I started GABA 750mg and think it gently chills out my anxiety a bit, however 20 minutes after I take it, I feel flushed and itchy in my face and neck. This lasts for 5 minutes and then goes away.
I am in a migraine program with a health coach who has referenced your book several times. She recommended I stop it because it sounds like an allergy. I personally would think it would last longer if it was an allergy.
What do you think? Have you heard of this reaction before? I thought it would maybe get better as my body gets used to taking it? I wanted to continue because I think it’s helping. Thank you.
Sharon posted the above feedback about her promising calming results with GABA and her flushed/itchy question on one of the blogs. She also asked this:
Just read other posts and I’m just beginning to learn all of this info on your site. I’m also getting your book. Looks like I may have started too high? Could I open up one of my capsules and just take powder orally and then work up?
Read on below to learn more about the fact that too much GABA does cause flushing; the correct approach, dose and sublingual use of GABA for Sharon; Holly’s similar story with 750mg GABA; and GABA, serotonin and endorphin support for Sharon’s other symptoms (headaches, migraines, PMS, sleep issues and rectal spasms); plus additional resources when are new to amino acids such as GABA, 5-HTP, DPA and others.
Too much GABA does cause a flush feeling
Firstly, it’s wonderful that GABA gently chills out Sharon’s anxiety a bit. And she is correct – her flush and itchy face and neck is unlikely to be an allergic reaction. Too much GABA does cause a niacin-like flush or tingling feeling and yes, I have heard of this reaction many times. Unfortunately it leads to many people giving up on GABA when they really do need it.
Sharon shared this: “I thought it would maybe get better as my body gets used to taking it?” Unfortunately, many individuals think the same and end up pushing through the discomfort and it’s not what I advise. She was wise in exercising caution and finding out by reading more on the blog, getting a copy of my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution and asking on the blog.
I have no idea why supplement companies produce such a high dose GABA product and it’s something I caution all my clients and GABA Quickstart program participants about.
The correct approach, dose and sublingual use of GABA for Sharon
Sharon also acknowledges she probably started with too high a dose and asks about opening up the GABA capsule and working her way up. This is exactly what we need to do to get results with GABA and not cause new issues.
Some other options to opening the GABA capsule could be:
- a GABA only powder
- a GABA sublingual product (such as GABA Calm)
- a liposomal GABA product
- a GABA cream (she reported migraines and neck tension so a cream may be a good option for her too)
I also have clients start with only one amino acid product and find the ideal dose before adding the next amino acid acid. And track results carefully so they can course correct, adjusting up or down as needed.
Sharon did come back and comment a week later sharing this adjustment she had made:
So I have been opening the GABA capsule and taking half a dose (so 375mg) on my tongue in the morning and then in the afternoon. I don’t notice the real calm like I did with the whole capsule though.
She’s on the right track and the next step could be to use three-quarters of a dose twice a day and see how that helps. Another option is half a dose, maybe 4 x day. There is no one-size fits all and it’s a matter of Sharon finding what works best for her unique needs.
Keep in mind that for some individuals even 375mg is too high a dose. I typically have clients start with 125mg GABA and less if they are super-sensitive.
Holly’s story with 750mg GABA is very similar
I’ve actually blogged about this before: Too much GABA causes a tingling niacin-like flush sensation (in the brain and body). It’s awful and very uncomfortable!) and shared Holly’s niacin-like flush result when using the same dose:
I experienced the niacin-like flush when I tried to go from GABA Calm [mostly dissolved in my mouth] to a pill form and didn’t realize the dosage would be way too high all at one time. The pill was 750 mg GABA [and swallowed with food], so it wasn’t going to work well anyway.
The flush lasted about 15-20 minutes. It was awful. I was sure I was going to throw up every time.
It took me a couple of weeks to figure out the cause. My therapist recommended your website and book and those helped me understand when to take it and why it would help.
When I eliminated the 750 mg GABA pill the symptoms completely went away.
Now I stick to GABA Calm. I take one in the morning and one before bed and sometimes one midday.
You can read more about this flush feeling on the above blog and another example.
GABA, serotonin and endorphin support for Sharon’s other symptoms
Sharon also has headaches, migraines, PMS, sleep issues and rectal spasms:
I’ve got chronic headaches and frequent migraines. Other weird symptoms are lip dermatitis, hormone imbalance, PMS, and rare rectal spasms which I saw referenced on your site too. Serotonin issues too and I also recently started 5-HTP 200mg at night which seems to be helping my PMS insomnia.
It’s great that 5-HTP is helping her PMS-related sleep issues. Both GABA and 5-HTP (for serotonin support) may help with her hormone balance, which in turn, may help with her headaches and migraines too. She may also want to consider a trial of d-phenylalanine/DPA for endorphin support/pain relief. GABA itself helps to ease neck tension and headaches.
GABA does stop very painful rectal spasms very quickly. More about this here – GABA lozenge relieves excruciating pelvic floor/rectal pain and spasms within 30 seconds: a solution for proctalgia fugax.
As I mentioned above, I have clients and those in the GABA Quickstart program start with GABA and find the ideal dose before adding the next amino acid acid. For Sharon, I’d recommend that she finds her ideal dose of GABA before bumping up her 5-HTP and adding DPA.
Additional resources when you are new to using GABA or other amino acids as supplements
We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA (indicating a possible need for GABA or theanine) or low serotonin (indicating a need for tryptophan or 5-HTP) or low endorphins (indicating a possible need for DPA) or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.
If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings. I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.
There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues. The importance of quality animal protein and healthy fats is also covered.
The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.
If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.
If you also need serotonin support, the Serotonin QuickStart Program is a good place to get help. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance on using tryptophan and 5-HTP safely, and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch of this program is happening.
If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.
Now I’d love to hear from you…
I appreciate Sharon and Holly for sharing their experiences and asking questions. I’m hoping their stories have enlightened you!
And I am thrilled that her migraine health coach referenced my book and told her about GABA. It’s a great book that many practitioners share with their clients and patients.
Have you experienced this uncomfortable feeling when using too much GABA? And did you learn to use less in order to get the calming benefits of GABA?
How much do you find helps? And do you use powder or capsules opened or liposomal or cream?
Has serotonin or endorphin support helped too?
Feel free to share and ask your questions below.
how do we purchase your gabs products? thnx! deborah
Deborah
Most of the GABA products can be purchased via my online Fullscript store – more here on the products and how to set up an account https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/
My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start if you are new to biochemical and nutritional approaches – more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/ We also consider and address diet, caffeine intake, sugar intake, gut health, adrenals etc
And the wait list for my GABA Quickstart program if you need more guidance https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/
How do you find the right dose for l tryptophan?
Mish
In the same way as figuring out the right/optimal dose for GABA and all the amino acids – start at the lowest dose, track symptoms and adjust up and increase frequency as needed (or adjust down if too much causes issues). And always keep in mind that some do well on tryptophan and some do well on 5-HTP (and don’t tolerate tryptophan). Tryptophan quality makes a difference and so does sublingual use and using it away from protein.
And finally it’s only to be used if there are signs of low serotonin – symptoms here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
If you’re interested in learning more and getting support my Serotonin Quickstart program may be of interest – https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/sqs-wl/
My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start if you are new to biochemical and nutritional approaches and it has a chapter on the amino acids – more here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
You say there is a difference in effect when used sublingually vs swallowing? I started low and slow once a day, between meals, with 1/4 capsule under the tongue for about 8 minutes then swallowed the powder . Over 2 weeks I worked up to the entire capsule (500mg) Litdke brand. As I neared 500mg, I noticed my anxiety was going into overdrive. Tryptophan was the only thing that had changed so it had to be that. I tried going down to 250mg for a couple of days – did nothing for the anxiety. I had to stop the tryptophan- the anxiety was too much. About 2 weeks later, I tried it again at 1/4 capsule (125mg) under the tongue (have always taken it under the tongue, then swallowed after several minutes). This time after 2 days the anxiety started. Again I stopped. I’ve been advised to microdose it by putting 1/8 capsule in a large glass of water and drinking it over a couple of hours. I haven’t tried that yet as just thinking about taking it again makes me anxious! Have you heard of taking it this way and it working?
Hi Trudy, I have been trying GABA supplements for a while now, and I was not finding much anxiety relief with it. I was taking GABA Calm, a few times a day. However, Ativan really helps! From what I understand, Ativan works on activating GABA, right? Obviously, my doctor doesn’t want me to take Ativan long term, even I am only taking 0,5 mg (and sometimes even 1/2 of that), but this is what brings me relief for the moment. Can you understand why Ativan brings me relief, and not the Gaba supplements? Thank you very much!
Josee
I can provide feedback if you can share which GABA product and how it was used – this blog post is all about using it effectively and safely to get optimal results and many folks are not doing this.
Unfortunately benzos can sometimes cloud the picture as they can actually start to cause anxiety and tolerance means more is often needed.
Hello Trudy, thank you for your reply. I have been using mostly GabaCalm a few times per day, sometimes alternating with liposomal Gaba with L theanine from Quicksilver Scientific (but trying two sprays at a time rather than 4, since when I started using it with the 4 sprays, it made me feel flushed and a bit nauseous).
Hi! I know you cannot give medical advice. I am looking for any recommendations you can make. I have followed you for a while, and I ordered the tryptophan you reccomend for my daughter. She doesn’t take it al the time, but she takes it when she is going out or feels she might need some more calmness.
I am doing some research to help myself and my daughter. I have been gaining weight, I sometimes have gerd symptoms, i have toenail fungus, my teeth have been chipping, I have spider veins. I had bell’s palsy around 5 months ago. My last blood tests showed low vitamin d, elevated liver enzymes (ALT), low ferritin, low iron, high TIBC. I think my white blood cell count may have been a little high. I have often had low vitatmin d, low ferritin (last blood test it was 7). When I tried taking vitamin d before, I had anxiety. I have wondered if it would help me to get MTHFR testing. I take a lot of supplements that have helped me a lot over the years. I sometimes get bloated-I am better in this area than I used to be. I have noticed that sacroiliac pain seems to cause the bloating or maybe sometimes it is the bloating adding to the sacroiliac pain. I recently had some problems with not being able to lift my arm without pain-it may have been the rotator cuff. I have wondered if I have some overall problem with my tendons or joints. I sometimes struggle with sleep. If I get stressed before bed, I can’t fall asleep, I have to pee a lot.
My daughter struggles with a lot of problems, including anxiety, depression, OCD, scoliosis, chronic fatigue, gut issues, insomnia, brain fog and more. She sometimes talks about her gut hurting. She says too much white meat chicken makes her stomach hurt. She struggles with constipation. She reacts to yeast and feels very badly so she avoids it. She recently had spotting and or bleeding for over a month. She often skips periods as well. She has reactions to certain foods. She feels “under pressure” a lot of the time. She doesn’t sleep enough and/or has unrefreshing sleep. She is 25 and has struggled with a lot of these problems for a long time. Some of them for around 10 years.
I have been considering colostrum or lactoferrin as a starting point for my daughter and I. I am also thinking that helping our livers would be an important thing for us.
Do you have recommendations on what we need to do to be able to help these problems?
Dawn
I’m sorry to hear about you and your daughter’s struggles. I would start by looking at dietary factors especially gluten and grains (your low iron/pain/bloating/sleep/gerd and your daughter’s anxiety/OCD/fatigue/gut/sleep/brain fog/constipation). My book has an entire chapter on this and chapters on eating real whole food, eating for blood sugar (so key with mood) and food sensitivities/gut health – “The Antianxiety Food Solution” with more info here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
For someone with your daughter’s symptoms and reports some calmness with tryptophan I’d be focusing on optimizing this/finding the ideal dose and consistent use, plus considering low GABA. Both can also help with hormonal issues. Here is the wait list for my GABA Quickstart program if you need more guidance https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/ I also offer a Serotonin Quickstart program.
And ideally find a nutritionist or functional medicine practitioner to work with and run some tests. If someone has consistent low iron/ferritin it’s important to address this too and figure out why it’s low.
Liver support is always important but colostrum or lactoferrin is not where I’d start although the latter may be helpful with iron issues.
Hello Trudy
Kinda related but I find taking GABA powder (Now brand) under my tongue is a bit stingy/tingly. Lasts a little while after it’s dissolved. I then flush my mouth with water so I can rest for sleep in disturbed. I’m only on 125mg at bedtime (once a day), after building up from micro doses with the pinch spoons. I’m taking it a long time at this stage (2years +), so could an intolerance have built up in my mouth flesh? I do feel my anxiety returns if I try lowering the dose. I should also add that it doesn’t happen all the time, but recently more frequently.
Thanks
Rosemary
I would expect it to happen every time if it’s due to the GABA powder product. It may be worth while keeping a food/drink log to see if there is another correlation. If not I have my GABA Quickstart Program participants switch to a different GABA product.
I doubt it’s an intolerance from long term use and if it was I suspect it would also be every time