your prescribing physician and request if they will work with you to adjust your Metformin as they monitor your testosterone, lipids, glucose, insulin and cystic follicles in the ovaries, as well as weight and body mass index.
I look forward to human GABA PCOS studies in the near future. I also look forward to hearing back from you if you have PCOS and are using GABA for easing your anxiety symptoms AND are also seeing some of the above metabolic and reproductive improvements.
Given the prevalence of PCOS it’s important we use everything at our disposal to help:
Research suggests that 5% to 10% of females 18 to 44 years of age are affected by PCOS, making it the most common endocrine abnormality among women of reproductive age in the U.S. Women seeking help from health care professionals to resolve issues of obesity, acne, amenorrhea, excessive hair growth, and infertility often receive a diagnosis of PCOS.
We must always use a comprehensive approach and this book by my friend and colleague, Amy Medling is wonderful: Healing PCOS.
Do you have PCOS and anxiety and has GABA helped? Have you also observed some of the above metabolic and reproductive improvements?
If you’re a practitioner working with women with PCOS, have you made any of these observations?
I’d also be curious to hear if you see changes in acne severity, amenorrhea (missed periods), excessive hair growth or infertility?
Please do share in the comments below.
Can I introduce some GABA if I am taking Celexa and a small dose of klonopin occasionally ?
Kay
I’ve used GABA with success with clients on these medications and there is no evidence to say not to but it’s always best to discuss with the prescribing doctor.
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I am a HUGE fan of GABA as I suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, insomnia, etc. The thing that I noticed though is when I take it I have “brain fog” and memory problems days after. I already have a memory problem (always have mainly because I have A.D.D.) and since in my 60’s it is getting worse especially if I take any type anxiety meds. Has anyone else noticed this issue with taking GABA? Thanks!
De
I’m not sure if you’re referring to the amino acid GABA used as a supplement or the prescription medication gabapentin (since you say “anxiety meds”).
The results are mixed in the research but this small study reports “Gabapentin therapy is associated with a tangible decline in memory, executive function, and attention in individuals with spinal cord injury.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29423314/ This study reports “GBP is a well tolerated and effective antiepileptic drug which had no measurable effect on cognition but did produce sedation at the highest dose.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9120451/
Too much of the amino acid GABA may lead to fatigue but I am not aware of memory problems. If it is the amino acid GABA that helps you with panic attacks, anxiety, and insomnia (wonderful!), using it in conjunction with theanine and/or tyrosine may help the brain fog, memory and ADD issues.
Other root causes of ADD and memory problems should also be investigated and addressed: low iron, low blood sugar/high blood sugar, low zinc, gluten issues, low omega-3s, medications (such as statins, benzodiazepines, pain meds etc) and so on.
You don’t mention PCOS so I assume you don’t have this?
Thanks so much for your reply!! I am referring to GABA the amino acid but have also long ago in the past have taken Xanax for panic attacks. Only took on an “as needed” basis which was on average 25 mg approx. once a week or one every 2 to 3 weeks. It worked extremely well for me but just felt it was too harmful to be taking. So tried other natural remedies such as tryptophan, holy basil, and now GABA. Also since menopause I have trouble sleeping through the night. The results of the amino GABA is what I have noticed when I take it causes my short term memory issues. Not sure though if it is my age, hormones or what. I will read about dosage, but the brand is Source Naturals Serene Science GABA at 750 mg. Thanks so much!! Your help is enormous !!
P.S. No I do not have PCOS and have always had A.D.D. I have had blood sugar issues, but I take zinc supplements, have been on the keto diet for about 9 mos. so no gluten. I take lots of supplements including omega 3’s and am on no medications at all. I do have low BP and fairly high cholesterol.
What exactly is the difference between gabapentin and GABA? I had read that the GABA was first and gabapentin developed to imitate the effects of GABA. If this true and what else can you say about the two comparatively? Thanks.
Kris
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid and is not the same as the drug called gabapentin which does have many possible side-effects, including memory loss and lack of concentration. You can see them all here https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323681.php Gabapentin tapers can also lead to severe withdrawal symptoms in some and “gabapentin taper should follow a course similar to that of a benzodiazepine taper — slowly and over a period of weeks to months.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15898970/
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I have PCOS and I take 3 GABA Calm lozenges a day, which works well for me for less anxiety.
J
Thanks for sharing and wonderful to hear you have less anxiety. Has GABA also helped some of your PCOS symptoms too?
As this case illustrates, it’s a powerful intervention – PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome): GABA helped ease lifelong anxiety, wean off anxiety medication, ovulate each month and stop PCOS meds https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/pcos-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-gaba-helped-ease-lifelong-anxiety-wean-off-anxiety-medication-ovulate-each-month-and-stop-pcos-meds/
This is so interesting! I have had severe PCOS probably since I was 12 or earlier and massive estrogen dominance since close to then. I suspect I’ve had GABA deficiency for almost my whole life -if not all of it.
I’ve had every one of the symptoms listed in your article to some degree at various times, and knowing what I do about the rest of my medical history, it totally makes sense. I have done everything under the sun and still have PCOS symptoms -though they’re much reduced from a few years ago (I’m 45).
I’ve used GABA off and on. I’m going to try using it more regularly for a while and see if it helps with any of my metabolic and other remaining symptoms. Now that I’ve improved a lot through all sorts of other protocols, I may notice more benefit from it when it comes to metabolic symptoms, particularly.
Ava
Glad to helps connect the dots. Please do share how things go with GABA.
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I was wondering if medical cannabis can be used along with GABA?
Joan
GABA can be used with CBD. They actually work very well together.
Can you provide guidance re: GABA supplementation? Ie dosage and brand.
Thank you
Trudy has a blog post where she recommends which GABA products to use. You can view it here:
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
Alida
The blog shared by JJ is the correct one (thanks JJ). I have clients start with 125mg GABA and go up from there. If they are super-sensitive using way less is better. GABA is always more effective when used sublingually.
Do you have PCOS and any of the listed low GABA symptoms?
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 27. (I’m currently 43 now). When diagnosed they immediately put me on birth control and metformin. I also eventually went on anti-anxiety medication. Years later, when I tried to get pregnant, I struggled (which was expected with PCOS) so they put me on Femara/Letrozole which actually did the trick. I got pregnant both times right away. But reading in your article how that’s the same medication they used on the rats to induced PCOS makes me wonder if I was also making my PCOS worse every time I took it.
I’ve been anxious my whole life, even as a kid, but my anxiety increased through my late 20s and peaked in my late 30s when panic attacks started taking over, even with anti-anxiety medication(Lexapro). It was debilitating. I first heard about GABA/amino acids and how they can help with anxiety from a podcast you did with Wellness Mama about 3 years ago. I started to wean off my anxiety medication and I started taking GABA and noticed a huge difference. I eventually got off birth control and all medication for my PCOS and started regulating my cycle with diet, lifestyle changes and supplements, all while still taking GABA. Now I ovulate every month! Which I could never do on my own before.
About a year and a half ago, I started having panic attacks again out of nowhere! I couldn’t understand why. I wasn’t stressed. One attack even landed me in the ER(again). I was disappointed to be on this road again. Then I came across your interview talking about collagen and how it can lower your serotonin. I also have the MTHFR gene variant so I run low on serotonin already. I had started taking some collagen supplements not knowing that it was probably setting me into a panic attack mode. As soon as I stopped taking that (and switched all my supplements that were in gelatin caps to veggie caps)I never had another episode again. Or if I felt one coming on, I know now to take Tryptophan to help counteract it.
I want to thank you so much for both of those podcasts/interviews that I feel literally helped save my life.
My oldest daughter who is 9 has been showing early signs of developing PCOS and other of my issues. When her mood starting changing and she was getting angry out of nowhere and very dark and moody, I started her on a small dose of GABA. Immediately both of us saw the difference in her mood. She now asks for her “happy pills” daily because she doesn’t want to feel those dark feelings anymore. I wish this information was around when I was young. It could’ve help so much of what I had to struggle with for years. Thank you for all you do and the info you share. It has been life changing.
One quick question, I take Source Naturals Theanine Serene with Relora. I noticed the amount of GABA is higher than the Source Natural Gaba Cam lozenges. Could it ever be problematic to be taking too much Gaba?
Debbie
Thanks for sharing this – what an amazing healing journey you have had and now you get to help your daughter too! I love that she asks for her “happy pills” and that GABA helped you so much with your anxiety and allowed you to get off your meds. Good for you making diet, lifestyle changes and using supplements too. Please do share a bit more about what you did for other blog readers.
And well done for connecting the dots with your panic attacks and collagen, and using tryptophan as needed. You say you stopped collagen and gelatin caps – how big an issue do you think the gelatin caps were or were you just playing it safe?
I do want to add that this type of thing happens often and the person thinks the GABA and diet/lifestyle changes aren’t working anymore and yet it’s something new that is now triggering the new signs of anxiety/panic.
The Letrozole/Femara and PCOS question is an interesting one. On the one hand it’s used in animal studies to cause PCOS – Letrozole-induced polycystic ovaries in the rat: a new model for cystic ovarian disease https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15010188/ and is used with PCOS patients to help with infertility – Letrozole for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6221580/. It may have well made PCOS worse in the short-term but it did allow you to get pregnant both times.
Your question about too much GABA …. too much will lead to adverse effects like feeling too tired (that day or the next), too relaxed, dizzy, light-headed or sometimes with a niacin-like flush. With swallowed GABA products you typically need a little more than when used sublingually.
Thanks again for sharing here and for the very kind words. I’m going to share your story so we can inspire others and give them hope!
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Debbie
I have shared your inspiring story as a new blog post – PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome): GABA helped ease lifelong anxiety, wean off anxiety medication, ovulate each month and stop PCOS meds https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/pcos-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-gaba-helped-ease-lifelong-anxiety-wean-off-anxiety-medication-ovulate-each-month-and-stop-pcos-meds/
Thank you again for sharing. Hope you and your daughter are still doing great!
How do you buy GABA ? Where can you get it ? Please advise
Kimberley
You can find GABA products here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
This is so interesting!! I have had severe PCOS symptoms since about age 14 (I’m 45). This list of GABA deficiency symptoms basically explains my life. I’ve had them all, at different points and to varying degrees. I’ve always wondered how early my systemic, metabolic problems started, and with what, and the more I’ve learned the more I’ve suspected elevated cortisol or stress hormones or something basically since birth. Perhaps part of it was actually a GABA deficiency all along.
I have taken GABA off and on, and definitely found it helpful with sleep and calming. I do have issues with it making me feel too tired or groggy – but I think that’s just what happens when you calm down a system that’s extremely fatigued. I have my overt PCOS symptoms under control now, after enormous effort, but still struggle with metabolic issues. I’ll try to incorporate GABA more regularly at bed time and see if there’s any improvement.
Thank you so much for sharing this info!!
Ava
So glad this helped connect some dots for you. Keep in mind that too much GABA can leave you feeling too tired and groggy. I start clients low on 125mg GABA and go up from there. Please do keep us posted on how you do
Apologies for the delay in your comment approval and my response. We had a computer glitch where a large number of comments were hidden from view in a spam folder. It mostly affected new folks who were commenting for the first time but it’s hopefully resolved now.
Hi Trudy,
I recently found out I am very low in GABA from a HPA-G complete profile through NeuroLab. My GABA value was 196.7. I have been taking lorazepam too long (28 years) — want to get off of it. My serotonin was also low, as well as dopamine and glutamate. My cortisol was high. Can you please recommend a lowering strategy for me? Or point me in the direction of resources?
In case it’s helpful, I am 56 and post-menopausal.
Hugs and gratitude,
Victoria
Hello,
Can I take Gaba while taking klonopin and citalopram? Neither of the medications are helping the anxiety.
Thank you!
Karin
I have had many clients use GABA with success when also using klonopin and citalopram.
If you are new to the amino acids (and other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
It’s a comprehensive approach – amino acids AND diet. What is your diet like right now – gluten-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free, eating protein at breakfast for blood sugar control, real whole foods, grass-fed red meat, wild fish, fermented foods etc?
I have PCOS , Anxiety and major fatigue,ADD. How much am I supposed to take daily and how many times a day? Thank you I bought 750 mg bottle. is that too much cuz I can open them up and dump half out?
Christy
I can’t offer you specific feedback via the blog but can share I have clients start low at 125mg GABA and increase to 1-4 x per day based on symptom improvements. 750 mg is way too high for most people.
We also focus on diet – real foods, no gluten/caffeine/sugar, quality animal protein, organic veggies/fruit, healthy fats etc. My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place for this foundational change and has a chapter on the amino acids with dosing/timing information. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
My online GABA Quickstart group program is helpful when you have questions and need guidance (and moral support/encouragement). More here about the program and purchase info https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/
Hi, do you have any information on how GABA Supplementation affects egg quality and fertility? I had a perfectly healthy baby at 35, but since then my lifestyle (diet, exercise routine, sleep, stress/anxiety) went downhill for a good 5 years. At 40 (a couple months ago) I had a pregnancy I had to end because of trisomy 18 and ever since then my anxiety went through the roof. It’s really a catch 22 since I’d need to eliminate stress, but not being able to drink a soda or eat some fries or whatever the heck normal people do fills me with a sense of guilt. The time pressure is also killing me, and of course the chance of having a sick baby or an abortion is also devastating. I do have pcos but I’ve been on metformin for more than 2 decades and before my first child I’ve been extremely fit and healthy. I literally conceived after the first unprotected sex both times, so I don’t think I have fertility issues, but I’m extremely concerned about the effect that oxidative stress has on my eggs. Lowering my stress levels by taking GABA sounds like the ideal solution, but I’ve also read some concerning studies about it inhibiting LH hormone so I’m wondering if it can be detrimental to egg quality too.
Betty
GABA consumption during early pregnancy impairs endometrial receptivity and embryo development in mice https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048404/
The ideal is to get fit and healthy and reduce stress before trying to fall pregnant
Well, yeah, this is exactly the research I’ve found. But this is in early pregnancy and in mice.
I’m more interested in supplementing with GABA during the period of trying to conceive EXACTLY for the purpose of reducing stress.
I mean, “reduce stress” is a blanket term, it’s like telling a depressed person to cheer up.
People experience stress differently. For people with anxiety, the pressure to reduce stress can increase stress in itself.
Any thoughts on this?
Betty
This is the only research that I am aware of
Trudy, I always appreciae your kind and thoughtful approach to these matters. Always very helpful! I have had quite a few symptoms of low GABA, and I also have PCOS. However, several years ago I was put on GABA (unfortunately I don’t recall the brand or dosage) and it seemed to make me acutely anxious and jittery. I was especially disappointed that I didn’t seem to tolerate it since I experienced those terrible spasms 🙁 Thankfully I seem to have gotten a handle on those with other approaches.
Anyway, I wonder – does seemingly paradoxical reaction to GABA make sense? Hypothetically if GABA seems otherwise indicated, do you have any thoughts on whether there is an approach that could avoid that reaction, or do you think this simply means GABA in general is not in fact the right direction for someone like me to go? I don’t expect you to be able to give a personalized answer without knowing me but I appreciate any general insights you might have on this. Cheers!
Hi Trudy,
your work is fascinating to me.
I have pcos and im 45 yo.
I’m a thin woman and i take many supplement since years that help me, but only recently added GABA.
I take also B6 (P-5-P), Zinc picolate, and Niacin (with flush).
In this study https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6708297/
They also show low GABA in pcos women, and that Vit D helps to increase GABA
BUT
in other studies, they found excess of GABA in the Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF)
->. Elevated GABA levels are evident in the cerebrospinal fluid of PCOS patients compared to healthy controls (Kawwass et al. 2017),
and drugs that increase the synthesis and release of GABA, for example, in anti-epileptic therapy, can induce a PCOS-like phenotype in otherwise reproductively healthy women (Prabhakar et al. 2007, Verrotti et al. 2011).
Increased excitatory GABAergic inputs to and postsynaptic currents in GnRH neurons have been reported in both PNA mice and sheep modeling PCOS (Sullivan & Moenter 2004, Moore et al. 2015, Tata et al. 2018, Porter et al. 2019). Excessive GABAergic wiring and drive to GnRH neurons develop prior to puberty and the onset of PCOS-like features (Berg et al. 2018, Silva et al. 2018). This is associated with reduced sensitivity to progesterone, which is responsible for mediating negative feedback onto GnRH neurons (Moore et al. 2015), and increased firing activity in adult GnRH neurons (Sullivan & Moenter 2004). These findings suggest exposure to excess androgens during early development programs changes in the GABAergic wiring of GnRH neurons driving hyperactivity of the HPG axis and diminished negative feedback leading to downstream PCOS-like phenotype.
https://rep.bioscientifica.com/view/journals/rep/166/3/REP-22-0343.xml
The first part of this extract is what scare me a little to take GABA.
I would like to understand this contradiction in the studies and in the effect of GABA in pcos.
Why would it be low in many women, though observed to be high in CSF?
Could you help to see clearer through this?
Thank you
Chaya
Chaya
It’s not uncommon to have research reporting mixed results. Also it’s challenging to measure GABA levels in blood and CSF. I use the low GABA symptoms questionnaire and a trial of GABA – and monitor the response
Can I take GABA while trying to conceive?