Tryptophan

It is truly miraculous to be able to move through life without crippling anxiety and panic

May 22, 2026 By Trudy Scott 4 Comments

I feel like a different person since I have been taking GABA! It is truly miraculous to be able to move through life without crippling anxiety and panic.

Last year at this time, before starting GABA, I was taking care of a dear friend with a serious medical condition. I was filled with anxiety and panic all of the time as there were many 911 situations that happened. Now, a year later, my friend has once again been in a medical crisis, but this time I am taking GABA, so I am able to remain calm.

Before using GABA (and tryptophan) I had tried EMDR, meditation, acupuncture, homeopathy, etc. Honestly, I thought that maybe I was just damaged from all of my childhood trauma, and I had to just live with intense anxiety.

I love hearing fabulous results like this from a recent GABA Quickstart program participant, and I am so happy for this woman and her daughter. I commend her for taking the time to really learn about how to safely and effectively use GABA for herself, then inspire her adult daughter and share her knowledge with her. She also proudly shares this:

My daughter has also been transformed through taking GABA!! She has suffered from relentless anxiety since she was a teenager, and this is the first thing that has helped her, despite seeing every type of holistic practitioner that exists.

Read on to learn specifically how GABA helps her daughter feel calm and happy during a job interview and how it also helps reduce her symptoms of PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). I also share more about the GABA/progesterone and serotonin/estrogen connections in PMDD. And my insights on using GABA when caretaking, even when you think you’ve tried everything and have childhood trauma. You’ll also find additional resources if you need guidance using amino acids like tryptophan/5-HTP and GABA/theanine (and more about the program this woman did to get results like this for herself and her daughter).

Panic and anxiety in the interview to confident, calm, and joyful in her new job

This woman goes on to share just how much GABA has helped:

An amazing thing happened: She has been interviewing for a new job for quite a while now, but never getting them. However, at her first interview since being on GABA, she reported to me that instead of feeling filled with panic and anxiety during the interview, she felt calm and happy. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that she got the job!!

And thanks to GABA and tryptophan, she feels confident, calm, and joyful while learning her new role.

This is what every anxious job applicant needs and deserves, especially when relentless anxiety has been such a big part of her teens.

I will add that she didn’t start GABA and tryptophan at the same time. Her mom had her start with a tryptophan trial (for her worry and ruminations and other low serotonin symptoms) and find her ideal dose for her unique needs. And then trial GABA(for her physical tension and panic attacks) and find the ideal dose of GABA. It’s what I recommend and mom participated in both the Serotonin Quickstart and GABA Quickstart programs, and then she helped her daughter.

GABA and tryptophan help with hormonal imbalances, including PMDD

Mom shares more about the GABA benefits her daughter experienced:

GABA has also really helped her with severe PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder). She is now filled with joy and calmness, instead of crying endlessly and being filled with panic.

This is to be expected given the GABA/progesterone connection. This 2023 paper, GABA-ergic Modulators: New Therapeutic Approaches to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, the authors describe PMDD as follows: “the predictable onset of mood and physical symptoms secondary to gonadal steroid fluctuation during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle” i.e. symptoms in the second half of the cycle caused by sex hormone shifts.

The authors state that “the interaction between allopregnanolone, a neurosteroid derivative of progesterone, and the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system represents an important relationship underlying symptom genesis in reproductive-related mood disorders, including PMDD.”

The missing piece in the above paper is the recommendation to actually use GABA (the paper focuses on medications instead).

As mentioned above she was also using tryptophan which very likely contributed to her symptom relief given the serotonin/estrogen connection. I share a study and more about this in this blog post – Tryptophan for PMS: premenstrual dysphoria, mood swings, tension, and irritability

GABA is calming when caretaking, even when you’ve tried everything and have childhood trauma

I’d like to swing back and comment on S. M.’s results and acknowledge her for being proactive in taking care of her mental health right after the stress of being a carer for her dear friend. It worked out in the end for both of them too – she was much calmer when her dear friend was ill yet again.

She also really believed she had tried everything. I hear this all the time and it breaks my heart when anxious folks stop seeking a solution without learning about how to safely and effectively use GABA. Too many folks don’t know about it or use it incorrectly and then stop. This is one big reason I love to share success stories like this, and I appreciate S. M. for allowing me to share hers and her daughter’s success.

Finally, GABA even helps when there is other childhood trauma (or other trauma) and you never just have to live with intense anxiety. The research supports this: “Dysregulation in GABA may be a neurobiological marker and/or potential treatment target for women with PTSD symptom profiles” and so do the clinical results.

I’m not suggesting to only use GABA, instead doing both the trauma work and addressing neurochemistry and other nutritional imbalances.

Practical aspects of the GABA Quickstart program and the value

As I mentioned above, S.M. is a past participant of the GABA Quickstart program and she shared these practical aspects and how valuable it was:

The program is very well designed, very clear, and super easy to navigate and I loved the case studies. The tracking sheets are invaluable and the key to success with GABA!!

It can seem like a lot of money up front, but the gift of mental health is priceless!!

And honestly, Trudy has helped me and my daughter more than countless other practitioners, so in the end, it is actually very cost effective!!

(She also participated in the Serotonin Quickstart program and shared similar feedback).

Additional resources when you are new to using GABA or tryptophan as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA 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 (this is covered in an entire chapter too), 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. Another option is the budget-friendly GABA QuickStart Homestudy Program.

If you 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.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I’d love to hear how GABA has helped you and if your success has motivated and inspired a loved one such as an adult daughter or son to use it too?

Has GABA helped you or a loved one do well in a job interview and the first job?

What about tryptophan or 5-HTP?

Had you tried everything with no success and expected to just live with intense anxiety?

Were you aware of the GABA connections to PMDD and trauma?

Finally, if you’ve completed the course material in the GABA Quickstart or Serotonin Quickstart programs feel free to share your results here so we can inspire others and give them hope.

Feel free to post your questions below.

GABA and tryptophan combo provide immediate and noticeable relief for tremors and cervical dystonia in just 7 days

April 17, 2026 By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

I recently discovered your work and felt a sense of hope regarding an amino acid trial. I was diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia and Essential Tremor 15 years ago. I have tried Botox injections and various prescriptions (Bacolfen, Propranolol, Trihexyphenidyl, Gabapentin), with no success. Because alcohol is the only thing that currently provides relief for my spasms and head tremor, I’ve developed a habit of 2–3 glasses of wine nightly.

My neurologist recently suggested Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), but I want to exhaust all natural options first.

After listening to some of your podcasts, I am ready to try a nutritional approach. I purchased your book today and am eager to start with GABA and potentially Tryptophan, but I need guidance on where to begin safely. I look forward to learning from you and your community.

Lisa shared this recently on a GABA blog post on the site. I responded saying how glad I am that she has found my site and work, and now has my book, “The Antianxiety Food Solution”. I also shared that if alcohol provides relief for her neck spasms and head tremors it’s a good clue that low GABA is an issue. It’s one of a number of possible issues including low serotonin, as she concluded, and these are the amino acids I would recommend starting with, ideally one at a time.

A week later she thanked me for my response and shared her initial wonderful results:

I began with a GABA trial and noticed subtle relief, but after adding 500 mg of L-Tryptophan a few days later, all I can say is WOW. The combination provided immediate, noticeable relief for my tremors. For the first time, I am truly hopeful about managing these dystonic tremors.

Read on to learn more about pyroluria and dystonia connection; tryptophan and tremors; my feedback about Lisa finding her optimal dose of amino acids and ideally using one amino acid at a time; more on alcohol and low thiamine, and GABA for healing a leaky gut; and additional resources if you need guidance using amino acids like GABA and tryptophan.

Pyroluria and dystonia connection

In my initial response to Lisa, I had also encouraged her to search the blog for dystonia and essential tremor as I have blogged about both. With regards to dystonia and pyroluria, I’ve had a number of wonderful success stories, even though mainstream sites like Mayo Clinic will tell you: “There is no cure for cervical dystonia. The disorder sometimes resolves without treatment, but sustained remissions are uncommon.”.

Lisa searched the blog and is very motivated despite her lack of success with Botox and various medications:

While I hadn’t researched pyroluria before, I completed your questionnaire and scored very high.

My next steps are to implement your pyroluria protocol, gradually find my optimal amino acid dosages, and pursue genetic testing.

Your book and expertise have been a turning point for me. I can’t thank you enough for opening this door to healing. I am truly humbled by your guidance.

I’m guessing she found both of these blogs – they are well worth a read:

There is an entire chapter on pyroluria in my book and she’ll be using zinc and vitamin B6 and other key nutrients like a B complex and evening primrose oil, all of which help pyroluria, help ease dystonia symptoms and help with neurotransmitter production.

I’m not surprised she has hope for the first time in 15 years! I also never get tired of feedback like this and look forward to sharing her ongoing improvements. I really do hope she shares all this with her neurologist too.

Finding her optimal dose of amino acids

I’m really glad to hear Lisa has grasped this key aspect of using amino acids such as GABA and tryptophan (and others like DPA for pain relief, another one she may benefit from in the future): finding her optimal dose.

We always start low during the initial one-off trial, track the response and then slowly but surely increase, continuing to track improvements. And drop back to a previous dose if there is an adverse effect.

I see too many folks give up too soon when they simply try one dose and then stop, or try only one product and stop or try tryptophan and stop when it doesn’t help (some folks do better on 5-HTP so both may be worth trialing). The same logic applies with GABA and theanine and sometimes a combination is better than one or the other.

Lisa was fortunate in finding an initial combination that works for her very quickly, although she does plan to optimize further. For others it can take longer with a number of permutations. But once you find your unique protocol, immediate and noticeable relief is what we expect.

My recommendation is to use one amino acid at a time

I will add that my advice is to trial one amino acid at a time and find the optimal dose and then move on to the next amino acid – it makes it so much easier to know which amino acid is helping. Lisa didn’t do this so I just want to point this out. Going forwards, it’ll be better if she just adjusts one at a time.

I did also mention the Serotonin QuickStart Program and GABA QuickStart Homestudy Program in case she hits a wall and needs additional help fine-tuning (more on these programs below).

Alcohol and low thiamine, and GABA for healing a leaky gut

Because of Lisa’s daily wine intake, it would also be prudent to consider and address low levels of thiamine, a common deficiency with excessive alcohol consumption. I write more about classic signs of thiamine deficiency here. Assessing for and addressing other possible nutritional deficiencies would be key too, because of leaky gut caused by alcohol intake.

The good news is that both GABA and tryptophan (and glutamine too) helps to heal leaky gut and also help break the addictive aspect of wine and other alcoholic beverages so it’s easier to quit. Feel free to search the blog for additional information on these topics.

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan or GABA and other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

Wrapping up and your feedback

Thanks to Lisa for asking these questions and sharing her feedback.

Now I’d love to hear from you – have you had success using GABA or tryptophan for tremors or cervical dystonia (or other types of dystonia)?

What about the pyroluria protocol for cervical dystonia (or other types of dystonia)?

Feel free to post your questions below.

Tryptophan and GABA for relaxation, jaw pain, sleep, anger and mood symptoms

June 13, 2025 By Trudy Scott 12 Comments

I typically start clients on tryptophan if they have signs of low serotonin: stressed, overwhelmed worry, fears, obsessing, feeling anxious, ruminations, low mood, anger issues/rage, sleep problems, pain issues, PMS, low self-esteem, imposter syndrome, and afternoon/evening carb cravings etc. If we don’t get expected results we switch to 5-HTP as some people do better on one vs the other.

With signs of low GABA – a more physical kind of anxiety, with some overwhelm, intrusive thoughts, tension, sleep issues (often lying awake tense), stress-eating and/or drinking and pain – I typically recommend a GABA only product (as a powder or capsule opened) or GABA Calm (a sublingual). In some cases we may consider theanine and pharmaGABA.

The best way to assess low GABA and low serotonin is the symptoms questionnaire and a trial of the respective amino acids – one at a time. But the key is to find the ideal amount for the unique needs of each person. We do that by methodically and systematically increasing the amino acid slowly and tracking improvements for each increase.

In this blog you can read some success stories from women who used tryptophan and GABA for relaxation, jaw pain, sleep, anger and mood symptoms, and my commentary with some additional insights.

Tryptophan and GABA (as powders) – for her stress and pain

Amy uses both tryptophan and GABA for relaxation and jaw pain:

I use both tryptophan and GABA, I just take them separately. When my jaw was really bad the tryptophan really helped. I also do vagus nerve stimulating exercises that make me yawn and it stretches and releases the jaw.

As for the GABA …when I’m very stressed, I need extra to feel the effects. I use a pinch between the fingers of the Now powder and let it dissolve on my tongue. I feel my body relax in about 30 seconds. If nothing then I take a second pinch. Most days 1 pinch is enough.

I also let tryptophan dissolve in my mouth and most days I feel the same physical relaxation after a few moments. It’s not always obvious with the tryptophan though. I use 1/4 tsp of powder but you can use capsules. I mix the powder with pudding powder because it’s very bitter.

Both tryptophan and GABA can help with pain, and also feeling anxious and stressed.

The benefits are via different mechanisms – tryptophan boosts low serotonin and it’s typically more of a mental type of relaxation. This blog illustrates the use of tryptophan for TMJ (temporomandibular joint) – Tryptophan ends TMJ pain, headaches and worry, and improves mood and sleep: a success story.

The amino acid GABA boots low GABA levels and it provides more of a physical type of relaxation and also helps with pain relief.

I like that Amy is using both amino acids as powder and I’m happy for her. GABA powder tastes pleasant and is much more effective used this way (or capsule opened or sublingual).

Tryptophan can be swallowed but many find it more effective as a powder or capsule opened. As Amy says, it’s very bitter as a powder.

Tryptophan or 5-HTP and different forms of GABA – for sleep, anger and mood symptoms

Kerry tried 5-HTP and pharmaGABA but did better with tryptophan and GABA Calm:

My naturopath had me on 5-HTP but I never felt a benefit, and pharmaGaba was a histamine trigger. After reading your book I tried tryptophan and spent many months on 2 x 500mg at bedtime. This helped with sleep and definitely stopped the surges of anger that happened often.

I read a lady say her staple was 2 x Gaba Calm at bedtime and on rising, so I tried this and it helped.

I now take both tryptophan and Gaba Calm only if I feel niggly mood symptoms.

My previous diet was standard vegetarian, then vegan for several years. I now have lots of protein in the form of beef liver capsules, eggs and protein powder. I don’t like meat.

Kerry shared all this in a recent blog comment, describing how tryptophan and GABA Calm were big game-changers for her, in addition to “a long slow mold detox …addressing nutritional deficiencies and implementing dietary changes.”

Mycotoxins caused by mold, nutritional deficiencies and a poor quality diet can impact neurotransmitter production. The good news is that when you find the right combination of amino acids – in this case tryptophan and GABA Calm – you can get relief right away while the other factors are being addressed. It reduces the overwhelm, stress and fears too.

Kerry’s approach of consistent use of both amino acids is the best way to go and I’m so happy for her. And once levels are sufficient they can be used as needed, provided other underlying causes (like toxins, diet etc) are being addressed.

I will add that some individuals do better on 5-HTP and some do better on tryptophan so it’s often a matter of doing a trial of both. I typically recommend tryptophan to start because 5-HTP can be an issue if cortisol is high.

I also always recommend starting with some forms of GABA because of the potential histamine issues with pharmaGABA. That said, some individuals do tolerate pharamGABA so it’s worth doing a trial of both. And we may also consider theanine when we want to support low GABA, low serotonin and low dopamine.

Theanine and tryptophan and diet/lifestyle changes – and feeling her best!

Luna worked with a health practitioner to taper off Prozac (very slowly) and used amino acids during the taper and afterwards:

As someone who took Prozac for years and eventually came off, please pay special attention to Trudy’s advice to come off it SLOWLY. I’d say do it so slowly it may seem ridiculous.

I tried three times to get off Prozac and it was only with the help of an ND/PharmD did I finally get the info needed to come off it without *awful* side effects. To do it well, the process takes MONTHS – not weeks as many doctors recommend.

These days, I take L-Theanine and L-Tryptophan. And I’m preparing to add some GABA soon. Combined with daily 45 minute walks outside, and a low-sugar/low-gluten diet, I’m doing the best I have in my adult life.

A comprehensive approach that includes amino acids, dietary changes, and getting out in nature can make a world of difference. I love it when I hear feedback like this.

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan and GABA and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.

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.

Wrapping up and your feedback

Now I’d love to hear from you – how has tryptophan and GABA helped you or a loved one?

If you’d like to get on the notification list for the next Serotonin Quickstart Program (a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls), please do so here.

If you’re a practitioner do you use tryptophan and GABA with your clients/patients?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Lidtke tryptophan 100mg chewable is back! It’s great for anxious, worried, raging kids and pixie dust adults who have trouble sleeping too

June 6, 2025 By Trudy Scott 28 Comments

The Lidtke tryptophan 100mg chewable product has been out of stock for close to a year and it’s now back, hence this blog post. This product has been a firm favorite of mine for many years and I’ve used it successfully with children and adults with signs of low serotonin. If you’re new to tryptophan, it’s an amino acid that is a precursor or raw material for the production of your feel-good neurotransmitter called serotonin.

I’ve used this product in the past with children who are anxious, worried, raging, having problems sleeping and craving sugar and carbs. I’ve also used it with “pixie dust” clients who do well with a small dose and prefer a chewable form of tryptophan. And I often recommend clients use it to do the initial one-off trial to figure out if low serotonin is the issue (and before moving on to a typical starting dose of 500mg tryptophan twice a day).

In this blog you’ll see the label of the newly formulated tryptophan 100mg chewable and some of the many advantages of tryptophan as a low-dose chewable. You’ll also see some feedback on the previous formulation, a success story with a young girl and my personal experience too.

The newly formulated Lidtke L-Tryptophan Chewable

Here is the new label for the Lidtke L-Tryptophan 100mg Chewable. This product has been a firm favorite of mine for many years and the formulation has shifted over the years.

This formulation still contains 100mg tryptophan and a different sweetener – luo han guo, also known as monk fruit. It’s a zero-calorie natural sweetener that does not affect blood sugar. Monk fruit does belong to the gourd family and would need to be avoided if there are allergies to these foods (such as cucumbers, melons, zucchini etc). Also, some individuals do not like the aftertaste of monk fruit.

It does contain flavors – maple and vanillin – which may be problematic for sensitive individuals. Acacia gum (or gum arabic) is low FODMAP and typically well tolerated, but may cause bloating for some.

The chewable has not been available for about a year so this is very welcome news.

Chewable tryptophan for a young girl with anxiety, rage, sleep issues and strong cravings

As I mentioned I’ve been using chewable tryptophan with success for many years. I often share the success story of a young girl with anxiety, rage, sleep issues and strong cravings for candies in documentaries and summit interviews and – and how addressing low serotonin with a chewable tryptophan quickly helped:

So sitting in my office with this young girl and her mom, we started to talk about the sweets and the candies and the need to give up the candies. She was fuming with me. She was sitting in a swivel chair. She turned her back on me and didn’t want to talk about having to give up candy at all.

I said, “Look, let’s not even talk about that, but would you take this chewable tryptophan here? And we’ll talk about it in a second.” I gave her 100 mg of the chewable tryptophan and continued discussing things with her mom. She had no idea what it was going to do or how it would make her feel.

Within five minutes she turned her chair back, looked at me and she said, smilingly, “Yes, let’s do it. I can give up the candy.” She was smiling and she was happy.

So long story short, with this young girl, we started her on [chewable] tryptophan [and it turned things around quickly].

You can read her entire story here on the blog – Rage, anxiety, cravings & insomnia in 11-year old girl with RAD/reactive attachment disorder: chewable tryptophan turns things around (she also went gluten-free and addressed low iron levels and the change was transformative.)

Some of the many advantages of tryptophan as a low-dose chewable

Here are some of the many advantages of tryptophan as a low-dose chewable:

The low dose is suitable for sensitive adults and pixie-dust folks (i.e. a small amount goes a long way)
It can be easily broken apart if an even lower dose works well
It’s pleasant tasting
It’s easy to have available to use on the go when traveling or out and about
The dose dose and taste is suitable for children and kids who are picky eaters
The dose dose and taste is suitable for older adults with dementia or Alzheimer’s, adults with special needs or Parkinson’s
One less capsule to swallow and more pleasant that tryptophan powder on the tongue
A good tool for doing the initial one-off trial to confirm low serotonin symptoms before embarking on titrating up to a higher dose of tryptophan

My personal experience with chewable tryptophan

Personally, I have used tryptophan over the years with much success. It’s helped me with sleep issues, the worry type of ruminating anxiety and PMS symptoms.

I also used it when I was grieving after my mom passed away and found it particularly helpful a few months after her passing when I’d start to feel more sad after dinner and go searching for sugar as a pick-up. It worked well because serotonin takes a dip later afternoon/evening.

Most of the time I’ve used 500mg and above – capsules opened and powder.

However I like to try what I recommend (if possible) so I have tried a few bottles of the previous formulation of the chewable tryptophan. It worked well and the taste and texture was pleasant. But because I do better on a higher dose I was needing to chew too many!

I have yet to try this new formulation myself but will report back as soon as I have had a chance to do so – on the taste, the texture and the effectiveness.

Positive feedback on the previous chewable tryptophan product

Until I get feedback on the new formulation, here is some general feedback from individuals in the community.

Jean is a practitioner who uses it herself and with patients:

It works within 15 minutes to stop looping thoughts/anxiety and the dose isn’t too sedating during the day. I never find it too sweet and wouldn’t let the taste keep me from such rapid relief.

I like the 100 mg chewable because it only has tryptophan and I didn’t want the other ingredients in the [Lidtke tryptophan] Complete for my needs.

I’ve had patients do well with tryptophan with the 100 mg chewable and others with the higher dose capsule.

Kelly likes the low 100mg dose compared to the 500mg capsules:

I purchased the adult pills and they were too strong. I was groggy in the morning.

Erin is also a practitioner and mom:

I have used this [the chewable tryptophan 100mg] with my 8 year old when he’s in a rage or showing signs of excessive worry and it works great! So glad it’s coming back. I recommend it to clients all the time.

Ali is also happy the chewable is coming back:

Great news!! I love the chewable and I prefer 100 mg early evening for anxiety and sleep. Sometimes 200mg but not often.

I appreciate them all sharing and hope to get updates from them when they try the new formulation.

Negative feedback on the new tryptophan chewable formulation

Update: June 14, 2025

Unfortunately, since publishing this blog and sharing on Facebook, the negative feedback has been coming in fast and furiously. Here is some of what people are sharing:

Melissa: “Love this company. I like that it’s chewable but it’s a large tablet and flavor is awful. Tastes like when you put maple syrup on a burnt pancake to try and cover up the burnt . I will finish the bottle though. I wish there were other chewable options, like GABA calm’s orange flavor.“
PS: “Revolting. Aftertaste like artificial sweetener. Smoother texture, last longer. Made me suspicious they were fake and I spat it out.“
Tamar: “I recently bought a few bottles of the maple sugar chewable. Taste is quite sweet and artificial, IMO. I don’t like chewing them because the product gets jammed in my teeth and stays there. I’ve been letting them dissolve, which takes a very long time.”

And these are comments from this blog:

Erin: “I was so excited to get this back, especially for my 8 year old son who has symptoms of ADHD rage. However, the new flavor is bitter and gets stuck in our teeth and now I can’t get him to take it!”
Nikki: “I got these about two weeks ago…. Truthfully I think it tastes horrible but that’s just me. Just unpleasant. Kind of sour and stale. They smell amazing but you get one in your mouth and it’s so hard to chew and swallow.”
Tara: “The new formulation of the Lidtke does taste horrible. Initially I thought oh this smells lovely, tried to have my daughter take it and she said ick mom. So I said ok let me try it and ICK was right, the sweetener was gross and it did have a stale taste. So unfortunate as I had hope for this to help my daughter dealing with a lot of fears, worry, upset stomach and negative self talk at 9 yo and rage and sugar cravings.”

As of now I am NOT recommending this product.

The good news is that Nikki emailed Lidtke and shared this: “I just got an email back from Lidtke. Her name was Jessica and she stated: So, I’ve talked to the owner and let him know how many people are complaining about this new formula. He told me he was not aware it was changed and we are having a new batch made using the old formula that everyone loves. Going to take a month maybe a little more but we are definitely having this fixed.”

I appreciate her for emailing them and sharing this update. I’ve been communicating with someone else at the company and was told they have no plans to make any changes so if this is true it’s really good news!

Stay tuned for further updates and please share your own feedback in the comments below.

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.

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.

We are also offering the Serotonin Quickstart Program, a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls.

Wrapping up and your feedback

Now I’d love to hear from you – have you used the chewable tryptophan with success in the past? And how has it helped you or a loved one?

(once you try the new formulation I’d love to hear your feedback on taste, texture and effectiveness)

If you’re a practitioner have you used chewable tryptophan with your clients/patients?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Calming GABA, tryptophan to relinquish the evening bottle of red wine, theanine for focus and the pyroluria protocol

November 29, 2024 By Trudy Scott 5 Comments

gaba tryptophan theanine

I’m 61 years old postmenopausal. 2 GABA Calm under my tongue the second my eyes open in the morning. I keep it at the bedside. So that’s 250mg.

In the beginning I would also use two if I woke up at 2AM with a panic attack. That doesn’t happen as much anymore. I keep a bottle in my purse for panic attacks during the day. I haven’t had one of those in a couple of years. When I have a low stress week ahead, such as no social interaction scheduled, I go several days without any, but then that clutch in my chest reminds me to start back.

I also am diligent in treating my Pyroluria (diagnosed with a urine test)…it makes a difference. Daily zinc, B vitamins (especially 15mg methylfolate/day – check out the research papers on that dose being as effective as most antidepressants, I’m heterozygous not homozygous, MTHFR), Magnesium Threonate.

I am having good results with 1000 mg L-Tryptophan/day. I’ve just started adding another 1000mg/day in a bid to relinquish my evening bottle of red wine.

I keep a bottle of L-theanine on hand if I have a day ahead that I need to focus. ADHD does not improve with age!! I seriously liked it better in my day when my third-grade teacher labeled me a “dreamer”. Fortunately, I live on a farm and the cows don’t seem to mind that it takes me a bit to focus long enough to get the chores done.

I also have a regular yoga practice and I do physical work outside and in the winter use a SAD light.

I will also add that the last 8 months I have been in a very stressful family situation at home and the above regimen is holding.

If anyone has stuck with this wandering post to the end, don’t give up. Keep fighting to find what works for you.

Jennifer responded with the above in response to my question on Facebook about your starting GABA dose and if it’s changed over the years based on stress levels, hormone changes and life events.

I thanked her for sharing and for her encouraging words for others in the community and asked if I could share her feedback as a blog. She said yes saying “I have learned so very much from the stories of others on the page” – so here we are …

Stories offer hope, motivation and inspiration and we do learn so much from them.

I also told her that she is a poster child for how we want to use GABA and share more about that and her desire to relinquish her bottle of wine (and how amino acids make it easier) below.

She is a poster child for how we want to use GABA

Initially a higher dose of GABA may be needed and then as GABA levels increase and we also start to address other underlying root causes, less GABA is needed on a regular basis.

Initially Jennifer needed 4 x GABA Calm (for a total of 400mg/day) and then just 250mg GABA per day once she addressed pyroluria and B vitamin deficiencies. Yoga also supports GABA production.

On some low-stress days she doesn’t need any GABA at all, but she wisely keeps some in her purse for “panic attacks during the day” (but hasn’t had one in a couple of years).

She had struggled with perimenopause: “I must say that postmenopausal is a hell of a lot better, even with the paper thin skin and wrinkles, than the hell that was perimenopause!!!!”

And she did mention her phenyl-GABA mistake/ignorance and the fact that I helped her identify this issue 5 years ago. If you’re not aware, phenyl-GABA or phenibut can cause similar tolerance, dependence and discontinuation issues to benzodiazepines. More on phenibut here.

All of the above very likely contributed to her higher need for GABA initially.

Additional serotonin support to relinquish her evening bottle of red wine

Jennifer is already supporting her serotonin with 1000mg tryptophan per day, a SAD light in winter and physical exercise on the farm.

Afternoon and evening cravings are common when serotonin isn’t optimal – this can be carb/sugar cravings and/or also a need to self-medicate with wine. The first step is to recognize and acknowledge that a bottle of wine each evening is too much.

This amount of alcohol affects the liver, contributes to leaky gut, can cause blood sugar swings and reduces B vitamins, especially thiamine/vitamin B3. And it could also be considered an added “stress” if you have pyroluria.

Most of us are aware of these harmful effects and yet cannot easily quit. Her use of the word relinquish is a clue as to how she feels about this i.e. some common synonyms of relinquish are “abandon, resign, surrender” which “may suggest some regret, reluctance, or weakness.”

But because she understands the power of amino acids, she plans to increase her tryptophan from 1000mg to 2000mg to address this addiction without the need for willpower or with no feelings of regret or surrender.

If you are new to using this tryptophan for this purpose, this blog is worth reading: Tryptophan had the added benefit of turning me completely off alcohol when I took it to improve mood and sleep during perimenopause

Theanine for when she needs additional focus

Theanine provides a feeling of calm focus, offering support for the following neurotransmitters: GABA, serotonin and dopamine.

Jennifer also uses 400mg of theanine (Suntheanine) for her focus issues, using it only on days she needs it. She says “I rarely have a day when I would need more than 3-4 hours of paperwork concentration as my life on the farm and keeping up with grandchildren is more physical than mental focus.”

Now that she has used GABA, tryptophan and theanine with success, she has these amino acids in her toolbox whenever she needs them in the future and when she needs to increase the dose if the situation requires a change.

A few GABA product options – a sublingual and a powder

Jennifer used Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges, a product I recommend. It’s a good low dose of 125 mg and is convenient and effective because it’s a sublingual lozenge.

Now GABA Powder is another product I use and recommend. It does need to be measured out to provide a 125 mg typical starting dose. I have clients use a handy mini measuring spoon like this one (my Amazon link) and share more about how to measure out GABA powder on this blog).

For Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder:

You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).
If you’re not in the US, you can purchase these at iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using GABA, tryptophan and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA, low serotonin or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.

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.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I appreciate Jennifer for sharing and giving me permission to share her story on the blog. Despite the wine and her very stressful family situation I am thrilled she says she is doing well. I also love that she ends with this: “… don’t give up. Keep fighting to find what works for you.”

I’d love to hear from you – has any of this worked for you?

Feel free to share about your GABA success and how much it helps you and if this has changed over time. And let us know what you feel has contributed to the need for less or more GABA i.e. which other root causes have you addressed?

Feel free to share if tryptophan (or another amino acid) has helped with quitting wine or another alcoholic beverage.

And do share if you use theanine for calm focus.

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

I’m anxious about GABA side effects and feel like adding a bit of tryptophan before increasing GABA (to avoid overdoing it with either one)

September 6, 2024 By Trudy Scott 9 Comments

I have symptoms from both low GABA and low serotonin on your questionnaire. So I suspect I need to supplement with both. The main issues I have (anxiety, panic) are common to both deficiencies. I took a trial dose of 1 Gaba Calm and it seemed to help a bit. Should one continue increasing the dose of GABA or introduce some tryptophan next?

I am trying to avoid GABA side effects because now that I read your last post on tingling etc (which would be a huge trigger for me), I’m anxious about that.

I feel like adding a bit of tryptophan before increasing GABA and going up like that, one at a time. Versus going higher and higher with GABA since the symptoms are on both lists – in order to avoid overdoing it with one .

Does that make sense or do you still recommend doing one at a time (I just read on one of your blog posts that one should try one amino acid first before introducing another one)? Thank you!

Liz asked this great question on one of the blogs where I discuss how there can be an extremely large variation in dosing for GABA and how too much can cause a niacin-like flush and tingling.

Her concerns are very valid – especially for someone who is anxious – but I still recommend doing a trial of just one amino acid before introducing another. In today’s blog I share why this is my recommendation and why sometimes there is an exception to this recommendation (and how best to implement it).

My recommendation and her results

Liz is correct, I do always recommend doing a trial of one amino acid at a time before introducing the next one. I confirmed that this is still my recommendation and also reminded her that when “one GABA Calm seems to help a bit” it’s a positive sign. When I hear this it’s a big clue that you are on track and the next step is to continue to increase the GABA to determine if you’ll get even better results. I told her we are looking for a wow effect in a few days to weeks.

In case you’re wondering, she did increase just the GABA (without adding tryptophan) and shared “I’ve now increased to 2 GABA Calms and it helps a lot!”

With this kind of result she may decide to stay with just 2 GABA Calm or she may decide to increase yet again if this amount hasn’t substantially reduced her low GABA symptoms of physical tension, anxious thoughts, self-medicating with sugar or alcohol to relax, feelings of panic, pain etc. You can see all the low GABA symptoms here).

As always, I also reminded her what when you are new to the amino acids and other anxiety nutrition solutions like eating real whole food, quality animal protein, fermented foods, organic produce, healthy fats, gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, eating for blood sugar control, addressing gut health and pyroluria, my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. It’s a comprehensive approach – amino acids AND diet.

She has “been eating organic, gluten-free, whole foods for 10+ yrs” (this is a wonderful foundation). However the stress of the last few years has really gotten to her and she has been meaning to get my book to get some help with amino acids. Hopefully she now has a copy!

Why do I recommend doing a trial of one amino acid at a time before introducing the next one?

As she mentioned, she has overlaps with low GABA and low serotonin symptoms: “anxiety, panic.” This is not uncommon. Although they do differ – with low GABA it’s more physical and with low serotonin it’s more mental – it can often be challenging to figure out which neurotransmitter imbalance is the issue. Doing a trial of one of the amino acids and seeing/feeling the results provides the answer.

In this case, Liz discovered all or some of her anxiety was caused by low GABA levels. I say some, because it can be due to both low GABA and low serotonin. Once she has a good baseline of GABA and assuming she still has some lingering anxiety symptoms (and other low serotonin symptoms like PMS, anger, low mood, afternoon cravings etc – see them all here), she would then trial tryptophan without changing GABA dosing.

Laying in the tryptophan (after doing an initial trial) would help Liz know that low serotonin is also an issue for her.

And it would have all been challenging to figure out what was doing what had she done some GABA and some tryptophan and then more GABA and then more tryptophan.

Too much GABA and the adverse effects

Liz was understandably concerned about potential adverse effects of using too much GABA after reading this blog post: How much GABA should I use for my anxiety? It depends on your unique needs (and there is an extremely large variation in dosing). (This is the blog she commented on)

I’ve also published these blogs with similar messages:

Learning about adverse effects like this may make you feel more anxious rather than educated and empowered – hence her question about using tryptophan. However, too much tryptophan can also increase feelings of anxiousness and keep you awake (and it’s going to complicate the trial).

Knowing about vitamin C as an antidote often helps mitigate some of the anxious feelings but when it doesn’t then there may be an exception.

Why there may be an exception to my recommendation (and how best to implement it).

Typically when someone has profound fears that hold them back and stop them from using any of the amino acids, my recommendation is always to start with serotonin support as it can allay fears, worry, obsessing and ruminations about possible adverse effects.

In a situation like Liz describes, if anxious thoughts and worrying prevents her from increasing GABA, we would discuss all of the above and I’d help her decide what to do next:

Layer on tryptophan before she has found her ideal dose of GABA, without any change to GABA i.e. one change only. And then go from there to increase the GABA and eventually increase the tryptophan later if she needs to
Stop GABA and switch to tryptophan only and then come back to GABA. It isn’t ideal to lose the gains experienced, even when GABA only “seems to help a bit.”

The good news is that Liz felt comfortable enough increasing the GABA and saw the benefits. This may not be the case for everyone and the above are some options to consider.

A few GABA product options – a sublingual, a powder and a cream

Liz used Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges (a good low dose of 125 mg). It’s one of the many products I recommend. Another one is Now GABA Powder (which does need to be measured out to provide a 125 mg typical starting dose). Keep in mind, some individuals need less to start.

When using GABA powder I have clients use a handy mini measuring spoon like this one (my Amazon link) and share more about how to measure out GABA powder on this blog).

For Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder:

You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).
If you’re not in the US, you can purchase these at iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Somnium GABA Cream is available in the US and elsewhere with international shipping. Read more about the product and who may benefit from using a cream, and grab my coupon code to save 15%.

Additional resources when you are new to using GABA and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.

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.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I appreciate Liz for asking this question. I do hope this information has been helpful for you and for her too.

Now I’d love to hear from you – does any of this resonate with you? Have you felt anxious or fearful about increasing your dose of GABA? And how did you resolve it?

If you’re a practitioner is this how you advise your clients/patients?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.