GABA Calm

GABA lozenge relieves excruciating pelvic floor/rectal pain and spasms within 30 seconds: a solution for proctalgia fugax

December 3, 2021 By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

Have you experienced excruciating pain in the rectum as a result of spasms in your anal sphincter? You may not even know this condition is called proctalgia fugax and you may struggle with the agonizing pelvic floor pain with no quick solution. You may also not get much help from your doctor because the management of proctalgia fugax remains challenging.

The good news is that there is a simple solution that eases the spasms and stops the pain very quickly, typically in less than 2 minutes and sometimes as quickly as 30 seconds. Ashlee discovered how quickly a GABA lozenge worked to give her immediate relief from her scary and excruciatingly painful spasms.

Here is Ashlee’s wonderful feedback on the blog I wrote on this topic a few years ago after this started happening to me:

I want to personally thank you for this article and option of GABA to relieve the excruciating pain I was having.

After research I realized that my pelvic floor was having spasms. Such a new and scary feeling to have been having, and finding your advice and immediate relief of GABA changed everything!

Of course the scariest part initially is the pain and the “what is happening feeling!” But it’s quickly followed up with “when will this happen again, where will I be, and what do I do in that situation?”

I would highly recommend the GABA lozenges which I got at the vitamin store down the street. I carry them in a little baggie with me now just in case an episode happens. I did have an episode happen when I was on site of a job, and thankfully had the GABA lozenge to immediately relieve the pain, literally (within 30 seconds!! INCREDIBLE!)

The option otherwise (and what I did when it first happened) was to soak in a warm bath or with a heating pad, which obviously is not an option if you are at work or not at home.

The other options as suggested online are even scarier… resorting to electric shock up the rectum to ease the spasms! Yikes!

I thanked her for sharing how well the GABA lozenge works for her, saying how happy I am for her! I also let her know that I’d love to share it as a new blog post because it offers so much hope to others (hence this blog).

GABA Calm lozenge and other low GABA symptoms

I assume Ashlee is referring to Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges which contains 125mg of GABA and is a sublingual lozenge. They do really work this quickly for spasms, pain and anxiety too. GABA always works best when used in a sublingual form like this or when a GABA capsule is opened onto the tongue.

I agree with her – it’s a good plan to keep GABA on hand in case she gets the spasms during the day. I also recommend having GABA next to the bed because it often seems to happen in the middle of the night.

I did ask if using GABA has also helped with easing her other low GABA symptoms. These can include:

physical anxiety and overwhelm
intrusive thoughts
stiff and tense muscles or other muscle spasms/pain
insomnia (often the type where you lie awake feeling stiff and tense)
stress eating carbs or sugary treats
self-medicating with wine or other alcoholic beverages in order to relax and fit in

You can see the entire list of low GABA symptoms here.

(I’ll share an update when I hear back from Ashlee.)

My experience, definition of proctalgia fugax, incidence and overview

I acknowledged her comment about it being very scary the first time it happens. I first blogged about this after it happened to me in 2017 and I figured out GABA worked very quickly for my excruciatingly painful spasms. It was really scary!

You can read about my experience and triggers on this blog: How GABA eases agonizing rectal pain and spasms in under 2 minutes.

The above blog also

defines this condition called proctalgia fugax which leads to rectal spasms and sharp fleeting pain in the lower rectum or anus. In some people it can be more than fleeting and is often described as excruciating and agonizing
shares how others describe the pain and how common it is (up to 18% of the population, more common in women and affects individuals between 30 and 60 years of age).
discusses heating pads as a solution (they also work but can take 20 minutes to take effect and that is simply too long when you are moaning and writhing in pain)
mentions medications that are commonly prescribed
describes using 30-60 seconds of finger pressure as one possible solution
reviews the BEST solution – sublingual GABA. Theanine and taurine can also help

Electrical stimulation of the anorectal muscles or botox – as treatment approaches

When I had first researched this a few years ago, I had not read about “electric shock up the rectum to ease the spasms” that Ashlee mentioned in her comment. I went looking and found this on Webmd:

For severe proctalgia fugax, electrical stimulation of the anorectal muscles may provide relief. This treatment option involves inserting a small, finger-sized probe into the rectum and using a low voltage current to relax spastic muscles through vibration.

This may be similar to the 30-60 seconds on finger pressure I described but I’ll take the GABA supplement thank you!

This article also mentions botox injections which I am aware is often done. But this opens up another whole can of worms with toxicity issues and the risk of increased panic attacks with botox.

I also share additional information here: How to address rectal spasms with GABA, pelvic floor work, gluten removal and squats

Management of proctalgia fugax remains challenging and treatment outcomes modest at best

A paper, Proctalgia Syndromes: Update in Diagnosis and Management, published June 2020 by gastroenterology departments in Ireland, Romania, Italy and the USA recognizes that “functional anorectal pain syndromes” are complicated and “are a neglected yet often disabling clinical entity resulting in significant economic and psychological burden to the patient.”

They acknowledge that “management of proctalgia fugax remains challenging and treatment outcomes modest at best” and conclude that “further investigation of treatment approaches in proctalgia fugax is required.”

I plan to reach out to the authors and share these wonderful results that individuals are reporting with the use of sublingual GABA. I would also love to get some case studies published so this approach becomes common knowledge.

Resources if you are new to using GABA and the amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using the amino acids GABA and the other amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see the low GABA symptoms here) and a brief overview here, Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid supplements: a summary.

If you suspect low GABA or 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 so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the team you or your loved one is working with.

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.

Have you ever experienced this rectal pain and spasms/proctalgia fugax? Has GABA worked for you? What else has helped?

If GABA helped ease the spasms and pain, how quickly did it work and what product did you use? Did it help with some of the other low GABA symptoms too?

Have you been able to figure out possible triggers or root causes other than low GABA?

If you’re a practitioner, have you seen this with clients or patients and has GABA helped them?

Feel free to ask your questions here too.

GABA Calm is in short supply – what other GABA products are there for easing anxiety?

January 22, 2021 By Trudy Scott 88 Comments

Sheila contacted me via the blog asking about Source Naturals GABA Calm ~ I am from Brussels/Belgium. I cannot find the Source Naturals GABA Calm sublingual anymore. The one you recommend. I’ve been recommending this for years to clients since I read your book “The Antianxiety Food Solution.” I already contacted Source Naturals a few times but no response. Do you know why they have stopped selling this in Europe?

After doing some checking around and contacting Source Naturals it seems there is a world-wide shortage of Source Naturals GABA Calm 125mg lozenges. When I reached out to them I was told it’s indefinite (with no reason why) and to check back at the end of January. Two other people were told it would be available mid-January and mid-February so the messages are mixed.

Today I’m sharing some other GABA product options until GABA Calm comes back or in case it doesn’t or if there is another shortage in the future. It’s such a pity since it is so effective for so many folks as you can see in these blogs:

I also posted this message on Facebook to let my community there know and to find out what they were using instead.

This is some of the feedback I received:

Mary ~ Oh my goodness! I just found it in my local Vitamin Shoppe tonight! There was one bottle left.
Diana ~I noticed. My son uses this, I’m a little worried.

I shared that there are other products that will hopefully work as well and asked everyone who was using something else: Do you use it opened onto the tongue or swallowed? And if you’ve used Source Naturals GABA Calm in the past how does it compare for you?

A number of people said they like Thorne pharmaGABA capsules, someone said she like Now GABA Powder and a few people like Natural Factors pharmaGABA chewables:

Tara ~ I’ve only used Thorne PharmaGABA because of how it’s derived [fermented]. I just swallow the capsule and I’m immediately calm within 5-15 mins. I was previously prescribed a benzo & this is much better. 100mg is all I take when I feel a panic attack coming on. I’ve been thru a few years of absolute hell of benzo withdrawal coming off of my klonopin prescription. The GABA feels almost the exact same as the benzo except the benzo would actually cause rebound panic attacks (I didn’t realize it at the time) & the GABA does not.
Jane ~I use Now Foods GABA powder. A little under the tongue works well.I have found both effective. Powder good for rapid effect at home (1/4 teaspoon as needed). GABA Calm good to take out with you.
Meesh ~ I use the Natural Factors pharmaGABA (100mg) and it works great. I use it in combo with L-theanine 250mg (which also contains 20mg of magnesium)… and the combination is magic

I’ve updated the supplements blog with the above products and a few additional similar products so you have many options to select from based on your unique needs and taste preferences, and what’s available at the time:

Thorne PharmaGABA-100: the label says Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) 100 mg but it also states that the product uses Pharma Foods International’s Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (PharmaGABA®). This is also pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and is most effective when used this way. [AS OF NOV 24, 2021 THIS MAY ALSO BE UNAVAILABLE]
Thorne PharmaGABA-250: as above but contains 250mg of PharmaGABA®. This is also pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and is most effective when used this way. [AS OF NOV 24, 2021 THIS MAY ALSO BE UNAVAILABLE]
Designs for Health PharmaGABA Chewables: gamma-amino butyric acid (pharmaGABA) 200 mg in 2 chewable tablets. It’s quick-acting and convenient like GABA-Calm because it’s chewable. This does contain xylitol, natural flavors, stevia and some other ingredients so taste may be a factor and xylitol can cause gas, bloating and diarrhea when too much is consumed.
Natural Factors PharmaGABA: gamma-amino butyric acid (pharmaGABA) 200 mg in 2 chewable tablets. It’s quick-acting and convenient like GABA-Calm because it’s chewable. However it also contains organic cane sugar and natural fruit flavors so it’s a little too candy-like for my preference, especially if you have low GABA-related sugar cravings. Also 2 chewable tablets – 4g of carbs which is almost 1 teaspoon of sugar!
[January 22, 2021: I’ve included this as a stand-by option for occasional use until Source Naturals GABA Calm is readily available again or if Designs for Health PharmaGABA Chewables are not available.]
Now Foods GABA Powder: 1/4 Level Teaspoon (500mg). This is pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and is most effective when used this way. The only challenge with powder like this is making sure you don’t use too much by mistake. And it’s especially challenging when you only need 100mg.
Quicksilver Scientific Liposomal GABA with L-Theanine: 2ml (4 Pumps) provides (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) 240mg, L-Theanine 100mg and Phosphatidylcholine 120mg (from purified sunflower seed lecithin). It does contain ethanol so would not be suitable for alcoholics or young children.
GABA-Pro Calming Effect Chewable: This is a chewable that contains 100 mg of pharmaGABA in 1 tablet. It is pharmaGABA even though the product says GABA-Pro on the front and the label states Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). This product is a reasonable replacement for Source Naturals GABA Calm. It does contain natural flavors and xylitol.
GABA-Pro Calming Effect: This contains 100 mg of pharmaGABA in 1 tablet. It is pharmaGABA even though the product says GABA-Pro on the front and the label states Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). This capsule can be opened onto the tongue. It does contain rice flour which can be an issue if you have a rice allergy/sensitivity and/or SIBO.

I do want to add that Nutritional Fundamentals for Health GABA-T SAP is still a firm favorite of mine: gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) 300 mg, l-Theanine 150 mg. This is pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and works very well when GABA Calm can’t be used (because of the tyrosine or taste or sugar alcohols). It is also often used with GABA Calm – like GABA Calm in the day and GABA-T SAP at night or some combination. I find best results when it is used opened on to the tongue and it offers a feeling of calm focus. It could easily be used as a substitute for GABA Calm in the short-term.

In case you’re new to GABA you can read more about it here: GABA for the physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety.

UPDATE Nov 24, 2021:
=================

Source Naturals GABA Calm is in short supply again, so I’ve updated this blog with some other options (above) because the Thorne Products may also be unavailable for now:

GABA-Pro Calming Effect Chewable
GABA-Pro Calming Effect

Is Source Naturals GABA Calm a favorite of yours? And how has it helped you? What have you found works as well – for physical anxiety, tension, insomnia, pain, sugar cravings, muscle spasms – when it’s not available?

If you’ve used a GABA product in capsules, do you use it opened onto the tongue or swallowed? And if you’ve used Source Naturals GABA Calm in the past how does it compare for you?

If you’re a practitioner do you use GABA Calm and/or other GABA products?

Please do share in the comments below and let me know if you found this helpful or if you have questions. And thanks for the questions and contributions so far!

GABA is the answer after 40 years of a lump-in-the-throat sensation, nervousness and muscle tension at work

November 20, 2020 By Trudy Scott 18 Comments

Earlier this year, I published a blog post on the sensation of having a lump in the throat when you feel anxious. It’s called globus pharyngeus which is defined as “the painless sensation of a lump in the throat and may be described as a foreign body sensation, a tightening or choking feeling.”

Globus means globe/sphere and it can actually feel like you have a golf-ball sized object in your throat. It’s very uncomfortable and quite terrifying outside of the anxiety that is often the trigger. I share my lump-in-the-throat story and my success with GABA in this blog: Anxiety and globus pharyngeus (lump in the throat): GABA to the rescue?

Pam recently shared her wonderful success with GABA on the above blog, after having dealt with what she calls “her throat thing” for 40 years!

I have dealt with this throat thing since I was a teenager. I’m now 57. It was only when I saw what you wrote about how yours came back after a scary airplane incident that I made the connection that GABA could help me. I saw that in the summer of 2019, so I spent about 40 years dealing with this until I found the GABA answer!

Mine comes up when speaking in front of others, such as work meetings, or even just one-on-one work discussions, and it was getting consistently worse. I would be swallowing constantly and trying to talk. Absolutely awful. Of course everyone could see it happening.

GABA solved this for me, and I can’t even describe how grateful I am!

How wonderful are these results! I am so happy for her and thanked her for coming back and sharing in the comments. I also asked some follow-up questions so I can continue to learn and so I can share so you get to learn too:

How much GABA helps and how do you take it (when you know you’ll be in this situation or a few times a day to get your levels up)?
Did you ever use a prescribed medication or were recommended something?
Have you seen any other benefits from using GABA – improved sleep, reduced anxiety in other situations, reduced cravings?
Have you made other changes too – like dietary changes such as gluten/sugar/caffeine/alcohol removal?

She shared this about timing and how GABA helps with anxiety-related physical/muscle tension and nervousness:

I take GABA Calm … one upon waking, 1 mid-morning, and 1 mid- afternoon. I take an extra one right at the time of a meeting.

That is the only change I made. I’ve never been on any prescription medication.

Other than the specific throat issue, I notice I’m generally less physically tense, with muscles not getting so knotted up in my face, scalp, neck, shoulders, and back, which is wonderful.

I work at a computer job, which causes lots of muscle tension, but I feel that anxiety-related muscle tension has reduced.

I notice that my muscles have less of that “immediate tightness” upon seeing someone whom I’m nervous to interact with.

This timing and dosage of GABA Calm is typically what I use with clients and what works so it was great to hear that it’s working for her. I was also so pleased to hear the anxiety-related muscle tension and nervousness has reduced too. This is also to be expected.

I did remind her to keep in mind that the amino acids are intended for short-term use. This could be a few weeks up to 6-12 months depending on each person. While using the GABA, I have my clients start to address all the dietary changes, gut health, nutritional deficiencies (zinc and B6 are needed to make neurotransmitters and key with pyroluria), toxin exposure (like BPA, phthalates, pesticides, fluoride etc), infections (like Lyme and co-infections, parasites, PANDAS/PANS) etc. and everything else that may be causing low GABA levels (as we covered in The Anxiety Summit 6).

Vagus nerve support is also key. I cover what I did for my vagus nerve in this blog that Pam referred to: Vagus nerve rehab with GABA, breathing, humming, gargling and key nutrients

Globus pharyngeus or this sensation of the-lump-in-the throat is way more common than most people realize and mainstream medicine seldom has a solution. Medications that are commonly prescribed for globus pharyngeus are benzodiazepines, antidepressants/SSRIs and sometimes PPIs/proton pump inhibitors. Cognitive behavior therapy has some success in some instances but it’s always best to get to the root cause of low GABA and address that with the amino acid GABA. And then figure out why GABA is low and address that too.

If you’re new to the amino acids here is a quick summary about GABA: low levels of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter can lead to anxiety, fears and panic attacks. With low GABA, the anxiety is a physical kind of anxiety with muscle tension or muscle spasms. I propose that low GABA may be one possible root cause of globus pharyngeus.

I appreciate Pam for sharing her story and I’m sharing it here in order to give you practical solutions and hope. If she can find a solution to her 40-year the-lump-in-the throat and physical tension issues then anything is possible.

Please also share your lump-in-the-throat story and what has helped you. Or if you’re a practitioner, do share how you have helped your clients/patients who experienced this sensation.

Feel free to post your questions here too.

Anxiety and globus pharyngeus (lump in the throat): GABA to the rescue?

July 3, 2020 By Trudy Scott 61 Comments

Low levels of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter can lead to anxiety, fears and panic attacks. With low GABA, the anxiety is a physical kind of anxiety with muscle tension or muscle spasms. Today you’ll read how low GABA may be one possible root cause of globus pharyngeus, which you may have experienced as a rather scary golf-ball-like lump or constriction in the throat.

Let me describe globus pharyngeus and then I’ll share my story with globus pharyngeus, why low GABA may be a factor (and supplemental sublingual GABA to the rescue) and other possible root causes that should be considered.

This 2015 paper, Globus pharyngeus: an update for general practice, defines it as follows:

Globus pharyngeus or globus sensation is the painless sensation of a lump in the throat and may be described as a foreign body sensation, a tightening or choking feeling.

Globus means globe or sphere and it can actually feel like you have a golf-ball sized object in your throat.

You may have experienced it without even knowing the medical name. Only a few of my clients and those in my community have ever heard the term. I also only learned about the name many years after my episode.

What is very surprising is that, according to the above paper, up to 45% of the population have experienced it.

My story with globus pharyngeus

I’m one of the 45% and for me it was a terrifying experience. As you may know, I experienced anxiety, PMS, fears and panic attacks in my late 30s and early 40s (it’s why I do this work).

Fortunately I only had one episode. It truly felt like I had a golf-ball in my throat and was horrifying. I knew I needed to swallow so I could get rid of this obstruction but at the same time I was terrified to swallow in case it got stuck and choked and killed me.

I remember going to the mirror to try and see this golf-ball sized object in my throat. I was so surprised that I couldn’t see anything.

Looking back, I suspect the addition of GABA Calm to my protocol prevented further episodes. I was also using progesterone cream at the time and this promotes GABA production too.

I’ve had many clients report that looking back they also realized their episodes stopped once they addressed their low GABA levels.

I was also under a great deal of stress at the time: work stress (long hours and my adrenals were a mess) and physical stress (due to amalgam removal, gluten issues, perimenopausal changes and much more).

Globus pharyngeus and GABA

The fact that the throat or pharynx “is a muscular tube that runs from the back of your nose down into your neck” is one reason for considering a muscle spasm and low GABA as a root cause.

The amino acid GABA, when used sublingually, eases muscle spasms within 15 seconds to 2 minutes. Some examples where we see this:

If you’re in the midst of an episode it’s impossible to open a capsule of GABA into your mouth. Until a client knows how much they can tolerate we start with 100-125 mg and increased based on the trial. Taking the powder and dabbing it with a wet finger and putting the finger to the inside cheek a few times is the best way for quick relief.

A product that is GABA-only in a capsule such as Enzymatic Therapy GABA or ProThera 500mg GABA are my choices for in-the moment relief (more on these in my supplement store here).

Source Naturals GABA Calm is my most popular GABA product and is my choice for everyday use.

Of course, I recommend this approach to doing nothing. The authors state: “simple reassurance may be all that is required” or “Advise patients to resist the urge to dry swallow.” We can do better.

Once your GABA levels are sufficient, it’s less likely to happen unless you’re under a great deal of stress and/or there are psychological factors at play:

There is increased reporting of stressful life events prior to development of symptoms and research suggests that as many as 96% of patients with globus sensation report an exacerbation of symptoms during times of emotional intensity.

During times of added stress, folks may experience other “physical symptoms such as palpitations, poor sleep, and feelings of panic.”

Theanine for easing stress and anxiety, and improving cognition and sleep in healthy adults

January 24, 2020 By Trudy Scott 35 Comments

L-Theanine is a “unique non-protein amino acid found in green tea” which according to the study below, has shown benefits when used short-term or acutely as a supplement for it’s anti-stress effects, reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality, improving cognition and even easing depression.

This 2019 study, Effects of L-Theanine Administration on Stress-Related Symptoms and Cognitive Functions in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial, aimed to examine the effects of four weeks use of l-theanine:

on stress-related symptoms and cognitive functions in healthy adults. Participants were 30 individuals (nine men and 21 women; aged 20-69) who had no major psychiatric illness.

The trial was randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover, and double-blind.

L-theanine (200 mg/day of Suntheanine), was used by study participants before going to bed each night and was used for four-weeks.

Study participants who used the theanine for two weeks observed the following:

For sleep: Reductions in sleep latency (the amount of time it takes to fall asleep), sleep disturbance and less use of sleep medication
For cognitive function: Improvements in verbal fluency (especially letter fluency) and improvements in executive function (planning, multi-tasking etc)

The Japanese versions of The Self-rating Depression Scale, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-trait, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores decreased and the study concludes as follows:

Our findings suggest that L-theanine has the potential to promote mental health in the general population with stress-related ailments and cognitive impairments.

The authors also note that “there were no significant adverse events, demonstrating the safety of four weeks of L-theanine administration.”

As expected, the participants saw increases in serum theanine concentrations. What is unusual and inconsistent with previous studies, is the fact that there was “no significant effect on cortisol or immunoglobulin A levels in the saliva or serum.” I’m not sure I understand the reasoning they propose i.e. that “the reduction of salivary cortisol and immunoglobulin A levels may be short term, recoverable effect of L-theanine administration.” I’ll be digging deeper into this to try and get a better understanding of these differences.

Some of the reported possible mechanisms of action

Here are some of the reported possible mechanisms of action of theanine from some studies referenced in his paper:

via glutamate receptors (improving cognitive dysfunction)
as a neuroprotective agent and “increases in brain serotonin, dopamine, GABA levels” (improving mood and focus and reducing anxiety)
enhances hippocampal activity (the hippocampus has a major role in learning and memory)
via a proposed increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus (BDNF is a protein implicated in the stress response, long-term memory, Alzheimer’s disease, and psychiatric disorders)

Theanine or GABA – which one to use when?

I typically start my clients with a trial of GABA Calm for low GABA symptoms like physical tension, stress and overwhelm, panic attacks and insomnia. If we are not getting all the expected benefits with GABA and there is a need for added cognitive benefits then we’ll consider adding theanine too. Some folks find one works better than the other and some like a combination (at the same time or theanine in the day/GABA at night or GABA in the day/theanine at night).

I recently reached out on facebook asking: “Theanine or GABA? Which do you prefer for anxiety and why? How much helps? And any other benefits (like reduced body pain, better thinking/cognition, easing IBS gut pain, reduced cravings, less negative self-talk etc)?Or do you like a combination of both?”

As you can see from these varied responses it’s a matter or trialing both to find what works for each person’s unique needs:

Lorraine shared this: “They are both good, but I reach for GABA Calm first.. 2 or 3 lozenges. If anxiety doesn’t leave quickly with GABA ( which works well for a panic attack), and I continue to have anxiety humming along in the background, then I’ll reach for theanine.”
Jackie shared this: “I take 200mg theanine in morning, then 100mg GABA around 4pm, when the kids get home from school. I had a panic attack in the middle of the night last week, took GABA 100 mg, then seemed to calm down.” I asked if theanine gives her a feeling of calm focus and she said: “yes, I think so. I noticed if I take 200mg of GABA, it makes me drowsy.”
Evelyn shared this: “I use both at night for sleep. If I could only use one it would be l-theanine.” Theanine is more consistently helpful for stress reduction and sleep for me. I use 200mg. When I use GABA it’s 500mg of chewables.”
Sara shared this: “GABA during the day, theanine at night.”
Karine shared this: “GABA!! The Source Naturals Theanine Serene with Holy Basil is really good. But GABA Calm (also Source Naturals which is a sublingual lozenge) is the only thing for a severe issue/episode and helps me concentrate right before an important presentation at work etc. Pure GABA from any supplier is good for long periods where you need a boost or to tone down general anxiety. I also bought a probiotic that also includes GABA (Jarrodophilus Mood) and notice it improves digestion too.”

You can find my favorite GABA/theanine combination product, a theanine-only product and my most popular GABA products on the supplements blog here (and with details for how to set up an account for my online store)

Nutritional Fundamentals for Health GABA-T SAP: 300mg GABA, 150mg theanine. This is pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and works very well when GABA Calm can’t be used.

Pure Encapsulations L-Theanine: 200mg theanine. This is also pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue. Unlike like GABA, it can also be swallowed.

Source Naturals GABA Calm. This is a pleasant-tasting sublingual product that is my most popular and most effective form of GABA I use with my clients. It can be used in conjunction with theanine.

Enzymatic Therapy GABA: 250 mg GABA. This is also pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and works very well when GABA Calm can’t be used. It can also be used in conjunction with theanine.

Please let us know … theanine or GABA: which do you prefer for anxiety and why? How much helps? And any other benefits (like reduced body pain, better thinking/cognition, easing IBS gut pain, reduced cravings, less negative self-talk etc)? Or do you like a combination of both?”

Phenibut for anxiety and insomnia: FDA warns 3 companies to cease distribution of their products

April 19, 2019 By Trudy Scott 71 Comments

Earlier this week, on April 16, 2019, the FDA issued warning letters to 3 companies have products that are marketed as dietary supplements with a label saying they contain Phenibut. These companies have been told to stop distribution of the current products and to let the FDA know within 15 days what they plan to do to be compliant with the law.

Quite frankly, I’m surprised it’s taken this long, and I actually agree with the decision. However, there are some major problems that are being overlooked with a decision like this, such as the dire consequences for susceptible individuals currently tapering from Phenibut or needing to do a slow taper once they no longer have access to Phenibut (more on that below).

The good news is that GABA, when used correctly i.e. used sublingually as part of a trial process to find the ideal amount for each person, is as effective and with none of the dependence and withdrawal issues.

Here is the announcement on the FDA site:

Phenibut has been found in products labeled as dietary supplements, sometimes marketed for uses such as a sleep aid. Phenibut does not meet the definition of a dietary ingredient Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). Products labeled as dietary supplements that list phenibut as a dietary ingredient are misbranded.

Phenibut is also known as:

fenibut

phenigam

PhGaba

Phenigamma

Phenygam

4-Amino-3-phenylbutanoic acid

β-(aminomethyl)benzenepropanoic acid

beta-(Aminomethyl)hydrocinnamic acid

β-phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid

The companies have 15 business days from the date of receipt of the letter to communicate to the agency the specific steps they will take to bring their products into compliance with the law. The warning letters also caution the companies that the FDA may take enforcement action without further notice if they do not immediately cease distribution of the products.

A reaffirmed commitment to traditional advisory and enforcement actions, such as warning letters, in combination with the newly launched rapid-response tool, the Dietary Supplement Ingredient Advisory List, are integral parts of the FDA’s overall effort to strengthen the agency’s regulation and oversight of dietary supplements. We continue to look for ways to modernize our approach to protecting consumers from misbranded, unsafe, or otherwise unlawful dietary supplements.

I have always been very open with my warnings and have never recommended Phenibut because of the dependence issues and the fact that withdrawal can be similar to benzodiazepines. I blogged about my concerns back in 2016: Why I recommend GABA for anxiety instead of Phenibut

Here are a few highlights from this blog:

I have concerns with Phenibut and I don’t feel anyone should be using it
It is widely used in Russia as a prescription medication for anxiety, tension, fear, to improve sleep, pre- or post-operatively, depression, post-traumatic stress, stuttering and vestibular disorders
It’s available over-the-counter and as a supplement in the USA and the UK. It’s no longer available in Australia as a supplement
It’s very effective for anxiety and insomnia and this is why anxious individuals really love it and many practitioners recommend it before they start to see problems
One of the reasons Phenibut seems to work so well is because it is so similar to benzodiazepines.
The adverse effects can be similar to those experienced with benzos. This case study is one of many that report physical dependence can develop, including tolerance and withdrawal

Here are a few more recent case studies, reviews and papers on Phenibut:

Phenibut exposures and clinical effects reported to a regional poison center (the numbers are small: “56 exposure calls over 19 years with 48 (85.7%) calls within the past five years” but we know not everyone feels the need to call poison control)
Phenibut (β-Phenyl-γ-Aminobutyric Acid): an Easily Obtainable “Dietary Supplement” With Propensities for Physical Dependence and Addiction

Over the last several years, multiple case reports have highlighted phenibut’s potential to produce the conditions of physical dependence, withdrawal, and addiction. In cases involving intoxication, patients have presented with a varying degree of mental status changes, from being minimally responsive to manifesting symptoms of an agitated delirium. Phenibut is a potent psychoactive substance with GABA_B agonist properties, which is emerging as a drug of misuse through growing internet sales. Its marketing as a “dietary supplement” is inaccurate and misleading, given its pharmacological profile and ability to induce the physiological changes associated with withdrawal and physical dependence

Acute phenibut withdrawal: A comprehensive literature review and illustrative case report . In many of the published cases “Patients were typically younger and had coexisting substance abuse disorders to other drugs” but based on feedback I’ve had from folks in my community and elsewhere this is certainly not the case across the board. However it may be that prior benzodiazepine or fluoroquinolone use may play a role in individuals being more susceptible to issues.
Phenibut (β-Phenyl-γ-Aminobutyric Acid) Psychosis. This case study was a situation of recreational abuse but even so it shows how severe symptoms can be.

I see no reason to use a product like Phenibut given the potential to cause harm and because GABA (when used correctly i.e. used sublingually as part of a trial process to find the ideal amount for each person) is as effective and with none of the dependence and withdrawal issues.

Phenibut: initially very promising results and then rebound anxiety, panic and insomnia

I’d like to share a story from someone in my community who posted on the 2016 blog above. He shared this about the addictive aspects he observed when he used a Phenibut product called GABA Wave, saying his initial reaction was very positive and quite extreme compared to his previous trials of GABA:

The initial response in the first couple of weeks was great, especially a couple of hours after taking it. The effects were a marked elevation in mood to the point of euphoria, enhanced appreciation for music, improved focus and cognition initially (but that became memory difficulty), marked relief of anxiety, increased motivation, renewed interest in things, being more talkative, a significant calming/relaxation effect, generally a deep and great night’s sleep the night of the morning it is taken.

He then shares how this changed after a few weeks with rebound insomnia, panic and anxiety, and other adverse symptoms:

However, after a few weeks it was the reaction on the following day of taking it that kicked me in the butt, literally. On the following day I began to feel very low, groggy and spaced out, almost like a hangover and then during the following night I began having brutal insomnia – a complete turn-around from the night before. A kind of rebound response. I imagine that’s when the tolerance and addiction begins to develop because one craves the next dose to provide the good night’s sleep after the bad sleep on the second night. Other side effects included mood swings, irritability, rebound anxiety, panic, loss of short-term memory, total and utter loss of any form of libido and constipation!

He shared that his diet and self-care are excellent, but he is dealing with and working past emotional and psychological traumas – and this may make him more susceptible to the adverse effects.

And this is one of the problems with Phenibut – you’ll hear excellent initial reports and for some people this continues. Not everyone is adversely affected but you just don’t know in advance if you will be someone who is adversely affected or just how badly you’ll be affected.

Merry has had very severe ongoing adverse effects from Phenibut.

Merry Citoli shares her warnings about benzodiazepine, lunesta and Phenibut withdrawal

Merry Citoli shares her warnings about benzodiazepine, lunesta and Phenibut withdrawal. Lunesta and then Phenibut were recommended to help her taper from the benzodiazepine she was prescribed for perimenopausal anxiety. At the time of this recording, she had tapered off the benzo and lunesta, but was having great difficulties tapering off Phenibut – almost as bad as her benzo taper.

You can learn more about Merry on Follow Your Bliss. She shares how cathartic it is to share her story and the desire to help stop others going through what she has been through. I’d like to acknowledge Merry for doing this (and all of you for sharing your stories and posting encouraging messages here on the blog for each other).

I’d also like to give a shout out to the Benzodiazepine Information Coalition who is doing amazing advocacy and educational work about these awful medications.

The comments in my 2016 blog: Why I recommend GABA for anxiety instead of Phenibut are worth a read if this affects you. You’ll see there are some very different thoughts on Phenibut safety and folks saying GABA won’t work. This is typical of what you can expect to hear elsewhere online.

I don’t have all the answers

I know many Phenibut users are going to be very concerned about this and we’ll be dealing with many withdrawal issues and folks looking for an alternative. I recognize that this is not going to be easy if there is no Phenibut available for tapering. There are also very serious concerns for those who can’t go cold-turkey off Phenibut and won’t have the time to taper. Abrupt discontinuation of Phenibut may result in withdrawal which can be severe and require hospitalization.

What I don’t know:

if other companies and products will be targeted too?
if Phenibut will be made available as prescription in some form or another?
what resources are in place or going to be put in place for individuals who are in the process for trying to taper from Phenibut right now (or if there is even the awareness that this is an issue and very needed? For people like Merry, cold-turkeying off Phenibut could be life-threatening)
what advocacy groups and benzo support groups know and what advice do they have?
what my colleagues know and are planning to do?
why so many practitioners recommended it and why so many companies made it available as a supplement, given the research/case studies and the issues so many individuals report?
if there will be a place to submit concerns and complaints?

What I do know – GABA and the foundations

Give GABA serious consideration for safe and comfortable tapering (assuming there is enough Phenibut to do slow tapers) and for ongoing support of the low GABA symptoms of physical anxiety and tension.

It’s really best that you work with your practitioner. As with a benzodiazepine, before starting a Phenibut taper, I’ve always found it’s best to get nutritionally stable as possible first and address all root causes of anxiety before starting to taper and then tapering Phenibut very very very slowly. For some folks it’s just very uncomfortable for a few weeks and for others it’s a long-term ordeal.

I use GABA sublingually after an initial trial to find the ideal amount for each person. I have found that for both a benzo and Phenibut taper, very very tiny amounts (like a pinch or dab) will be enough for some folks.

Other nutrients are used based on each person’s need – such as theanine, tryptophan, melatonin, niacinamide, zinc and vitamin B6 and others. Light therapy, exercise, yoga, meditation, getting out in nature and essential oils like lavender, citrus and jasmine are also wonderful to incorporate. Of course, diet, blood sugar control and gut health are the foundation.

These are various GABA products I use. You can find some examples on my supplements blog here:

Source Naturals GABA Calm (with additional information here)
Nutritional Fundamentals for Health GABA-T SAP: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) 300 mg, l-theanine 150 mg. This is pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and works very well when GABA Calm can’t be used. I find best results when it is used opened on to the tongue.
Enzymatic Therapy GABA: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) 250 mg. This is also pleasant-tasting when opened on to the tongue and works very well when GABA Calm can’t be used. As with all GABA products, I find best results when it is used opened on to the tongue.
ProThera 500mg GABA: gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) 500 mg. You will likely need to open this up and start with less than a full capsule during the day. A full capsule may be fine at night for some individuals.

They can all be purchased from my online store here.

As you can see, I don’t have all the answers about this FDA announcement, but I wanted to share what I do know so you are aware of what’s going on.

In the next few weeks I’m going to be reaching out to benzodiazepine groups, colleagues, the companies affected and individuals who are in the process for trying to taper from Phenibut. As I learn more, I’ll share what I learn.

In the meantime, please post questions you may have, and I’ll do my best to either answer them now or find answers for you.

And please do share your Phenibut stories (both good and bad), your concerns, and any resources you may have.

And do share if GABA has help you taper from Phenibut.