I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) 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. 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 [in my anxiety].
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.
Debbie shared this wonderful feedback on this blog: GABA eases anxiety and is protective against metabolic and reproductive disturbances in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)?
I love that GABA helped her so much with her anxiety and allowed her to get off her anxiety meds. And that GABA helped her resolve her PCOS, together with making diet, lifestyle changes and using other supplements too.
As you can read on the above blog, the study reports some very specific benefits of GABA being protective against metabolic and reproductive disturbances in PCOS. It’s an animal study but the results are profound: “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).
If you’re new to PCOS, I share this in the above blog:
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.
If you’re interested, here is the podcast where Debbie first learned about GABA – 105: Trudy Scott on How to Beat Anxiety & Resolve Panic Attacks
I commend her for taking control and making changes and then for seeking answers when her panic attacks returned.
Debbie started having panic attacks again – this time it was collagen causing low serotonin
Then about three and a half years ago, Debbie started having panic attacks again out of nowhere! She was very surprised and shared this:
I couldn’t understand why [I started having panic attacks again]. 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 collagen (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.
Here is the interview she is referring to – Collagen Can Cause Anxiety and Insomnia with Trudy Scott: The Anxiety Summit 5
And here is the blog where I first wrote about this topic – Collagen and gelatin lower serotonin: does this increase your anxiety and depression?
Debbie mentions the MTHFR polymorphism and it’s impact on serotonin but another aspect is a predisposition to low serotonin in PCOS. This review paper, Neuroendocrine Determinants of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, states that “different neurotransmitters (gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine) can also be involved in neuroendocrine etiopathogenesis [i.e. cause and development] of PCOS.”
As you’ll read in the latter collagen blog, collagen affects a subset of susceptible individuals in this way. We can now add PCOS to that list.
Different root causes of anxiety (low GABA and then low serotonin) and different solutions
Debbie’s story illustrates that things can change and we need to figure out the root cause and course-correct if anxiety and panic attacks show up again. Earlier on, her anxiety and panic attacks were caused by low GABA, which also contributed to her PCOS symptoms.
Then later, the addition of collagen lowered her serotonin levels, because as someone with PCOS she was susceptible. What helped her was stopping the collagen and using tryptophan as needed. This was smart of her to connect the dots with her panic attacks and collagen, and use tryptophan as needed.
I will add that another option would have been to continue using collagen and use tryptophan at the same time. I’m also not sure how big an impact gelatin capsules would have been but switching them clearly gave her peace of mind.
Debbie’s oldest daughter asks for GABA, her “happy pills”
She also shared this lovely feedback when she commented on the blog:
My oldest daughter who is 9 has been showing early signs of developing PCOS and other of my issues. When her mood started 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 helped so much of what I had to struggle with for years.
What an amazing healing journey Debbie has had and she gets to help her daughter too!
She thanked Katie Wells and myself saying: “I want to thank you so much for both of those podcasts/interviews that I feel literally helped save my life.”
I never get tired of hearing this and thanked her for the kind words. I also appreciate her for sharing her wonderful results and said I’d share it as a blog post so you get to learn, be inspired and have hope.
And finally, all this illustrates that there is no one-size-fits-all and we often get unexpected side-benefits when using amino acids.
Resources if you are new to using amino acids as supplements
If you are new to using amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA, low serotonin and low endorphins).
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Do you have PCOS and has GABA helped you or your loved one in any of these ways – easing anxiety and being able to quit anxiety meds, birth control and PCOS medications?
What other approaches have helped your PCOS?
Has collagen lowered your serotonin and does tryptophan or 5-HTP help?
What about low GABA and dark moods/anger – has GABA helped you or a loved one?
If you have questions and other feedback please share it here too.
Is it safe to take Gaba while on Anti-anxiety meds? I see the lady in this article did take GABA while she was weaning off. I had read it wasn’t safe. What are your thoughts?
Lindsay
I have had many clients use GABA while on benzodiazepines and SSRIs (such as Lexapro) with great success. GABA does also help with the increased anxiety, insomnia and other symptoms during tapering (as do other nutrients such as tryptophan, melatonin, taurine etc). I do also always have clients get nutritionally stable before starting to taper and this makes a huge difference. As Debbie mentioned he made diet and lifestyle changes too.
I am aware that groups like benzobuddies advise against GABA and other nutrients. I love the support they offer but disagree with them on this. That said some folks after super super sensitive during tapering benzos and need to go low and slow with nutritional support.
There are no known contraindications with GABA and benzos/SSRIS but it’s always advised to let their prescribing doctor know.
When you are new to the amino acids, I highly recommend my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution. It has an entire chapter on the amino acids and all the diet and lifestyle changes for easing anxiety. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
Thank you so much for replying!
Can you recommend dosage for GABA? I just purchased the brand Source Naturals, 750mg. Is one a day enough?
Leslie
For most people 750mg GABA is way too much. I start clients on 125mg and have them go up from there. Using it sublingually or capsule opened or GABA powder is most effective too. More on this here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-did-you-come-up-with-the-idea-of-using-gaba-on-the-tongue-gaba-is-a-calming-amino-acid-supplement-used-to-ease-physical-anxiety-symptoms/
When you are new to the amino acids, I highly recommend my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution. It has an entire chapter on the amino acids and all the diet and lifestyle changes for easing anxiety. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
There is also a wealth of information about GABA on the blog
Thank you, Trudy, for highlighting my story this week. I wanted to update you on some other great outcomes I’ve had with information on your blog. I had mentioned that my oldest daughter responds well to Gaba when she was struggling with anxiety.
My youngest (who is 8 now) started exhibiting terrible anxiety about a year ago, specifically around the phobia of vomit. Her anxiety is mostly about other people throwing up. But her anxiety became so strong it was preventing her from going to school or even staying in her classroom, kept her from eating (because her anxiety hurt her tummy) and even from wanting to do extra curricular activities that she previously loved but now was afraid a child might throw up at.
We started her on weekly therapy sessions and I started her on Gaba and/or Tryptophan. While the amino acids helped a little, it wasn’t enough to calm the thoughts that plagued her all day at school and home. Most days I still couldn’t get her out of the car for school.
Through your website and some other research, I decided to try supplementing her with B6. Within a week of her starting B6 she made a complete turnaround. The anxiety would still come when a kid at school would say their tummy hurt, but she was able to within minutes calm herself down and talk through the worry. We still have some low days (especially if we haven’t taken her supplements in a few days) but overall she’s a new kid. Even the school asked what are we doing differently to get her to be calm again.
The struggle I still have is knowing how much to dose her. There’s conflicting info out there as to how much is too much for kids. Right now I’m giving her Carlson liquid B6. I give her between 2-3 drops of that. Which, if I’m doing the math correctly, is about 4-6mg. She seems to be doing alright on that as long as we don’t miss a day. When we do miss, her anxiety becomes immediately irrational again. If you have any insight on dosing, please let me know. Thanks for all you do!
Debbie
Thanks again for sharing your initial feedback on PCOS/GABA, collagen/serotonin and GABA for your daughter. I’m also going to share your story in the PCOS interview I’ll be doing with Dr. Felice Gersh for her PCOS SOS summit in November. I have had a few people ask how much GABA you and your older daughter used – can you please let me know? I know doses differ for each person but I always get this question.
Wonderful to hear about vitamin B6 and your youngest. With phobia of vomiting I immediately think of pyroluria – which supports the fact that vitamin B6 helps and that missed days means the anxiety returns. I’ve used 10-25mg of vitamin B6 in children this age who have pyroluria (plus the other pyroluria supps and stress reduction). Good dream recall/no nightmares is a good gauge of vitamin B6 status.
Hello Trudy, with my oldest daughter (when she was 8 yrs old) I started her on the chewable Gaba you recommend by Source Natural (125mg). Once she seemed pretty stable with her anxiety I would half the pill. But on days she was struggling/extra moody, I would give her a whole one.
For myself I also started on the 125mg dose. Throughout the years I tried other combination of Gaba supplements with a higher dose of Gaba but not really noticing a difference in taking anything more than 125mg. So I’ve stuck with the chewable Source Naturals now. If I need more throughout a stressful day I would just pop another 125mg. But most days I don’t need any at all. I love that it works so quickly.
A few weeks ago I had a terrible stomach bug and my gut was a mess for two days straight. After two days of dealing with the stomach flu and stuck in bed from weakness, while I was lying in bed panic attacks started “rolling” through my body one after another. I suspected that maybe because of my messed up gut from the stomach flu that my serotonin was significantly depleted since the majority of our serotonin is made in the gut. I had my daughter get me some Gaba and within just a few minutes of chewing the pill the panic attacks stopped. If coincidental or from the gaba, I was just grateful for the relief.
When my youngest started with her anxiety about throw up, I started with Gaba first. (125mg). It didn’t do much of anything and she hated the taste. (Not sure why because I think the orange flavor is delicious). I tried her on Tryptophan (Lidtke Brand, 100mg, 1 pill) which she tolerated the maple flavor better. It helped slightly but definitely not enough to get her to go to school. The B6 is definitely what helped her finally control her thoughts. It being associated with pyroluria makes sense. And going a little higher in dosage should help her too. I think the low dose I was giving her was just barely helping her. Which is probably why missed days of B6 reverted her back so quickly.
Thanks for your feedback and I’m glad my story is being shared and could possibly help others. When you do share my story in November I would love to know about it. Thank you!
Debbie
I appreciate you sharing the actual dosing of GABA Calm for you and your oldest daughter. Great it also helped when you were sick. It likely helped low GABA – the microbiome also makes GABA! Infections and inflammation also lowers our own GABA stores and we often need more when sick too.
With your youngest, we don’t want to forget the entire pyroluria if that’s what it is.
I’ll be sharing the PCOS summit info via my newsletter starting in October and will share a link here too. I know your story will help others 🙂
I take a high end label ( xmogen) magnesium blend to sleep and stay asleep. I was noticing my brain being very alert after and racing a bit. On closer inspection it has 100 mg of Gaba in it. If i have done your gaba test and reacted meaning i have leaky blood brain barrier, is it possible that Gaba in that amount taken very late at night to sleep could cause me to react by being more alert? Especially if i felt a reaction after taking a tiny amount of the powder once doing your test.
Elaine
I’m surprised to read this: “i have done your gaba test and reacted meaning i have leaky blood brain barrier” and “i felt a reaction after taking a tiny amount of the powder once doing your test.” I don’t support the GABA challenge for leaky blood brain barrier (per Dr. Kharrazian it’s only a theory) and I’m curious why you think I do. May I ask what test you did and what reaction you had? Do you have low GABA symptoms?
Please also share the name of the Xmogen product.
The name of the product is Relax Max. Apologies if i have remembered this wrong it was many years ago i did a seminar you did on gaba and bought it and tried that experiment. I have not tried it again it was putting the gaba from open capsule in my mouth and seeing reaction. Have you seen gaba cause anxiety or awakeness in others? I am going to stop this product for a while and search for one for sleep that does not contain gaba. Due to years of Sibo i most likely have leaky gut and brain barrier.
Thanks so much
Elaine
I’d like to repeat that I don’t support the GABA challenge for leaky blood brain barrier – per Dr. Kharrazian it’s only a theory.
It’s challenging to know which ingredient is causing an issue but too much GABA and too much theanine can do that
Hello. I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early thirties. I did not take metformin or bc pill as suggested but instead changed my diet and lifestyle. I lost 60 lbs and menstrual cycle became regular. Now at age 40, I’ve been dealing with severe depression around my period. My psychiatrist thinks I have PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) I’m on antidepressants (first Prozac, now Luvox) but still has not helped. I’m scheduled to see obgyn soon but from what I’m reading a lot recommended antidepressants and birth control. Do you have any advice on how to manage PMDD other than bc ?
Renee
Wonderful diet and lifestyle results for your PCOS! There is much that can be done nutritionally for PMDD that don’t involve antidepressant meds and birth control.
Neurotransmitter imbalances are common and it’s a matter of finding the correct combination for each person’s needs. These blogs will get you started:
– Tryptophan for PMS: premenstrual dysphoria, mood swings, tension, and irritability https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/tryptophan-for-pms-premenstrual-dysphoria-mood-swings-tension-irritability/
– DLPA (DL-Phenylalanine) eases PMDD/PMS symptoms in women who experience declining endorphin levels in the second half of their cycles https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/dlpa-dl-phenylalanine-eases-pmdd-pms-symptoms-in-women-who-experience-declining-endorphin-levels-in-the-second-half-of-their-cycles/
When you are new to the amino acids, I highly recommend my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution. It has an entire chapter on the amino acids and all the diet and lifestyle changes for easing anxiety – many of which can be applied to hormonal imbalances. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
Hi Trudy! I recently started my supplement journey. I am a 20 year old woman with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, etc. I need support from you because I’m not sure exactly what’s going on and maybe with all of your experiences you would be able to help! I bought your “Eliminating anxiety, social anxiety, and panic attacks” program as well.
Also just some background info. to give you more context, I was prescribed Zoloft when I was 19 years old and took that for a whole year, and it stopped working, other meds weren’t working, so I quit those all together; now I’m trying to balance my neurotransmitters in this way hoping it will help and be more long term. I’ve been completely off of my antidepressants for about a month now, but definitely still having withdraw.
Since I have panic disorder / panic attacks, I thought GABA calm would be good for me. I took the starting dose sublingually and had a very, very bad reaction. I was experiencing brain zap sensations, hot flashes, light-headedness, nausea, etc,; I flushed that with vitamin c. I tried to take two very small doses the next day instead (literally a quarter of the tablet or less) and I had a very bad reaction again but not immediately…like the next day. I am incredibly sensitive to medicines (getting on and off of antidepressants was very very hard for me).
I honestly didn’t know if I was experiencing serotonin syndrome, although I’m not sure how that would happen at this point.
In conclusion, I’d love to take GABA / try GABA, I’m just honestly scared to keep having these adverse reactions! The one I was using was the GABA calm and I know there’s other ingredients in there that could be the problem? I’m thinking maybe I could try to buy the pure encapsulations GABA and just dab it onto my finger instead since I seem to be so sensitive and there’s no other supplements in there? I don’t know honestly! Have you ever heard of something like this / what are your thoughts?
Sophie
To put your mind at ease GABA isn’t a factor with serotonin syndrome. Medications and tapering can make folks more sensitive and you mention already being sensitive to medications.
A reaction like the one you describe sounds like too high a dose of GABA and if we were working together I’d recommend a tiny tiny amount of a GABA-only product (like NOW GABA powder which is only GABA) – assuming you have low GABA physical anxiety symptoms.