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Have I permanently altered my brain chemistry with GABAergics?

M

Mycotheologist

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Apr 8, 2012
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Over the past few months I tested out various GABAergic drugs as sleep aids to counteract dexedrine induced insomnia. I was switching between phenibut and benzos to avoid addiction to either one of those class of drugs. Anyhow, I quit after taking around 45mg of vaium in the space of 3 days. That was 3 weeks ago and while I feel alright, I have this kind of nervous, anxious feeling all the time now. I can't take amphetamines or opiates anymore because they'll greatly amplify this nervous feeling. I've more or less quit everything, I want to completely detox and get back to normal but its weird that 3 weeks after stopping all GABAergics, I still don't feel normal. There was no acute withdrawal, I was able to 8 hours of sleep every night so far. Has anyone here had a similar experience? If so, how long did it take to get back to normal?
 
It takes a while. I was on Gabapentin and Xanax at the same time for well over a year, even after my taper I didn't feel right for a few months.. Your anxiety will be worse for a while, but you will return to baseline given enough time and if you abstain from GABA drugs (including alcohol).

After I'd come off xanax and Gabapentin the following would heighten my anxiety or cause panic attacks: Stimulants, Opiates, Cannabis, too much sugar.. ect. Basically I was just super sensitive, irritable, and moody for a while.
 
This is interesting, I take OTC GABA for sleep issues and I never thought they could be addictive. Does anyone have more information on the subject? I would think that the anxiety has more to do with stopping the benzo's. I'm not in the same boat as you but I have issues with anxiety/ depression, so I just exercise. Great natural medication- endorphins. :) Good luck.
 
Condumbpope: Thanks a lot for the reply. That makes me way more optimistic about recovering. The anxiety/nervous feeling I have now isn't that bad at all, I was just a bit worried thinking that it might be permanent. Its probably because its so gradual that I can barely notice it though. I remember feeling like crap and being depressed during the first 2 weeks but now I feel alright. I did a fair bit of xanax before the valium, I think thats what did it. It seems to be an exceptionally addictive benzo.

Beat It: Taking GABA itself isn't addictive. GABAergic drugs on the other hand are often more addictive than heroin. Benzos, GHB, phenibut etc. are all GABAergic drugs. GABAergic just means a drug that acts on GABA receptors.
 
Your brain will return to homeostasis with time, it's what brains do. You probably did alter your brain chemistry a bit. So just stop doing all drugs, including alcohol, for a few months. It's going to be difficult but, unfortunately, the only way to deal with drugs messing up your brain is to stop doing drugs.

I promise you'll feel back to normal but it will take time. I have a friend with a serious anxiety disorder and it took him months to get over his addiction to the valium he was prescribed.

Sleep is pretty essential, though believe me I know how hard it is to sleep when you're having an anxiety or panic attack. The trick is to not tell yourself you're going to sleep. Just put on an eyemask or whatever and say to yourself "I'm going to lie here and toss and turn and allow my body and mind to rest", and you'll spontaneously fall asleep.
 
I'm pretty lucky, in mh my baseline state I'm immune to anxiety and insomnia so that should make it much easier for me to recover. I'd been on dexedrine for 2 years though so I'm pretty familiar with insomnia. What makes it hard for me to sleep at the moment though is my body temperature. My body doesn't regulate my temperature properly so I get way too hot. GABAergics controlled my temperature very well so now the overheating is back with a vengeance. A trick I've found it to soak my head so my hair will be wet for a few hours. Wetting my hands and feet is pointless though since the water evaporates in minutes. I'm going to pick up some of that thermal jelly they sell in the pharmacies for sprains and see if that works.
 
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