endorphin

How the correct approach, dose and sublingual use of GABA can be calming and not cause a flushed and itchy face and neck

October 10, 2025 By Trudy Scott 12 Comments

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.

My kids and I used GABA to get through Hurricane Helene – I recommend it for everyone’s 72-hr kit now

July 15, 2025 By Trudy Scott 2 Comments

My kids and I used GABA to get through Hurricane Helene. Freeways broken in 3 directions, no comms, no gas, no power, etc. GABA noticeably kept us calmer even as the days went by. It helped us stay calm enough to think about our escape plan and jump on opportunities to find gas and water.

So grateful we learned about it [from you years ago] and had it on hand… I recommend it for everyone’s 72-hr [emergency preparedness] kit now.

Alecia shared her wonderful results with GABA on a Facebook post. I’m sorry they went through this but I am so happy GABA helped. I also wish everyone had GABA on hand for situations like this.

She now also uses a manual device for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and feels a combination of “GABA and VNS would have been incredible.” I’m a big fan of a B complex too and zinc and extra B6 if you have pyroluria because the added stress depletes these nutrients and makes things worse. And serotonin and endorphin support can often be helpful too. More on all this below and details about the GABA product she used and what dose helped her.

Which GABA product helped her and her family and how much did she use?

I asked Alecia to share how much GABA helped during and after the hurricane and which product worked for her? And if she had been using it before for day-to-day low GABA symptoms of feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed with physical tension and sleep issues.

We use the pharmaGABA by Natural Factors. I usually only need 100 – 200 mg in my regular life. During the hurricane I needed 300 mg pharmaGABA a couple of times a day. And more when waiting in a gas line. Such intense stress. GABA really took the edge off.

It’s always helpful to know your baseline dose i.e. what you use on a day-to-day basis. And to expect that dose to increase in times of the added stress in the midst of the hurricane and the immediate aftermath – as it did for Alecia. She needed a higher dose and used it more frequently.

You may often find you need to continue with the higher dose for a few weeks to months after the disaster, especially during the clean-up and rebuilding period.

One other factor to consider is the form of GABA. She used pharmaGABA with much success and many do very well on this form but I find more folks do better with GABA. GABA works best when used sublingually, capsule-opened, powder (all held on the tongue 1-2 mins) or cream, and a low starting dose is used, and increased to find the optimal dose.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) as an added benefit

Alecia now also uses a manual device for vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). She had it during Hurricane Helene but had not yet used it:

A combo of GABA and VNS would have been incredible. I found out my mom was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer the next week and finally started using both GABA and VNS. Game changer combo.

She has the Hoolest veRelief Prime device and says this:

I love the Hoolest VNS. It helps with anxiety, sleep, digestion, and higher performance. I like level 4 but my kids prefer level 1.

I used it daily for about 4-6 months and then I started to heal deeply. Now I only need it once every week or two.

(I did hear that her mom’s treatments are working)

Vagus nerve stimulation, anxiety, GABA and the potential with VNS devices

This paper, Vagus nerve stimulation: a physical therapy with promising potential for central nervous system disorders, discusses how “vagus nerve stimulation influences the central nervous system through the GABA system” and the fact that “VNS has been shown to alleviate anxiety symptoms”, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Much of the research has been done with implantable vagus nerve stimulation (iVNS) but the potential with non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation devices is really exciting.

What is so interesting is that “Vagus nerve stimulation influences the central nervous system through the GABA system” and it’s “speculated that part of VNS’s therapeutic effects …might involve the GABA system.”

VNS benefits are also seen via impacts on serotonin and dopamine, BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), by reducing inflammation and the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and promoting neuroprotection.

You can read more about vagus nerve support on this blog: Vagus nerve rehab with GABA, breathing, humming, gargling and key nutrients. I share my vagus nerve/throat issue and how manual vagus nerve support exercises and GABA helped me.

Using a good B complex and the pyroluria protocol too

I told Alecia that I’m a big fan of a good B complex and the pyroluria protocol too. I share more in this blog – Nutrition solutions for psychological stress after a natural disaster.

If this is all that can be managed it would be my first choice for everyone. In fact, if you live in an area prone to hurricanes, floods, fires etc. I’d recommend being on a B complex all the time.

My colleagues Bonnie Kaplin and Julia Rucklidge published this paper in 2015: A randomised trial of nutrient supplements to minimise psychological stress after a natural disaster. Those consuming a B-Complex and a broad-spectrum mineral/vitamin formula showed significantly greater improvement in stress and anxiety than study participants consuming a vitamin D supplement.

It is well known that pyroluria symptoms are made worse in times of heightened stress. If you are on protocol for pyroluria, additional zinc and vitamin B6/P5P is likely going to be needed short-term too.

In addition to GABA I also mention serotonin and endorphin support:

Serotonin support with tryptophan or 5-HTP, especially if you’re feeling sad, worried, imagining the worst, feeling fearful and having problems sleeping. More on tryptophan products.
Endorphin support with Lidtke DPA if you’re feeling especially emotional and weepy and grieving the loss of your home and community. More on endorphins here.

And I also include some resources for disaster preparedness and things to consider after the fangers have passed (like mold toxicity).

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 GABA or 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.

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 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 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.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I appreciate Alecia for sharing her story and giving me permission to share on the blog.

Do you have GABA on hand all the time and include them in your 72-hr emergency preparedness kit?

Have you found vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to be helpful – either manual exercises (which ones help you) or using a device (which one helps you)?

What about B vitamins and the pyroluria protocol – do they help too?

If you’re a practitioner do you recommend GABA, VNS, B vitamins and the pyroluria protocol?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Lidtke Endorphigen vs Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine: the taste difference and endorphin boosting benefits for mood and cravings

April 19, 2024 By Trudy Scott 26 Comments

The amino acid d-phenylalanine (DPA) is used to boost endorphins in order to improve mood and reduce cravings. Lidtke Endorphigen has long been a favorite recommendation of mine for this purpose. Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine is an equally effective and quality product, and both are ideally used opened onto the tongue. When DPA is used this way you get quick results. Many of my clients (and myself included) describe the opened DPA as a dark-chocolate bitter like taste that is not unpleasant. However, about half my clients don’t particularly like the taste of DPA and one woman in my community, Ali, was ready to give up on the Lidtke Endorphigen product because of the taste.

In today’s blog you can read her feedback comparing both products and what worked for her, feedback from a few other women about both products and my personal feedback – with all of us sharing results and taste. And I share some takeaway lessons from these DPA experiences.

She shared this about her strong aversion to the Endorphigen:

Oh goodness. If I open the Endorphigen on my tongue, it’s just awful. I might be able to get 1/4 of it but that’s it. And the taste stays there for at least an hour. No sense of chocolate in there for me. Isn’t that interesting that you and others like the taste. I consider myself pretty open to whatever needs to be done but wow, this is almost no way.

I shared how I love the taste of DPA and that it’s 50:50 in terms of loving it (chocolate-like taste) vs not loving it but also that using the amino acids opened is more effective for many folks. But it’s no good if it tastes bad. I also shared that Lidtke Endorphigen contains a small amount of vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 and maybe that was making it intolerable for her.

Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine contains DPA only and when I let her know all this, Ali decided to give it a try. This is her feedback on the day she got it:

I received my Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine and put it on my tongue. It’s 10 bazillion times better than the Endorphigen which was so bad for me that I couldn’t get past it. And I think I can get past a lot. I’m grateful. So now I have to see how it works for me.

Ali’s dark clouds have lifted and her sweet tooth has disappeared

The next day Ali posted this, amazed this product made such a difference in just one day:

I used the Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine only once and that was today at about 8 am. I felt just generally better, no dark clouds. But also, it’s now 6:30pm when I get my sweet tooth. Nothing. Nothing at all. So no sweet tooth and an improved general feeling. I realize it’s only one day but I feel like it’s made a difference.

And a week later she posted this, confirming that Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine “is a game changer”:

So much different from Endorphigen. I find I need only 1/2 capsule on my tongue. There’s not much of a taste to me. I then don’t want sweets like I have been wanting in the morning and evening. But I also have a better general feeling. Hard to describe but I just feel more grounded. I can’t tell if it physically reduces the sweet craving or if it’s a mental change. Or both. In any case, nice solid change. Thank you for being there.

Alicia also likes Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine opened on to her tongue

She shared this about how this DPA product makes her feel:

It gives me a great feeling. Just getting me through some stressful moments. I recommend it! Opening onto the tongue is more effective than swallowing but swallowing adds a bit of relaxation too.

I don’t mind the taste at all – it reminds me of sugar or cocoa powder (my husband was less keen when I got him to try). And it works quickly, yes – I think within 10 minutes but probably less. And I feel more perky for hours. I think I feel more alert but calm emotionally.

I always have a bottle of DPA on hand and I shared my success with Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine for a recent tooth issue/pain and emotional pain over the holidays on this blog post.

And yet many folks do well with Lidtke Endorphigen and like the taste

I’d like to be clear that this is not intended to be a negative post about Lidtke Endorphigen at all. I still recommend both products and I’ve personally used and like the taste of both. The purpose is to illustrate that we need to find what works for our unique needs and tastes.

As you can see, many folks do really well with the Lidtke product.

Lynn shared this: “I love using the DPA! I use the Lidke brand. Very helpful in improving mood and anxiety. Open on my tongue. I like the taste!”

Joan shared this: “It’s interesting to read your recommendation to open the capsule … I had just started doing that! (Already using powdered forms of other aminos) Anyone looking thru my trash might wonder what I’m up to. This method really works for me.” (she’s using the Lidtke brand).

The addition of vitamin B2 and vitamin B6 to the Lidtke DPA clearly makes no difference in these instances.

The takeaways from this post

DPA is effective for boosting mood and reducing cravings
DPA works more effectively when opened on to the tongue and you’ll see results more quickly
Don’t push through if a product tastes unpleasant
Don’t give up if one brand doesn’t work for you
What works for you may not work for someone else
We all have different taste perceptions – find what works for your unique needs and tastes
Product formulations change so keep track of exact ingredients on your log and check ingredients when you re-purchase a product

Both DPA products and where to find them

Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine is available via iherb (use this link to save 5%). Lidtke Endorphigen is available from the company site and from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

Update September 27, 2024

It appears there are issues with the supply of Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine. As of now it’s no longer available on their website and nor is it available via iherb.

I emailed Doctor’s Best and received a very generic response and emailed again to try and find out if it’s a shortage or has been discontinued.

They replied to my 2nd email with this:

We appreciate your interest in the products that we offer. Unfortunately, our D-phenylalanine is temporarily out of stock and at this time, we do not have a specific restock date available. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We recommend checking back on our website periodically for updates on product availability. As soon as it is restocked, it will be listed on our website, and you’ll be able to place an order.

The problem is far from clear. Someone in the community reached out and shared this: “When I spoke to a DB representative on the phone, they told me the product was discontinued due to ‘supply chain issues,’ that they had not been producing it for some time, and that Lidtke was the only place they could redirect me. Sounds like they don’t even know in-house what the true status is.”

Let’s hope this is just a shortage. But either way, right now Lidtke Endorphigen is the only other company I know that offers DPA and because of the taste issue some individuals have with the Lidtke product, swallowing a capsule is going to be the best option. I have also reached out to Lidtke sharing the taste issue and this blog post, and asked if they would be willing to offer a DPA only product. I’ll keep you posted on the outcome (and thanks if you reached out to let me know your findings).

Update May 30, 2025

Unfortunately, Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine has been discontinued. The good news is that Lidtke appreciated the fact that I shared your taste issues and feedback, and my request for a powder-only product of d-phenyalanine/DPA has come to fruition.

You can read more about this new DPA product on this blog post.

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

As a reminder, low endorphins can cause low mood, weepiness, emotional pain, physical pain and emotional eating or cravings. As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low endorphins 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.

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 too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I do always appreciate feedback like this so keep it coming so more folks can get results.

Now I’d love to hear from you – how has DPA helped your mood and cravings (and pain too?)

Which product has worked well for you?

Do you find DPA is more effective if swallowed or as a capsule opened? And how do you describe the taste?

If you’re a practitioner do you use DPA with your clients/patients and have you had this feedback?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

DLPA vs DPA for pain, food cravings, depression, grief, lack of joy; and impacts of DLPA on sleep, and feeling more stressed/anxious

April 5, 2024 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

A very common question I get is from folks asking about the difference between the amino acids DPA (d-phenylalanine) and DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) for endorphin support and endorphin/dopamine support. I dedicate an entire blog to this question explaining the differences and which one I use for weepiness, heart-ache, pain and energy. I also discuss where tyrosine (for dopamine support) fits in. If you missed that or need a recap you can read about this on the blog.

The blog post generated some great questions that I’m sharing today, with my feedback, in case you have similar questions. I discuss a question about DLPA vs DPA for pain and impacts on sleep; a question about DLPA (used by mistake) raising already high dopamine levels and why DPA isn’t working any more for food cravings; a question about using DPA with GABA; and a question about DPA for depression and lack of joy caused by grief.

Here is the question from Gloria who shared this feedback about her use of DLPA (as part of a pain relief product) but says she can’t use it past noon. She also wants to know more about DPA for pain relief:

My experience with DLPA is as part of a supplement called Curamin for pain relief from arthritis that also has curcumin and boswellia. It works quite well in the AM but I can’t tolerate it past noon or it negatively affects my sleep.

Interesting to learn it is similar to tyrosine which I have had sleep problems with in the past.

Does DPA work as well for pain? Is it best to take amino acids on an empty stomach for best absorption? Does that mean an hour before a meal or two hours after? Thank you for your blogs and book!

It’s great that this combination product offers pain relief and it’s good that she has made the connection to poor sleep when it’s used after noon. This is a popular product that I would like to see include the possible impacts on sleep and the other precautions for DLPA . It is a proprietary formulation so you don’t actually know how much DLPA you’re getting. I really don’t like not knowing.

One other concern is that curcumin is high-oxalate and for some this can make pain worse. Otherwise, curcumin and boswellia are excellent for pain relief and reducing inflammation.

DPA is more effective for pain than DLPA because it offers a bigger endorphin boost. If oxalates are not an issue, one option could be to continue with the Curamin before noon and if needed, add standalone DPA in the afternoon and evening, for added pain relief.

Amino acids are more effective on an empty stomach and even more effective when opened on to the tongue. I share more about opening DPA onto the tongue in this blog.

DLPA (used by mistake) raised already high dopamine levels and why isn’t DPA working any more for food cravings?

Rhonda shared how she found out the difference between DPA and DLPA the hard way and wants to go back to DPA:

I certainly found out the difference the hard way. I had used Lidtke Endorphigen for a few years and I think it helped a bit with food cravings. As I am in Australia, I depend on my sister’s visits from US for my supply. When I ran out last year, I bought DLPA by mistake.

After 1 week I was unable to cope with life, totally stressed out about everything, wanting to cry or scream or run away. Zero tolerance towards anyone. After 10 days I realized my mistake and I went back to normal in 24 hrs.

I believe DLPA resulted in very high dopamine as I already have a very slow COMT gene activity for breaking down dopamine.

I now take Endorphigen again but not seeing much effect on sugar cravings this time.

That is quite the reaction she experienced but I’m glad she figured it out so quickly. It’s not uncommon for some folks to react to DLPA like this, feeling more stressed and even anxious. High dopamine, and norepinephrine and epinephrine (so a huge adrenalin rush), related to slow COMT activity could well be the cause.

When Endorphigen (or any of the amino acids) work well initially we continue with trials of higher doses to find the ideal dose. It may also be that a reset is needed after the shift in dopamine.

Rhonda did say she thinks Endorphigen “helped a bit with food cravings.” When it only helps a bit it may be that the dose isn’t high enough or we may need to consider other neurotransmitter imbalances. They can all cause cravings for slightly different reasons: GABA/stress, serotonin/worry or low mood, glutamine/low blood sugar. More on that and the respective amino acids here.

Can GABA be used with DPA?

Ray asks: “Can I use GABA 25mg and also take DPA? Would either/or offset the other?”

My feedback: If someone has low GABA symptoms and GABA helps and they also have low endorphin symptoms and DPA helps then they are absolutely fine to use together and even at the same time. However, I have my clients trial one at a time in order to find the ideal dose and so you know how each one is working

What can I use for my depression and lack of joy, caused by grief?

Vee says she needs something “to get through my grief depression”:

Completely flat, no joy. I always had a calm flat disposition, but now it’s a complete zero. I need my brain to produce some oxytocin so I can like myself, my family and remember all I should be grateful for. I sleep good. I don’t take any meds, and I don’t abuse alcohol. Does tyrosine affect the brain in the way of producing oxytocin?

My feedback: I use DPA/Lidtke Endorphigen for this very purpose. It’s wonderful for grief, depression, lack of joy and the weepiness we see with low endorphins. It also helps with emotional eating that can show up as we try to self-medicate with treats in order to try and feel better.

When the depression also includes being flat, blah and curl-up in bed we use DLPA instead of DPA, or a combination of DPLA/DPA or tyrosine/DPA. Trials of each, one by one, helps you figure out what works best for your unique needs.

And for some folks GABA is helpful as shared by this woman who found GABA allowed her to sit with a feeling of peace and calm most of the time after her mum passed away.

Research does shows a link between dopamine and oxytocin, with oxytocin “emerging as one particular neural substrate that may be influenced by the altered dopamine levels.” Also, for oxytocin support I’d focus on hugs, massage, touch, laughter, making love, yoga, and petting a dog or cat.

DPA and DLPA product options

Products I recommend include Lidtke EndorphiGen (which is DPA) and Pure Encapsulations DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA). 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, these products are available via iherb: Doctor’s Best D-Phenylalanine (or DPA) and Life Extension D, L-Phenylalanine (or DLPA) (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using DPA and DLPA, and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low endorphins or low dopamine 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.

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 too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I do always appreciate questions and feedback like this so keep your questions coming. I do hope my sharing these ones have been helpful to you.

How has DPA or DLPA helped your pain, depression, lack of joy, weepiness, and grief? And has DLPA affected your sleep or made you feel more anxious or stressed?

If yes, which products have helped and do you find swallowed or capsule opened is more effective?

If you’re a practitioner do you use DPA and/or DLPA with clients/patients?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Multiple sclerosis: low endorphin research and the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) for pain, depression, comfort and trauma support

April 28, 2023 By Trudy Scott 8 Comments

The research on the role of low endorphins in multiple sclerosis (MS) is exciting because it creates more awareness about a powerful way to offer pain and mood support if you have been diagnosed with this condition. Typically, I ignore the diagnosis when assessing for low levels of neurotransmitters (via a symptoms questionnaire) and have clients do a trial of the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) if they have physical pain symptoms, experience emotional pain symptoms with excessive weepiness/crying and seek comfort via treats/rewarding foods or the numbing effects of alcohol. However, we now know low endorphins play a role in MS (via the endogenous opioid system). By addressing low levels with DPA, you can find some relief of the above pain/depression symptoms and a need for comfort and numbing. DPA may also offer some trauma support if past trauma is a contributing factor (more on all of this below).

Low endorphins play a role in multiple sclerosis: the research

This 2021 paper, Multiple Sclerosis and the Endogenous Opioid System describes MS and the fact that current therapies have limited efficacy: “Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, neuronal degeneration and demyelinating lesions within the central nervous system. The mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis and progression of MS are not fully known and current therapies have limited efficacy.”

What is exciting is the identification of the role of the endogenous opioid system and specific opioid peptides in MS:

Preclinical investigations using the murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of MS, as well as clinical observations in patients with MS, provide converging lines of evidence implicating the endogenous opioid system in the pathogenesis of this disease.

In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that endogenous opioid peptides, binding μ- (MOR), κ- (KOR) and δ-opioid receptors (DOR), function as immunomodulatory molecules within both the immune and nervous systems.

The endogenous opioid system is also well known to play a role in the development of chronic pain and negative affect [i.e. depression], both of which are common comorbidities in MS. As such, dysregulation of the opioid system may be a mechanism that contributes to the pathogenesis of MS and associated symptoms.

Endogenous means internal i.e natural compounds produced by the body and involved in pain relief and mood improvement. This article, Opioid Peptides, describes peptides as compounds that “produce the same effects as the chemicals known as classic alkaloid opiates, which include morphine and heroin.”

It also mentions three major categories of opioid receptors – mu, delta, and kappa – referred to as MOR, DOR and KOR above.

D-phenylalanine for human “endorphin deficiency diseases”

Unfortunately neither of these papers mentions the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) and the fact that it supports endorphin production (by inhibiting the breakdown of endorphins), reducing pain and improving mood – quickly (as in 5-10 minutes).

The use of DPA is not new information as you can read in this paper from 1982 – D-phenylalanine and other enkephalinase inhibitors as pharmacological agents: implications for some important therapeutic application

A number of compounds have been shown to inhibit the degradation of enkephalins. As expected, these compounds produce naloxone reversible analgesia and potentiate the analgesia produced by enkephalins and by acupuncture.

One of these, D-phenylalanine, is also anti-inflammatory.

D-phenylalanine has proven to be beneficial in many human patients with chronic, intractable pain. It is proposed the enkephalinase inhibitors may be effective in a number of human “endorphin deficiency diseases” such as depression, schizophrenia, convulsive disorders and arthritis.

Such compounds may alleviate other conditions associated with decreased endorphin levels such as opiate withdrawal symptoms.

Prevalence of anxiety/depression and alcohol abuse in MS

As I shared in the recent post addressing low GABA symptoms (anxiety, muscle stiffness, swallowing/voice issues and pain) in multiple sclerosis, anxiety and depression is common in this condition. Alcohol abuse is also high. I shared this paper, The incidence and prevalence of psychiatric disorders in multiple sclerosis: A systematic Review, with the following results:

Among population-based studies, the prevalence of anxiety was 21.9% (and up to 35.0% in some papers), 23.7% for depression …and 14.8% for alcohol abuse.

The above Opioid Peptides paper highlights that the endogenous opioid system may be related to excessive alcohol-drinking behavior. In the work I do with amino acids, I see alcohol used as a way to numb out.

All this supports the fact that the amino acid DPA may help ease symptoms of depression and weepiness seen in MS, and self-medicating with alcohol.

The goal is to use these amino acids instead of needing to use benzodiazepines (covered in the above GABA blog), antidepressants and pain medications.

DPA may help trauma in MS, and the freeze response

This paper, Childhood Trauma in Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study, suggests an association between childhood trauma and early-life stress and MS:

Although childhood trauma was not associated with the degree of current MS-related disability, patients with MS with histories of physical and/or sexual abuse had significantly higher relapse rates than patients without early-life stress.

DPA may also offer some trauma support if past trauma is a contributing factor. I learned about trauma and the low energy freeze state (a survival mechanism) from Dr. Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH. There is the feeling of numbness and being disconnected when in the freeze state and this eventually becomes the default pattern that the nervous system has been wired into.

Individuals with low endorphins are often in the freeze state and are more emotionally sensitive to everything and because of this they experience much more stress. They also experience a feeling of numbness and feel disconnected. The encouraging news is that the amino acid DPA helps ease the low endorphin symptoms while they are addressing their trauma in other ways, like with somatic work and addressing other biological underpinnings of trauma.

DPA is comforting, helps you feel safe and is often described as feeling like someone just hugged you.

Endorphins and the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) and DLPA (dl-phenylalanine)

If you’re new to endorphins and the amino acid DPA and DLPA here are some blog posts:

Low GABA and low serotonin are common in multiple sclerosis too

Low endorphins are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the underlying neurotransmitter imbalances in MS. Low GABA and low serotonin are common too.

As mentioned, I recently blogged about the GABA research and applications of GABA when it comes to multiple sclerosis. Here is that link.

When that blog was published I had a number of questions (see the comments in the above link) from folks asking if GABA could help with similar symptoms in Parkinson’s: swallowing and voice problems, pain and hand spasms. I said yes – if GABA is low, the amino acid GABA will help. As important as your diagnosis is, it’s always the questionnaire/symptoms that help you figure out if it’s worth trialing GABA, DPA or one of the other amino acids.

Both GABA and DPA can help pain symptoms via different mechanisms, so it’s a matter of doing a trial of each amino acid, one at a time and monitoring your response.

Tryptophan and/or 5-HTP may help ease some of the low serotonin worry-type of anxiety, fear, panic attacks, obsessing, low mood and MS-specific pain issues and insomnia.

If you do have more than one imbalance (which is not unusual), you need to figure out which imbalance you have and address that with the relevant amino acids, one at a time. I have clients pick the area that is more problematic for them and start there.

I gathered some of this research while preparing for an interview with the wonderful Dr. Terry Wahls, MD and author of “The Wahls Protocol.” We were both pleasantly surprised to see these endorphin/MS and other neurotransmitter connections.

I really look forward to seeing future research on the use of the amino acids DPA, GABA and tryptophan in MS. And I’d love to be involved in some studies if you are associated with a research facility or do research.

Resources if you are new to using amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using 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, low serotonin and low endorphins).

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.

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 too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

Do you have multiple sclerosis and has the amino acid DPA helped with your low endorphin symptoms: pain, depression, alcohol addiction, comfort and trauma support?

How much has helped and which product do you use?

Do you find opening a capsule of DPA helps more than swallowing the DPA capsule?

Were you surprised that DPA would help so much?

What else has helped your multiple sclerosis symptoms? And have you also addressed low GABA and serotonin with amino acids GABA and tryptophan?

If you have questions and other feedback please share it here too.

DLPA (DL-Phenylalanine) eases PMDD/PMS symptoms in women who experience declining endorphin levels in the second half of their cycles

March 18, 2022 By Trudy Scott 23 Comments

Mood swings, intense sugar cravings, comfort/binge eating, sadness, anxiety, crying, cramps and increased pain, irritability, anger, fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, overwhelm, feelings of unease and dissatisfaction, aggression, heartache, and/or insomnia are common for many women during the second half of the menstrual cycle i.e. in the luteal phase. You may relate to all or some of these symptoms. And you may have been diagnosed with or may identify with PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder – similar to PMS but more serious).

Research shows improvements of these symptoms with the amino acids tryptophan (which provides serotonin support) and GABA (which supports GABA levels). Although there is no research that the pyroluria protocol improves symptoms it’s something I see clinically all the time. (I’ve written about this extensively and share more on this below)

A really interesting study published in 1989 identified low endorphins and low catecholamines as a probable cause for some women – Prevention of Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder Symptoms with DL-Phenylalanine in Women with Abrupt β-Endorphin Decline: A Pilot Study

I recently came across the above paper and prior to this, had not considered this as a primary root cause. Here is the excerpt from the abstract:

Twenty-two women with late luteal phase dysphoric disorder were treated with DL-phenylalanine during the 15 days prior to menses in a double-blind crossover study.

DL-Phenylalanine was shown to be more effective than placebo in attenuating many symptoms characteristic of luteal phase dysphoric disorder. This amino acid was chosen because of its hypothesized actions in attenuating the symptoms associated with the sharp decline in central β-endorphin levels during the late luteal phase in women with luteal phase dysphoric disorder.

Let’s review a few terms… Late luteal phase dysphoric disorder is a synonym for PMDD. The luteal phase is one stage of the menstrual cycle and occurs after ovulation and before your period. When you feel dysphoric you feel very unhappy, uneasy, or dissatisfied. With the downward endorphin shift at this time, period pain and other pain can be worse, and weepiness and emotional symptoms increase. The need for comfort or reward eating also increases. The study authors suggest these PMDD symptoms may “closely resemble those seen during morphine or heroin withdrawal.”

Based on my experience I do feel comfortable extrapolating these findings to PMS and even peri and post-menopausal women who experience some or all of these symptoms (other than actual periods and period issues in post-menopausal women).

Study participants, dosing and timing of DLPA and improvements

The participants in the study were white, middle-class, and between 24 and 29. Each woman took one 750 mg of DLPA at breakfast and lunch for the 15 days prior to the expected onset of their periods.

In the study groups, it was found that “initial improvement started at the end of the first month of DLPA therapy. Continued therapy brought increased relief from symptoms by the end of the second month. Interestingly, the greatest period of improvement occurred during the washout period” at the end of the third month possibly due to a delayed action of DL-phenylalanine.

The authors make the following conclusion:

DL-phenylalanine was found to be safe, well-accepted, and without significant side effects. The significant improvement it produced with many of the symptoms characteristic of Late Luteal Phase Dysphoric Disorder [PMDD] suggests that it may prove a useful addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for this syndrome.

Keep in mind that a typical starting dose of DLPA is 500mg used 2-3 x per day and it’s typically used between meals for best effects. Ideal is also to customize dosing to your unique needs. In this study, everyone received the same dose at the same time. For these reasons it’s even more impressive to see results like they did.

It makes sense but I have just not used DPLA alone and only in the second half of the cycle

It’s a very small pilot study but given my experience with the amino acids DLPA, DPA and tyrosine, and the vast number of women I have worked with who had symptoms like the above, it makes sense. Using the above three amino acids in combination with dietary changes, tryptophan, GABA and the pyroluria protocol, this approach has offered relief for many of my clients. I have just not used DPLA alone and only in the second half of the cycle.

In case you’re wondering why I mention the three amino acids DLPA, DPA and tyrosine above, it’s because:

DLPA (the amino acid used in this study) supports both endorphins and catecholamines (dopamine is one of them)
Or DPA (supports endorphins only) can be used with tyrosine (supports catecholamines only) instead of DLPA which does both

I blog about the differences between DLPA and DPA here, together with all the symptoms we look at when considering doing a trial.

In this study, they used DLPA which boosts endorphins and catecholamines. As I share in my DPA vs DLPA blog, I prefer DPA (d-phenylalanine) for endorphin support when symptoms are severe. But DPA is not always available so DLPA is a good alternative, assuming the person can handle the catecholamine support. Some people can’t and there are some contraindications too.

I’d love to see follow-on research covering the following:

A larger group of women using DLPA
Individualizing the dosing of DLPA to each person’s unique needs
Correlating results with the low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms questionnaire
Comparing DLPA alone with a combination of DPA + tyrosine (with each individualized based on unique needs)

Serotonin and GABA support for PMS/PMDD, and the pyroluria protocol

In this paper, Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder the authors share that PMDD

comprises emotional and physical symptoms and functional impairment that lie on the severe end of the continuum of premenstrual symptoms. Women with PMDD have a differential response to normal hormonal fluctuations.

It’s recognized that serotonin and GABA play a role:

This susceptibility may involve the serotonin system, altered sensitivity of the GABAA receptor to the neurosteroid allopregnanalone [a naturally occurring neurosteroid which is made from the hormone progesterone], and altered brain circuitry involving emotional and cognitive functions.

They share SSRIs that are considered as the first-line treatment. Second-line treatments include oral contraceptives, calcium, chasteberry, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

However, as I share in this blog, research supports the use of tryptophan – Tryptophan for PMS: premenstrual dysphoria, mood swings, tension, and irritability

A study published in 1999, A placebo-controlled clinical trial of L-tryptophan in premenstrual dysphoria, tryptophan was found to reduce symptoms of PMS when used in the luteal phase or second half of the cycle (i.e. after ovulation).

I mention GABA in this blog and the fact that many anxious women I work with also have pyroluria or signs of low zinc and low vitamin B6 and adding these nutrients, together with evening primrose oil, provide additional hormonal and neurotransmitter support, and help with the social anxiety.

Resources if you are new to using DLPA (or other amino acids) as supplements

If you are new to using DLPA or the other amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low endorphin and low catecholamine symptoms.)

If you suspect low levels of endorphins and/or low levels of catecholamine 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 team you or your loved one is working with. Blog posts like this are intended to add value to the chapter on amino acids, which contains detailed information on doses and time of the day for dosing.

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 acid products that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. It’s an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Have you considered that there may be different types of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) or PMDD (premenstrual dysphoric disorder) i.e. a different combination of root causes and therefore different solutions?

And have you had success with DLPA alone (providing both endorphin and dopamine support) or by using a combination of DPA (endorphin support only) and tyrosine (catecholamine support only).

If you’re peri or post menopausal have you also seen success with any of these amino acids?

Have the other amino acids, tryptophan and GABA or the pyroluria protocol helped too?

If you’re a practitioner please share what you’ve seen with clients/patients.

Feel free to ask your questions here too.