GABA completely unavailable in New Zealand: Any advice on alternatives?

[josephinegolightly]

Hi,

I've spent a lot of time on this forum learning about methylation.

I live in NZ and have been suffering from ME for 15 years (I am now 32) I have just had my 23andme results come through. and my Australian doctor suggested I try GABA to start the process , which would hopefully enable me to come off my long term medication: Amitriptyline, Gabapentin, Klonopin (only 0.5mg).

However I have just found out GABA is an banned / illegal drug in NZ (apparently it's just us and Sweden that prohibit it!) So I can't get it.

Can anyone suggest an alternative, maybe something that might help me raise GABA levels without taking GABA directly.

One of my problems is I'm MAO-A R297R ++ so I can't really take anything that affects other brain chemicals, seratonin, dopamine etc, as I'm super super sensitive to those changes.

These are my 23andme mutations (using genetic genie)

Methylation
Homozygous:
MAO-A R297R (Amy Yasko's interpretation)
MTRR A664A

Heterozygous:
COMT V158M
COMT H62H
VDR Bsm
VDR Taq
ACAT1-02
MTHFR A1298C
MTRR A66G
BHMT-02
BHMT-04
BHMT-08


Thanks in advance!
Jo

 

[Violeta]

I read an article a couple of months ago that said that plant oils that contain terps are agonists to the GABA receptors, but I can't find it right now. I don't know if you would have to actually eat peppermint or maybe eat cough drops with eucalyptus oil. I have an Olba's natural inhaler that contains oils of peppermint, cajeput, and eucalyptus. If I can find the article I'll post the link.

 

[caledonia]

List from Yasko:
Maintaining a Healthy Glutamate/GABA Balance
Branched chain amino acids (use only products that contain leucine/ileucine/ valine—but discontinue immediately if urine smells like maple syrup)
Pycnogenol
Grape seed extract
GABA
Nerve Calm Inflammatory Pathway Support RNA
Lithium orotate (depending on levels on urine essential elements test)
Sublingual GABA/ glycine
Trehalose
Valerian root
Zen

You could also do theanine, which I did for many years, and it worked well, but I heard something recently about it having some kind of hormonal effect which might not be good.

It may also be helpful to eliminate MSG and glutamates in foods. Since they're everywhere under hidden names, to keep it simple, I suggest not eating any processed food, sauces or spices, and to avoid the four foods with a lot of natural glutamate - peas, tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, and mushrooms.

http://www.dramyyasko.com/resources/autism-pathways-to-recovery/chapter-4/

 

[helen1]

Excellent list Caledonia.
Adding this list of hidden glutamates (MSG):
http://www.truthinlabeling.org/hiddensources.html

 

[heapsreal]

Look into taurine an amino acid that effects gaba. Cant remember the exact details of it though??

 

[Hip]

If you are looking to normalize the glutamate and GABA balance in the brain, GABA supplements don't really work anyway, as GABA does not cross the blood brain barrier.

So that makes GABA not only pointless to use as a GABA activator, but also pointless to ban as well, as far as I can see.

I'd suggest trying to block NMDA receptors (glutamate receptors) rather than activate the GABA receptors, as this will have the same effect on the glutamate — GABA balance. Transdermal magnesium oil is a good NMDA blocker. Taurine is also useful, as heapsreal mentioned, as it works both as a GABA booster and NMDA blocker.

 

[Hip]

By the way, if you want some alternative anti-anxiety meds to your Gabapentin and Klonopin, see this thread:

Completely eliminated my severe anxiety symptoms with three supplements!

 

[Violeta]

If you are looking to normalize the glutamate and GABA balance in the brain, GABA supplements don't really work anyway, as GABA does not cross the blood brain barrier.

So that makes GABA not only pointless to use as a GABA activator, but also pointless to ban as well, as far as I can see.

I'd suggest trying to block NMDA receptors (glutamate receptors) rather than activate the GABA receptors, as this will have the same effect on the glutamate — GABA balance. Transdermal magnesium oil is a good NMDA blocker. Taurine is also useful, as heapsreal mentioned, as it works both as a GABA booster and NMDA blocker.

I know they say taking gaba won't work because it doesn't cross the bbb, but I know someone who took it for depression after her 4th brain surgery, and she said it worked, and very quickly at that.

 

[Hip]

I bought 300 grams of GABA in bulk powder, and took high doses of it, but it made not one iota of difference to the anxiety symptoms I was suffering with at the time.

It's possible that GABA may have effects within the body that are beneficial, though.


Incidentally, one effective way to get GABA into the brain is by taking the supplement picamilon, which consists of a GABA molecule bonded to a niacin molecule. This combination is able to cross the BBB, and once the brain, it breaks down into GABA and niacin.

As picamilon is a different chemical to GABA, you should be able to buy it New Zealand.

I found picamilon reasonably effective in treating my anxiety symptoms.

It says on this webpage that picamilon is a very effective vasodilator (it improves brain blood flow). So that may be generally be useful in ME/CFS, where brain blood flow is poor.


Note: if you want to try picamilon, I suggest you buy it in bulk power form, as it is much cheaper that way.

 

[Hip]

In another thread (in this post) @Ema wrote:

I was just reading in Dr Datis Kharrazian's brain book that GABA as taken in supplement form is too big of a molecule to cross the BBB. So if it does cross (i.e. you can feel it working), that is evidence of an impaired BBB right there. I thought that was an interesting way to test the integrity of the BBB.

So if GABA works for you, it indicates you have a leaky or impaired blood-brain barrier.

 

[Ema]

I just posted a follow up in that thread!

Here is a link to where they talk about the Leaky Brain Barrier.

http://thyroidbook.com/blog/tag/kharrazian/

 

[Hip]

Thanks Ema. I will just copy an extract from that link here:

How do you know if your blood-brain barrier is leaky? A simple and easy way to find out is to do Blood-Brain Barrier Challenge. To do this, simply take 1000 mg of straight GABA (not GABA precursors such as theanine).

GABA is a neurotransmitter synthesized in the brain and is responsible for calming or inhibiting over activity. Although some companies sell GABA supplements, the reality is the GABA molecule is too large to pass through an intact blood-brain barrier. The fact that this supplement sells so well is a testament to the integrity of the average American’s blood-brain barrier.

So, if several hours after taking 1000 mg of GABA, you feel calm, relaxed or sleepy, you know that GABA, a molecule too large to pass through the blood-brain barrier, has nevertheless made it into your brain and is performing its calming duties. This means your blood-brain barrier has become compromised and your brain is highly susceptible to the immune rampages I discussed above.

Some people, instead of feeling relaxed, will find GABA makes them feel more anxious or jittery. There are other reasons for this that will be discussed in my next book, however any reaction at all indicates a leaky brain barrier.

If you felt no change after taking GABA, that is a good sign that your blood-brain barrier is intact and functioning well. (For accurate results, be sure to take this test during the day and not at bedtime.)

Source: here.

 

[josephinegolightly]

Thanks so much There are so many great responses here. I'll do some research into all these options over christmas.
and report back.
Joanna

 

[heapsreal]

The supplement phenibut is gaba with something added to it to cross the blood brain barrier. Its quite strong and very sedating. When i tried it, it felt like it had a delayed reaction as it took along time to work, slept well but then woke up sedated for the whole day, felt like crap. This could have been dose related. I cant remember the exact dose but it may have been 1000mg and after an hour or so no response so took another 1000mg, may have been a third dose before i felt anything but when it hit, it hit. I have read about people being addicted to it or having withdrawal issues etc. So supplement companies selling this generally state to use know more then twice a week or something along those lines??

Generally to get gaba to work they need to add something to it to help it cross the BBB.

 

[PeterPositive]

Has anyone experimented with L-Glutamine to help with anxiety problems?
I was given 1000mg for a 4 months period to help healing gut inflammation but I found it would usually trigger anxiety even though I read it's a GABA precursor.

Then I noticed there's a bit of controversy in terms of studies and supposed effects. Here's an interesting article that doesn't vouch in favor of glutamine:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/05/1/glutamine.aspx

Any comments?

Thanks