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Re: Xanax/GABA » gingersnap

Posted by Viridis on July 23, 2003, at 23:49:42

In reply to Xanax/GABA, posted by gingersnap on July 23, 2003, at 9:08:29

As far as I know (and KellyD already pointed this out) GABA doesn't cross the "blood-brain barrier" easily. The brain is very selective about what it allows in, and although it needs a regular blood supply, it screens out many chemicals that are present in blood (including most of the GABA you might swallow). So, taking GABA supplements isn't likely to help much (I've tried some and they had no effect).

There is a drug out there called Picamilon (it's been discussed here a bit) which fuses GABA to nicotinic acid, and this supposedly allows it past the barrier. It's not a prescription med in the U.S., and Dr. Bob is uneasy about people giving out source info. I've tried it, and it does seem to have a mild calming effect, but really (for me) it isn't nearly as effective as benzos.

The other thing to keep in mind is that it's unlikely to be as simple as lacking GABA itself -- most brains have plenty; the key is whether the receptors on key brain cells can bind it effectively. No matter how much GABA is present, if you don't have enough receptors, or they're faulty somehow, not enough GABA will bind. This is where benzos come in -- they attach to a different part of the GABA receptor protein and change its "shape" so that it can attract more GABA. And for many people (like me), they seem to do this very well.

Of course, all of this is greatly oversimplified; there are lots of other neurotransmitters and receptors involved, and it all comes down to achieving a balance between appropriate regulation of excitatory cells, and not shutting down their activity completely (after all, anxiety serves a purpose if there's a genuine emergency).

Earlier tranquilizers like barbituates tread a fine line between keeping people calm at the right dose or shutting things (like breathing!) down completely at a slightly-too-high dose. Benzos are vastly safer (unless combined with alcohol etc.) and at worst are likely to make you sleepy. Many people take the same dose for years with no problem. The main downside is that your brain gets used to them, and if you decide to stop, generally you have to lower the dose very gradually to allow your brain to readjust. But this is no different from most of the antidepressants etc. that are currently in vogue for anxiety. These often cause more side effects than benzos and also require gradual tapering to avoid withdrawal symptoms. When someone has problems coming off a still-patented antidepressant, the drug companies call it "withdrawal syndrome", and when someone has difficulty discontinuing an inexpensive, generic benzo they often call it "addiction" (which is really something different altogether).


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URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030723/msgs/244727.html