Too much of the calming amino acid, GABA, can cause the opposite effect leading to increased anxiety and feeling too tired the following day, sometimes even feeling drugged. I have clients start with 125mg if they have low GABA physical type of anxiety so when I hear someone has had a bad reaction after using 500mg GABA, it’s unfortunate but not surprising. SM posted her reaction on the blog where I write about a niacin-type flush from using too much GABA. However her reaction was more severe than this. Here is her feedback and questions:
I took a single dose of GABA 500mg from NOW foods one night hoping it can help with anxiety and insomnia. I felt on high alert that night and increased anxiety that night. The next day I felt drugged and anxious, but strangely slept better [the next] night. I also had itchy red bumps.
I realized from your blog that 500mg was too much for me. I switched to NOW Foods True Calm which has 200 mg GABA and other nutrients, quite like a mini version of the Country Life GABA. I slept better but again have itchy red bumps now, so I’m afraid of using another capsule during the day.
I am also on 0.375mg of Clonotril which I take only at night but it does not help with constant anxiety all day. I managed to taper down to 0.375mg from 1mg after taking magnesium glycinate but unfortunately I had too much diarrhea from the magnesium. That’s how I came to know about GABA hoping it can help relieve the constant anxiety and heart palpitations.
After reading this article I realize it’s important to start GABA low. I tried to use Olly Goodbye Stress gummies which have 100 mg GABA and 50 mg theanine per 2 gummies but it was of no help.
I want to try the Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges you recommended but I’m also feeling scared as I have been trying so many things without much success. Very grateful if you could offer me some advice. I came across your work when googling about GABA. Thank you for this opportunity to ask you questions.
This is my feedback for SM: too much GABA can have adverse effects the day it’s taken and feeling on high alert with increased anxiety that night is not unusual. It’s also not unusual to feel overly fatigued and even experience a drugged-type feeling and still continue to feel anxious.
With symptoms like this my first piece of advice is to start low at 125mg and always have 1000mg vitamin C on hand when trialing GABA (and any of the amino acids). It’s the antidote and works quickly to ease all the adverse effects and also any beneficial effects that are experienced.
Use a much lower dose of GABA and keep vitamin C on hand
We often trial GABA again – even with adverse symptoms like this – but always use a much lower dose.. We could use another product like Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges or use 125mg of the 500mg NOW GABA product.
One big clue that she may actually need GABA is that she did sleep better the next night.
If it’s a niacin type flush, as described in the blog she commented on, Too much GABA causes a tingling niacin-like flush sensation (in the brain and body). It’s awful and very uncomfortable!, I would still recommend another trial of the lower dose (with vitamin C on hand).
Other product options to consider are theanine and/or pharmaGABA too.
A histamine reaction or MCAS /mast cell activation syndrome?
However if it’s not a flush but a real rash or hives then I’m more concerned and would not have them trial something new. With a rash that doesn’t resolve we also consider a histamine reaction or MCAS /mast cell activation syndrome.
GABA typically helps with MCAS/histamine issues but unfortunately things are not predictable when you have MCAS. She may need to address the histamine/MCAS reaction before she can start benefiting from GABA.
A phenol sensitivity or allergic reaction?
Phenols can trigger some strong emotional reactions that do include anxiety, hyperactivity, insomnia and meltdowns – and a feeling of being on high alert (which SM mentions).
Since she mentions the rash, I would also want to rule out a phenol reaction to the GABA. My colleague Julie Matthews shares this: “When phenols are not able to be broken-down and detoxified by a process called sulfation… they can cause these emotional symptoms and also red cheeks and ears.”
The benzodiazepine may be the confounding factor
One other confounding factor is the Clonotril. Benzodiazepines (using them and/or tapering) can cause many different issues. I do have clients use GABA to help while tapering but we only change one thing at a time and the benzo taper is super super slow. They also only start to taper (with the doctor’s approval and monitoring) once they are nutritionally stable. My book The Antianxiety Food Solution is a great resource for learning more about becoming nutritionally stable.
Serotonin support as well as GABA support?
SM mentions that she took GABA hoping it would help with anxiety and insomnia. These are also both symptoms of low serotonin so she may also see benefits with tryptophan, 5-HTP and melatonin. You can read more about tryptophan here: Tryptophan for the worry-in-your-head and ruminating type of anxiety and melatonin here: Melatonin improves sleep quality and reduces anxiety after a TBI.
Resources if you are new to using GABA and other amino acids as supplements
If you are new to using any of the amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA and low serotonin).
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, self-medicating with alcohol and more.
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. You can find them all in my online store.
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 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.
Have you had an adverse reaction to taking a high dose of GABA? What dose, which product and what was your reaction?
What did you figure out was the ideal dose for you?
If you have questions please share them here too.
Have you ever heard of someone having an allergic type reaction that is caused by hormones or anxiety? Shortness of breath/chest congestion, facial swelling/itchiness, achiness in legs and sometimes feverish…it’s the weirdest thing and it’s not anything I’m eating and I eat very clean, non toxic beauty products etc I have eliminated so many things trying to figure it out. All I can come up with is stress/anxiety or hormones. It takes me out for a day sometimes but then the next day totally fine. It’s very strange it seems like some type of allergic reaction with the symptoms but I don’t know if it’s a histamine thing or what.
LR
I have clients keep a food mood log and we look for delayed reactions. If the common foods like gluten, dairy, soy have been ruled out we look at phenols, glutamates, oxalates and high histamine foods. I also consider MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) and pyroluria/ porphyria which can lead to many reactions.
I have suffered from debilitating panic and depression that started in my late 30s now for almost 7 years. It all started after a surgery. After trying to manage it naturally because I am a Whole Foods and nutrition coach I could not shake it. Tried detoxes, juicing, meditation but it came on suddenly and I was no longer able to function. Fast forward 6 months after starting Zoloft, the symptoms stabilized and I lowered my dose from 200mg to 25mg and was stable. I tried getting off multiple times but had the worst rebound depression.
Fast forward 5 years and I was diagnosed with stage 3b Hoskins Lymphoma. After treatment I started Dr. Joes meditations and was feeling amazing. I managed to get off Zoloft for 9 months but only by taking 209mg of 5htp. After taking cipro for a bad UTI I got what they call flocked and depression and panic came back with a vengeance. The 5 htp was stopped then started again but lowered to 100 by a naturopathic but the anxiety worsened.
Finally I started 25 mg of Zoloft again and have been anxiety and depression free since. What is going on? Why can’t I get off Zoloft?
I am in a pediatric dose but it seems to do the trick. Should I just stay on it. I have tried l-tryptophan, seen 3 naturopathics who put me on numerous protocols and nothing works like a simple 25 mg of Zoloft (I have even been done on 12.5mg of Zoloft). The fear is gone completely and depression vanishes.
What do you recommend for someone like me. Again before 37, I never experienced depression and only suffered from panic attacks in my mates teens and early 20s but hadn’t had anything in 15 years. I would really appreciate your feedback. I am just grateful to be alive, 2 years cancer free and I meditate every single day for the last 1.5 years.
Amanda
I would suspect gut issues/microbiome and possibly low B12 since you mention it started after surgery. I’d also explore SSRI discontinuation syndrome https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/ssri-antidepressant-impact-on-the-microbiome-discontinuation-syndrome-and-safe-tapering/ And look into the effects of fluoroquinolones – on GABA, zinc and magnesium.
I use 200 mg of Zen by Allergy Research Group. The title is misleading as it actually has 550 mg of GABA and 200 mg of L-Theanine. I am typically sensitive to medicine . I love this supplement. I sleep great. I actually took the night before my marathon last weekend . I got 5 hrs of solid deep sleep. I had to get up early for my race. I had the race of my life and qualified for the Boston Marathon. I find that if I’m drinking alcohol it doesn’t seem to mix well with Gaba. I have been trying to find out if GABA is bad with alcohol?
Lani
Thanks for sharing and congrats on qualifying! Do you use this product opened or swallowed?
I would not mix GABA with alcohol and typically find when someone finds the ideal dose of GABA for their needs they no long need alcohol. How have you found alcohol and GABA don’t mix well – what symptoms do you experience?
Hi , I’m peri menopausal and am suffering with horrendous anxiety which I haven’t had before, it’s affecting every part of my life and as a result I have had to step down from one of my jobs that I do on the weekend as a carer. I have been to my doctors numerous times but they just up my HRT gel which is doing nothing to help. At it’s worst I can be in fight or flight mode night and day for weeks . I would appreciate any help you could offer
TG
Low GABA can be a factor with perimenopausal anxiety – it’s what happened to me and GABA was a life-saver. We also look into low serotonin and address this with tryptophan or 5-HTP. And the nutrients for the pyroluria protocol (zinc, B6 and evening primrose oil) help many of my clients too. I encourage you to read about the above on the various blog posts on the site and my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/ My book addresses all of the above and much more
My understanding is that GABA in pill form is not well absorbed so the writer didn’t even get that much GABA. A few months ago I started on 3 grams of sublingual GABA plus 3 grams of glycine for a sleep disorder. In addition, I have started valerian root extract which activates (?) GABA plus now my integrative doctor has added L-Theanine which also impacts GABA.
Is it helping? Hard to say because the sleep disorder is episodic, but I do think it may be mitigating it a bit. I use a snore app to keep track of what goes on while I’m sleeping.
Miriam
Correct, GABA swallowed is not very effective – she actually used NOW GABA powder.
However, 3g of sublingual GABA is considered a very high dose. Can you share which product you use and if you started low and increased to arrive at 3g GABA and 3g glycine?
If it’s not really helping esp with the valerian and theanine, I’d start to explore low serotonin, high cortisol, parasites, dietary oxalates, sec hormone imbalances etc
I read this article yesterday and so glad I did. So I have been trying vit d and vit b complex 50 and 1 mg melatonin for sleep I have been trying this for about two weeks. I usually wake up from 1:00 to 3:00 After keeping track the last two weeks I have only slept the night through twice. One of those nights I had tried calm and restore by essentially whole which only contains 100 mg of pharma gaba. So I tried the same thing last night and at 1:00 I woke up with my face and ears burning and my mind on high alert. I took 1000 vit c which I read about in the article and that took away the burning but I could never go back to sleep. Still this next morning My ears are ringing and my mind feels like it is on a high alert. I have taken the pharma gaba before with no side affects. I just wanted to share my experience.
Kelly
I would suspect too much pharmaGABA or a histamine reaction or possibly a reaction to one of the other ingredients in this product or even something else that was consumed that day. We usually repeat if the person is willing – in order to confirm especially when it worked previously. Glad to hear the vitamin C helped to some extent.
I didn’t know 1000 vitamin c will counteract the benefits of Gaba, so if I take it for anxiety how far apart should I space it form my C?
Diane
It can be used as long as it’s not at the same time as GABA – typically an hour away
Dear Trudy,
Thank you so much for addressing my question in a blog post.
I continued with an estimated 200-220mg of the NOW Foods GABA 500mg capsule opened and taken at night and have been sleeping better. The itchy red bumps only seem to appear if I go over 300mg in a single dose at bedtime.
I tried L-tryptophan and it was disastrous. I first tried 500mg tryptophan from NOW Foods in the mid afternoon and seemed to feel a headache and lightheadedness and also drowsiness. Thinking 500mg could be too much for me I tried it again the next day before bedtime with 250mg, together with 200-220mg GABA, my usual 200mg magnesium and the 0.375mg Clonotril. I couldn’t sleep the entire night and the anxiety was much worse. It was truly horrible.
The next night I did 200-220mg GABA with 200mg magnesium and the Clonotril and slept better. So I know it was the tryptophan causing the problem. Guess it’s not an option for me.
Trudy, thank you so much for your time again. I ordered GABA Calm and have been taking 1 tablet every other day. Im not sure what’s an effective dose for me and I’m afraid to take more as I’m afraid of getting either more itchy red bumps or worse anxiety. I do need help for managing the horrible anxiety during the day (fast heart rate, palpitations, feelings of stress for no reason). After taking 1 pill of GABA Calm I don’t feel any less anxiety so I’m not sure if I should increase.
Actually I replied previously on the too much GABA causing a flush blog post asking also why a combination product like True Calm from NOW Foods (200mg GABA, with magnesium, inositol, valerian, taurine and glycine) is not working as well for me on sleep as compared to the 500mg GABA capsule opened and somewhat halved. I thought True Calm should work better since it has other complementary nutrients. It would be easier for me too as it’s contains exactly 200mg GABA and it’s clumsy for me to keep opening the 500mg GABA capsule and trying to scoop out less than half each time.
Thank you so much again Trudy. I got your book and I’m trying my best to follow the diet advice, and taking brisk walks regularly. I’m also on your wait list if you’re taking on new clients.
Hello Trudy,
I noticed in the above blog post that you mention using 1000mg vitamin C as an antidote to amino acid side effects. Does vit. C also cancel out any beneficial effects? I’m wondering because I have always taken a daily 1000mg C, as well as L-theanine and 5-HTP, and occasional GABA. So am I negating the effectiveness of the amino acids?? If so, how far away from each other should they be taken so as not to interfere?
Cathy
Yes vitamin C cancels out adverse and beneficial effects. I have clients take vitamin C at a different time to their amino acids – at least an hour
SM
Thanks for the update and glad to hear 200-220mg of the NOW Foods GABA 500mg capsule opened and taken at night is helping. To answer your question about True Calm, using GABA sublingually rather than swallowed is typically much more effective. GABA powder is an option rather than opening capsules.
I can’t offer specific advice around GABA Calm on the blog but can share I have clients trial higher doses to see what works.
I also don’t have clients trialing both GABA and tryptophan at the same time.
The itchy red bumps do still concern me and the root cause does need to be found.
I took a neurotransmitter test which showed I was low in GABA, so I started with 200 mg which made me tired the next day, so I went to 100mg for about 6 weeks. I ended up in the hospital with severe vertigo and nausea, and now have vestibular neuritis. When I was at my nutritionists office, his close friend experienced a similar reaction and ended up in the hospital with extreme vertigo, but he is now OK. Have you heard of this? I am still suffering from vertigo 7 weeks later.
Jean
I have not had this feedback about the amino acid GABA. Can you share the product name please?
Hi Trudy,
On Saturday morning I took a dose of 500mg (powered form) of GABA from NOW and had a terrible reaction. I felt hot though I didn’t flush and my legs and arms became tingly during the day plus I had loose stools. But the thing that unnerved me the most was it felt like my heart was being squeezed. It didn’t last very long but after that I stood up and my heart and mind was racing plus I felt dizzy. I took to laying in bed to combat the problem and didn’t eat for the rest of the day. The next morning I still felt out of sorts so I took my normal GABA and felt almost instantly better.
I regularly take 500mg from Superior Source and have no reaction what so ever. In fact I take 500mg during the morning and another 100mg at night with 1.5mg of melatonin.
When I started taking GABA it was a small dose of 100mg then 200mg but I was still having racing thought and a rapid heartbeat. I finally took 500mg of Superior Source and I felt a calm sensation wash over my body within minutes. It was pure magic and I felt so much joy that I could function correctly and I knew what to do if I started to feel off kilter. So I started to routinely take 500mg of Superior Source in the morning and haven’t had a problem since.
Laura
I’d suspect an adverse reaction to the NOW GABA or some other cause. Glad you’re doing ok now