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GABA Supplement

TheTwighlight

TheTwighlight

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I got the 750mg GABA capsules from GNC the other day, and I was wondering something. I'm on 3,600mg gabapentin & 450mg pregabalin per day, plus 200mg lamotrigine & 10mg zolpidem. I decided to get the GABA capsules to hopefully give my body more GABA to work with. It says "take 1-3 capsules per day", so that's 750mg-2,250mg GABA per day.

My question is this: Pharmacologically, what does taking GABA do for me? I know that it's the neurotransmitter that Neurontin, Lyrica, and Ambien work on. Will I have more of the neurotransmitter for the drugs to work with? Will it have any effect on it's own? Not a recreational effect, but just an overall physiological effect.

I mean, I know that gabapentin is a GABA analog, so will it have any of the effects that gabapentin does? What about pregabalin? Does GABA itself have any anxiolytic effect on it's own? I have fibromyalgia and severe chronic migraines. The Neurontin is prescribed to me for anxiety, but my psych knows I have FMS. The Lyrica is for the FMS. They both work to lessen the frequency/severity of the migraines.

Anyone know anything about this? I'm really curious. I appreciate any responses, and thank you in advance.
 
As an aside, have you tried Flupirtine for Fibromyalgia? If so, can you comment on its effects?

Anyway, kind of interested in GABA supplements for sleep myself, but not sure how much GABA the body can use when administered orally. Wonder if there are any commercially available prodrugs for GABA...?
 
TheTwighlight said:
I got the 750mg GABA capsules from GNC the other day, and I was wondering something. I'm on 3,600mg gabapentin & 450mg pregabalin per day, plus 200mg lamotrigine & 10mg zolpidem. I decided to get the GABA capsules to hopefully give my body more GABA to work with. It says "take 1-3 capsules per day", so that's 750mg-2,250mg GABA per day.

My question is this: Pharmacologically, what does taking GABA do for me? I know that it's the neurotransmitter that Neurontin, Lyrica, and Ambien work on. Will I have more of the neurotransmitter for the drugs to work with? Will it have any effect on it's own? Not a recreational effect, but just an overall physiological effect.

I mean, I know that gabapentin is a GABA analog, so will it have any of the effects that gabapentin does? What about pregabalin? Does GABA itself have any anxiolytic effect on it's own? I have fibromyalgia and severe chronic migraines. The Neurontin is prescribed to me for anxiety, but my psych knows I have FMS. The Lyrica is for the FMS. They both work to lessen the frequency/severity of the migraines.

Anyone know anything about this? I'm really curious. I appreciate any responses, and thank you in advance.
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GABA in supplement form will not do anything for you on its own except possibly increase the secretion of HGH (human growth hormone), as it is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and does not increase available amounts of neuronal GABA the way that drugs like Lyrica and Neurontin do.

If you're interested in experimenting with GABA, try Phenibut - it's capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier.

PS. BE AWARE, Phenibut can and probably will interact with the Lyrica you are taking.
 
I have not heard of flupirtine, but I just looked it up, it sounds interesting. Might have to look into that one. I'm willing to try anything at this juncture.

That's fucked up, I had my doubts, but the fact that it doesn't increase the available amounts of neuronal GABA in the brain kinda sucks. Now that you remind me, I knew that it didn't cross the BBB, but I had forgotten. So, I'm not really sure what the therapeutic benefit would be of taking GABA supplements. I figured that maybe in some way or another, it would help the Lyrica and Neurontin to work better. Apparently not?
 
TheTwighlight said:
I figured that maybe in some way or another, it would help the Lyrica and Neurontin to work better. Apparently not?
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There's no research (at least that I've seen) that indicates it would, and considering the fact that GABA's inability to cross the BBB is well established, it seems unlikely that there would be any studies on the effects of GABA supplementation as an adjunct therapy second to Pregabalin or Gabapentin and thus, no subsequent research to prove or disprove the effects of GABA supplementation on either drug. That said, there is a study that suggests GABA is capable of penetrating an area of the hypothalamus that is not protected by the BBB, but this particular study was focused on the secretion of human growth hormone and GABA was administered through a series of injections, not orally.


EDIT: Are you seeking a greater level of anxiolysis? Perhaps your doctor could increase the dosage of your medication, or prescribe an additional anxiolytic?
 
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Well, see, I'm already on 3,600mg gabapentin + 450mg pregabalin per day. Those are both pretty high doses, especially together. Really, the anxiolytic effect of both drugs it pretty good. I'm looking to possibly increase the painkilling effect of the meds, or maybe to decrease tolerance. I'm not looking to get on a benzo; I'm a benzo addict for 8 years, clean for 4 months now. Possibly looking to get back on tramadol, but I just don't know. I'm a horrible drug addict, lol. I know I have to be careful these days, and gabapentin and pregabalin are pretty much miracle medications for me.
 
So GABA (ammunonic acid) has no affect on increasing potency of CNS Depressants? I was told that it would help potentiate kolonopin, and have a GABA supplement that only has 135 mg's per capsule, so that's a waste?
 
TheTwighlight said:
Well, see, I'm already on 3,600mg gabapentin + 450mg pregabalin per day. Those are both pretty high doses, especially together. Really, the anxiolytic effect of both drugs it pretty good. I'm looking to possibly increase the painkilling effect of the meds, or maybe to decrease tolerance. I'm not looking to get on a benzo; I'm a benzo addict for 8 years, clean for 4 months now. Possibly looking to get back on tramadol, but I just don't know. I'm a horrible drug addict, lol. I know I have to be careful these days, and gabapentin and pregabalin are pretty much miracle medications for me.
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Those are high doses, especially, as you said, together. Considering that Pregabalin and Gabapentin both act in a similar manner and considering that Pregabalin itself is a gabapentinoid, I'm willing to bet that you are already experiencing the maximum therapeutic effects of both drugs. I could of course be wrong though.

Obviously if you were addicted to benzos, going back on a benzo would be a major mistake - especially while taking Pergabalin, as Pregabalin potentiates benzos in a major way. With that in mind, something like Kava may be an option. Kavalactones are thought to bind to and potentiate GABA-A receptors, much like Diazepam and other benzos do, thus, the side effects of Kava are similar to those of benzos - sedation, muscle relaxtion, anxiolysis and euphoria. Both Gabapentin and Pregabalin would (theoretically) potentiate Kava, making all or most of its effects more prominent. If you're experiencing musculoskeletal pain, Kava's muscle relaxant properties might offer some relief, especially alongside Pregabalin and Gabapentin. Keep in mind that abuse has been reported with Kava and drug interactions have been reported with Kava as well - use at your own risk.

If getting your doctor to prescribe an additional medication is at all an option, I would suggest something like Orphenadrine (Norflex). I've had quite a bit of experience with Orphenadrine. It's slightly euphoric, though not euphoric enough to give it much recreational value, it's moderately anxiolytic and it really works great for all types of pain.

PS. I kind of think that Tramadol is the devil.
 
grrr8Dane said:
There's no research (at least that I've seen) that indicates it would, and considering the fact that GABA's inability to cross the BBB is well established, it seems unlikely that there would be any studies on the effects of GABA supplementation as an adjunct therapy second to Pregabalin or Gabapentin and thus, no subsequent research to prove or disprove the effects of GABA supplementation on either drug. That said, there is a study that suggests GABA is capable of penetrating an area of the hypothalamus that is not protected by the BBB, but this particular study was focused on the secretion of human growth hormone and GABA was administered through a series of injections, not orally.


EDIT: Are you seeking a greater level of anxiolysis? Perhaps your doctor could increase the dosage of your medication, or prescribe an additional anxiolytic?
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Hi.. Do you know if GABA will help with withdrawal???
 
Withdrawal

Hi.. Can anyone tell me if there are any supplements that help with withdrawal from Oxycontin and xanax.. Thanks
 
Valerian Root and l-theanine should help a bit for xanax withdrawal..

Can't help with the opiates..
 
Better_Days said:
Hi.. Do you know if GABA will help with withdrawal???
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As I mentioned before, oral GABA supplements cannot cross the BBB and won't do anything except possibly increase HGH levels. GABA can play a role in withdrawal and some GABAergics are useful in withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates and amphetamines, but GABA supplements should not be confused with GABAergics.
 
Some people selling gaba say it can help with depression and I semi agree. Sometimes Iv’e taken gaba rich food, (broccoli that tastes ALOT like munching gaba heh) and It seemed to give me a refreshed mood upon awakening.

I might get some flack for this there was a time too where Id take gaba a lot because it gave me pleasurable tingles and maybe it helped phenubut, or xanax etc. or it itself, I maybe wrong but I was only taking these drugs in low doses w/o tolerance. It was of this less depressive antianxiety, but at the time I was taking other things like magnesium which people say gan be a natural benzo,

This is a similar question, but since gabapentin & pregabalin re: calcium channel blockers, does calcium supplementation change them at all? I know they deplete calcium. I know my bones hurt too.

I sometimes find it frustrating drugs are prescribed without knowledge of their pharmacology over abused drugs with more understanding.

(I've got the graduated dose style of dosing going on with gabapentin, half every hour. I do this while working out, and I GET TRIPPY as fuck nightmares, probably from HGH increase I suspect. I also think that this is the reason why valerian gives nightmares, which I just had some right now, and the reason for my rambling.)
 
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I tend to believe in one way or another that tramadol is not a good option, either. I love it too much. I have considered Kava, but I don't know where to get it at.

Norflex never did anything for me personally. I don't like the way it makes me feel. I have cyclobenzaprine, and it helps a little, but it's far too sedating. I have considered taking carisoprodol again, but I just don't know yet. I have 4 months sober today, and I'm not willing to fuck that up. I'm gonna die if I go back out. I have abused the fuck out of pregabalin and gabapentin both in the past, but I have no desire to do so anymore because of the therapeutic benefits, and it's better than being on OxyContin or some shit.

I'm at a loss for where to go from here. The pain is getting out of control.
 
I say check out graduated dosing of gabapentin w/ naproxen. I read that pregabalin is a prodrug and this way feels the most like pregabalin.

man atleast you get pregabalin my dr has given me a couple times LOTS of samples saying that he could help me out and then all ofhe sudden flaking out, knowing that the insurance wont cover it, and it works better. MUTHAFUGGA
atleast check out more pregabalin id maybe look into 1 night dose of cycloben.
 
TheTwighlight said:
I tend to believe in one way or another that tramadol is not a good option, either. I love it too much. I have considered Kava, but I don't know where to get it at.

Norflex never did anything for me personally. I don't like the way it makes me feel. I have cyclobenzaprine, and it helps a little, but it's far too sedating. I have considered taking carisoprodol again, but I just don't know yet. I have 4 months sober today, and I'm not willing to fuck that up. I'm gonna die if I go back out. I have abused the fuck out of pregabalin and gabapentin both in the past, but I have no desire to do so anymore because of the therapeutic benefits, and it's better than being on OxyContin or some shit.

I'm at a loss for where to go from here. The pain is getting out of control.
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Let's be real - Carisoprodol is a bad idea for anyone who has struggled with addiction to benzos. My only other suggestion for pain control, aside from pot, is a consistent regimen of L-Tyrosine, NSAIDs and exercise. L-Tyrosine is a precursor to dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine, and the opium poppy (papaver somniferum) uses L-Tyrosine to manufacture Morphine. I've had success using Tyrosine to combat fatigue and general pain when going through opiate withdrawal and I've heard of people finding it helpful with pain control when used in combination with an NSAID like Naproxen. It's fairly stimulating and best taken during the day.

As for exercise, I'm a strong believer in its power. If you're healthy enough to exercise, it really will aid in pain control and other things such as mood stabilization, appetite control, sleep regulation, etc.

I'm really sorry that this is happening to you. I've absolutely been there. I truly hope you are able to find some sort of relief.

PS. CONGRATS ON 4 MONTHS SOBER!
 
A bit off topic bit the OP mentioned migraines. You should try 1-2 grams of Cubensis "magic" mushrooms. Many people have found relief from migraine paim for months from one or two doses. They are easy to grow from kits available on the internet. A small kit would yield ~28 grams which you could store dried in the back of your freezer to take when you have a migraine attack. Well dried mushrooms should be able to be stored for years at low temps.

Here is a link to a study about mushroom treatment for migraines.
www.erowid.org/plants/mushrooms/mushrooms_medical1.shtml
 
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grr8dane - Thank you, dude! I can't smoke weed, that's a no-go. I know it works, but if I smoke a joint, I might as well buy a 1/4oz of meth and 100 bars cuz it's about to go down. I am an addict to the core and can't put anything in my system that triggers addiction. I will try out the l-tyrosine, though. I think I have a bottle of that shit somewhere. And my concern with the Soma is the same as yours: it's probably just not a good idea. I DO take Ambien for sleep, started that again last week, after talking about it for months with my psych, who knows my addiction struggles. But it was the only option left; I can't take any of the serotonergic meds that help with sleep, they give me a fucking next-day hangover from hell.

thurston - I'm sober, dude. Plus, I've tried that, and it worked, but it's not a very comfortable feeling to be that sick to your stomach with a brain hammer going off whilst tripping. I've tripped shrooms 200+ times and I've had enough at this point in my life. I think I'm perma-tripping.
 
TheTwighlight said:
if I smoke a joint, I might as well buy a 1/4oz of meth and 100 bars cuz it's about to go down.
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HA! For real.

Something I may have forgotten to mention - as an alternative to GABA supplements, you may give Phenibut a go. It's a derivative of GABA and has the ability to cross the BBB. For the record, I can see how it might interact w/Pregabalin. Perhaps someone in the Pregabalin mega thread has experience using both together?

BTW, apparently I can't reply to or send PM's until I reach "bluelighter status", but check your FB.
 
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