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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Cseagraves on March 8, 2009, at 18:36:25
To anyone,
Could me taking a supplement of 750 mgs of GABA at night along with my xanax be a problem? I take 1.5 of xanax at night for sleep and .5 during the day.
Courtney
Posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2009, at 18:43:32
In reply to GABA supplements and xanax, posted by Cseagraves on March 8, 2009, at 18:36:25
Seriously does GABA work for anxiety as a supplement? Phillipa
Posted by shasling on March 8, 2009, at 19:18:22
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » Cseagraves, posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2009, at 18:43:32
Supplmental gaba does not cross the brain barrioer,instead itll run in your body and acutly most users complain of a tingling feel when taking it.
If you want over the counter gaba use l theanine which does cross the brain barrier or picamilion which is attachted to niacin and carries gaba into the brain.
If you insist on using gaba however,google a brand called AST GABA its pricey but very pure gaba.
Gabapentin is a good augment for benzos,and most docs feel comfotable dispensing gabpentin since its ld dose is soo high and its med friendy and has a small interaction list.
Posted by myco on March 8, 2009, at 21:06:24
In reply to GABA supplements and xanax, posted by Cseagraves on March 8, 2009, at 18:36:25
Hey Courtney,
No problem with the GABA although it's not that effective but I use it on occasion. It won't cause an issue with xanax since it doesn't have affinity for benzo receptors.
You are looking to make your sleep better i'm guessing?
If you are...are you interested (ok with) taking herbals to add to the effect of xanax for sleep?
I feel like a salesperson for this herb I mention it so much lol but I swear it's effective and i'm eatin it up over here instead of the benzo's. Called "Scullcap" plant name is Scutellaria lateriflora. Comes in a few forms but the tincture (thats plant extract in alcohol) is very good to help with sleep. It works like a benzo...GABA via benzo receptor sites. It will potentiate xanax (make it stronger). Pretty cheap herbal. You mix drops of it from the lil eye dropper bottle in water or tea or juice and drink. Starts to work in 10-15min and feels alot like temazepam to me.
Anyway...there you have it GABA supplement safe/ok with xanax but if you want a better sleep response go herbal, scullcap has the strength to actually help with the sleep. Me likey
myco
> To anyone,
>
> Could me taking a supplement of 750 mgs of GABA at night along with my xanax be a problem? I take 1.5 of xanax at night for sleep and .5 during the day.
>
> Courtney
Posted by clipper40 on March 13, 2009, at 5:09:45
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » Cseagraves, posted by myco on March 8, 2009, at 21:06:24
What brand of Scullcap tincture do you use - or haven't you found any differences between brands? Is this something you can use every night without it wearing off? Have you tried any other herbs for sleep that you can compare to this one?
Posted by clipper40 on March 13, 2009, at 5:11:22
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax, posted by shasling on March 8, 2009, at 19:18:22
What about PharmaGaba? Have you ever tried that one? It's supposed to cross the BBB well... or so they claim. I haven't tried it yet.
Posted by myco on March 13, 2009, at 10:23:27
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » myco, posted by clipper40 on March 13, 2009, at 5:09:45
------------------------
I'm Canadian so I use Canadian brands most of the time (health Canada can be bastards when it comes to importing American produced herbs). Brand is: St Francis Herb Farms (http://www.stfrancisherbfarm.com/) "Scullcap Tincture" about $17CAD. Yes ive found alot of difference...mileage will vary for sure based on conditions grown under and processing (ie water extraction of chemicals vs water/ethanol extraction)...most "tinctures" are simply just the purified extraction suspended in grain alcohol and water after the extraction process. Idealy you want water/alcohol extraction.
Can you use it everynight? yes and no. There is no physical addiction (to my knowledge) but dependence does develop. I recommend (works for me) 3-4 nights max a week and use the max dose of drops on the bottle.
Does it compare with other sleep herbals ive taken? no...for the handful of hypnotic/sedative herbs ive tried this one comes the closest to the power of a milder benzo. I think ive mentioned that I very rarely now take temazepam because this herb is just as effective (for me). It's also dose related but dont hardcore...you may get a headache and slight nausea if you down like a quarter bottle lol. Measured in drops not chugs lol.
My next sleep herb will be hops...ive read good things about it but again herbs are always best in tincture form as opposed to capsules or teas.
Experiment with a couple of scullcap brands...read some reviews from decent sights.
myco--------------------------
> What brand of Scullcap tincture do you use - or haven't you found any differences between brands? Is this something you can use every night without it wearing off? Have you tried any other herbs for sleep that you can compare to this one?
Posted by shasling on March 15, 2009, at 0:21:16
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » shasling, posted by clipper40 on March 13, 2009, at 5:11:22
> What about PharmaGaba? Have you ever tried that one? It's supposed to cross the BBB well... or so they claim. I haven't tried it yet.
>
With scholar info backing supplmental gaba of any kind cant cross the brain,why not spend your hard earned doller and valuable time on l theanine,which when bought alone,AWAY from green tea raises blood and brain levels of gaba,personaly i can only qoute what i read over and over,regardless of the quality,gaba simply wont cross the brain barrier.
Posted by clipper40 on March 16, 2009, at 5:32:01
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » clipper40, posted by myco on March 13, 2009, at 10:23:27
Thanks, I don't think I could get that brand here but at least now I know more of what to look for.
I'd like to try hops as well as passion flower, although I may have a mild allergic reaction to beer so I'm a little concerned about trying hops.
Posted by clipper40 on March 16, 2009, at 6:28:24
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax, posted by shasling on March 15, 2009, at 0:21:16
A couple of reasons why I would try it. I got a free sample of the PharmaGaba and I have read a thread here that has me wondering about the whole blood brain barrier issue. Here's the thread if you're interested. The posts I'm referring to within this thread were written by Larry Hoover and Chemist.
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040613/msgs/362802.html
Posted by metric on March 16, 2009, at 6:37:42
In reply to GABA supplements and xanax, posted by Cseagraves on March 8, 2009, at 18:36:25
> To anyone,
>
> Could me taking a supplement of 750 mgs of GABA at night along with my xanax be a problem? I take 1.5 of xanax at night for sleep and .5 during the day.Nope, it won't be a problem. The GABA won't have any effect at all. Why do you want to take the GABA?
Posted by Larry Hoover on March 16, 2009, at 6:47:18
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » shasling, posted by clipper40 on March 16, 2009, at 6:28:24
> A couple of reasons why I would try it. I got a free sample of the PharmaGaba and I have read a thread here that has me wondering about the whole blood brain barrier issue. Here's the thread if you're interested. The posts I'm referring to within this thread were written by Larry Hoover and Chemist.
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040613/msgs/362802.htmlWhat a wonderful trip down memory lane. Thanks for posting that link. I miss chemist.
Lar
Posted by shasling on March 16, 2009, at 13:09:23
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » shasling, posted by clipper40 on March 16, 2009, at 6:28:24
> A couple of reasons why I would try it. I got a free sample of the PharmaGaba and I have read a thread here that has me wondering about the whole blood brain barrier issue. Here's the thread if you're interested. The posts I'm referring to within this thread were written by Larry Hoover and Chemist.
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040613/msgs/362802.htmlAn amino acid has to be able to cross past the bbb,quite a few cant.
Ive read cases where it can,but they weigh in with a low oppostion.Still i bought it,so if there is no danger and its something you feel you want to do then by all means.
Larry hoover posted some outstanding stuff still scattered amongst google grouped arcives,and if the other person waa a gent by the name chem-r-us then although passed he really posted some intense postings.
Just a tid bit,the "horrendous" date rape drug GHB was greated or discovered by a chemisct you might say was obsessed with gaba.In reading he even went to the extent of injectorial gaba to bypass the problem,he ended up obviously with add a strong carrier such as a hydroxide to the molecule to carry it into the brain.He also saw the importance of dopamine,and it was this same man who introduced thorazine to hospitals in a beat the clock effort to stop the barberic lobotomys going on then as well as life long sentences the mentally ill were getting in these hospitals,he strongly believed gaba/dopamine played some important role in the minds of the mentaly ill.
Also just a second fyi,Taurine which DOES cross the brain,indirectly increases gaba levels and also has mood stablizining effects of its own,its defintaly an over the counter amino worth reading into if youre intersted in gaba.
Posted by Phillipa on March 16, 2009, at 20:14:41
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » clipper40, posted by Larry Hoover on March 16, 2009, at 6:47:18
Lar me too used to e-mail with him. Any idea where he is or how he's now doing? Phillipa
Posted by clipper40 on March 17, 2009, at 3:48:06
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax » clipper40, posted by Larry Hoover on March 16, 2009, at 6:47:18
Yeah, chemist posted some good stuff. I enjoyed reading your conversations with him.
Posted by clipper40 on March 17, 2009, at 3:51:41
In reply to Re: GABA supplements and xanax, posted by shasling on March 16, 2009, at 13:09:23
The poster's name was just "chemist" so i think you've got another poster in mind.
I recently purchased some l-taurine and l-theanine so will definitely be trying them soon. I'm not planning on using l-theanine very often though as I've read on older Babble posts that it inhibits serotonin synthesis.
This is the end of the thread.
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