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Multiple sclerosis: low GABA research and the amino acid GABA for anxiety, muscle stiffness, swallowing/voice issues and pain

By Trudy Scott 12 Comments

Multiple sclerosis and low GABA

I’m excited about the GABA research – an older paper and some new studies – on multiple sclerosis (MS). This means there is the potential for using GABA supplementation in similar ways it’s used with other conditions where anxiety, insomnia and pain are issues. This can include the typical low GABA-type physical anxiety, stiff and tense muscles, insomnia and pain, and also MS-specific issues such as spasticity, laryngospasms, balance issues, swallowing and speaking/voice issues and sensorimotor problems.

Anxiety is common in MS and benzodiazepines are commonly prescribed. The ideal is to use the amino acid that supports GABA, instead of needing to use benzodiazepines. I share some of the GABA/MS research and specific applications for using GABA below.

Prevalence of anxiety/depression in MS and the use of benzodiazepines

Anxiety and depression is common in multiple sclerosis. This paper, The incidence and prevalence of psychiatric disorders in multiple sclerosis: A systematic Review, included 118 studies and found that:

Among population-based studies, the prevalence of anxiety was 21.9% (and up to 35.0% in some papers), 23.7% for depression, 14.8% for alcohol abuse, 5.83% for bipolar disorder, 4.3% for psychosis and 2.5% for substance abuse.

psychiatric comorbidity remains understudied.

What is concerning is that benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Valium and Xanax are commonly prescribed for MS patients for their anxiety, insomnia, spasticity and pain. Recent research, Use of Benzodiazepines and Z-Drugs in Multiple Sclerosis found that benzodiazepine use is more “more common in people with MS than in general population controls, and use of these agents is in persons with MS is often chronic” i.e. for longer than 6 months.

This is problematic given that anything over 2 weeks can cause dependence, tolerance and withdrawal. They can cause balance issues and can actually cause anxiety and insomnia. Someone in my community was totally disabled for over 3 years with “locked shoulder muscles, neck, jaw …internal vibrations… bad headaches, jelly legs, distorted vision like floaters and squiggles and fireworks …cortisol rushes through the body.. And tortured every day.” Read more about her horror story and benzos here.

The ideal is to use the amino acid that supports GABA, instead of needing to use benzodiazepines.

Low GABA plays a role in multiple sclerosis: the research

Low GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) plays a role in multiple sclerosis. This paper, Reduced gamma-aminobutyric acid concentration is associated with physical disability in progressive multiple sclerosis states that there are

reduced GABA levels in the hippocampus and sensorimotor cortex of patients, and show that reduced GABA in the sensorimotor cortex is associated with increased motor impairment. Changes in GABA may be a marker of neurodegeneration.

This study supports the idea that modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid neurotransmission may be an important target for neuroprotection in multiple sclerosis.

Of course, the authors don’t mention using the calming amino acid GABA, but we extrapolate and use what we see clinically in other conditions like autism (more on that below).

Two other papers support the GABA connections. This 2021 paper, Altered Plasma Metabolic Profiles in Chinese Patients With Multiple Sclerosis, observed “a great increase in the levels of L-glutamic acid” in patients with MS. Increased glutamate typically means low GABA levels.

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) is an experimental nutrient that is new to me, but the GABA effects and mechanisms are encouraging. In this 2022 paper, Guanidinoacetic Acid as a Nutritional Adjuvant to Multiple Sclerosis Therapy the author states that GAA may benefit MS patients via “modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurotransmission and brain oxidant-antioxidant status, or a reduction of glutamate neurotoxicity.’

The author also shares that “demyelination is often characterized by various neurochemical abnormalities in GABA-glutamate metabolism.” 

In case you’re new to MS and demyelination, this Mayo Clinic article describes them as follows:

A demyelinating disease is any condition that causes damage to the protective covering (myelin sheath) that surrounds nerve fibers in your brain, the nerves leading to the eyes (optic nerves) and spinal cord. When the myelin sheath is damaged, nerve impulses slow or even stop, causing neurological problems.

Multiple sclerosis is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. In this disorder, your immune system attacks the myelin sheath or the cells that produce and maintain it.

This attack causes inflammation and injury to the nerve sheath and ultimately to the nerve fibers that it surrounds. The process can result in multiple areas of scarring (sclerosis).

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 GABA/MS connections.

Using GABA for easing anxiety, overwhelm and insomnia in multiple sclerosis

There is no research that I am aware of that has studied the use of GABA supplementation in MS. We can, however, extrapolate from other conditions and use GABA for easing various MS symptoms based on what we see clinically.

As mentioned above, anxiety is common in MS and if you have the low GABA type of physical anxiety, GABA is worth a trial for easing typical low GABA symptoms of physical anxiety, feelings of overwhelm and intrusive thoughts, stress eating, using alcohol to relax or fit in socially and insomnia. You can read more about GABA for physical anxiety here and see all the low GABA symptoms here.

And here are a few examples/case studies:

Using GABA to help with balance, and sensorimotor and coordination issues in multiple sclerosis

These case studies illustrate an application for GABA being used for balance, sensorimotor and coordination issues that are common in MS (they are not folks with MS):

Much of the research in this area has been done with  autism, as illustrated by this GABA Oolong tea study tea in children with autism. They saw improvements in sensorimotor skills, autism profiles, anxiety and sleep.

Using GABA to help with stiff and tense muscles, spasticity, voice issues, laryngospasms and difficulty swallowing in multiple sclerosis

GABA helps to ease stiff and tense muscles in those with physical anxiety. In a similar way we see GABA help with these common MS symptoms: muscle spasms, spasticity, voice issues, laryngospasms and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia affects about a third of folks with MS).

These case studies illustrate an application for GABA being used for some of above issues that are common in MS (they are not folks with MS):

Again, there is no research that I am aware of specifically with MS, but clinically I see GABA helping all of the above symptoms related to spasms and muscle tension, often with anxiety and pain as an underlying factor too.

Other MS symptoms that may also be supported by addressing low GABA levels: bowel issues and rectal spasms, bladder issues/spasms, tremor and problems with memory/thinking, and possibly even vision issues.

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

Low serotonin and low endorphins are common in multiple sclerosis too

Low GABA is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the underlying neurotransmitter imbalances in MS.

The amino acid DPA/d-phenylalanine may help ease some of the low endorphin pain symptoms, weepy kind of depression, and alcohol addiction. You can read about this here.

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. I’ll write more about this and the supporting research in a follow-up blog.

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.

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

If you are new to using GABA and the other 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.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Do you have multiple sclerosis and has the amino acid GABA helped with your anxiety and fears; muscle stiffness and spasticity; swallowing, laryngospasms and voice problems; balance and sensorimotor issues, insomnia and pain?)

How much has helped and which product do you use?

Do you find sublingual, powder or an opened capsule helps more than swallowing the GABA capsule?

Were you surprised that GABA would help so much?

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

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

GABA is not the same as gabapentin. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid supplement; gabapentin is a prescription medication

By Trudy Scott 53 Comments

gaba and gabapentin

One common question I hear from folks who are new to my work is this: “is GABA the same as gabapentin?”  Quite frankly it has always surprised me to get this question since they are different words – why would you think they are the same? But I’d carefully explain the difference, educate the person and move on. A few months ago I shared a blog post on how the amino acid GABA was effective for an 11 year old with ADHD, irritability, anxiety and tantrums and someone asked this question again: “GABA sold at health store or prescription Gabapentin?”

I decided it was finally time to ask why she thought they may be the same thing. I first explained what GABA is (an amino acid supplement), shared some links to products and said “no, not prescription Gabapentin – I’m curious why you’d think that?”

She replied that “some people refer to GABA the same as Gabapentin” and thanked me for the clarification.

I appreciate her response but it did still concern me that the amino acid GABA is lumped together with prescription gabapentin. My next step was a facebook post sharing the above dialogue and asking my community there for feedback: “Have you heard GABA and gabapentin used interchangeably? Did you think they were the same thing at one stage?”

The response was enlightening, hence this blog post to provide clarification if you’re not sure either or if you know exactly what GABA is but have had confused conversations with your practitioner, family members, friends and/or colleagues. And to also get your feedback on this topic.

GABA is not the same as gabapentin. GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is an amino acid supplement and neurotransmitter; gabapentin is a prescription medication. They are often used interchangeably (as you’ll read below) and should not be!

GABA and gabapentin is used interchangeably by a variety of practitioners

Here are some of the many responses showing how GABA and gabapentin is used interchangeably by a variety of practitioners:

Jennifer shared this: Yes in the vet world, gabapentin is often called gaba. Not surprising since western medicine likes to pretend that supplements don’t exist. I didn’t know GABA existed as a supplement for many years. I always explain what it is when I talk about it, to make sure there’s no confusion.

Val shared this: I was just at the dentist and I shared that I take Gaba to help me sleep. She said “Gabapentin?” I said “no I don’t take a synthetic medication, instead I take Gaba which is an amino acid.” It’s good to share with all who are willing to listen.

Katie shared this: I have never heard them used interchangeably but, whenever I talk about GABA, I say “GABA otc amino acid, not gabapentin the prescription” to be extra clear and educational.

Heather said: I was wondering this earlier in the week. My husband’s [nurse practitioner] suggested gabapentin temporarily for a back injury but she used the term “gaba”. I quickly got clarification. Hopefully she won’t do that again. But I understand it. Her field is all pain management.

Theresa shared this: Nurses who don’t know medicine often do that. I’ve found that [gaba] is listed in my med list when they don’t seem to know the difference.

Laura shared this: I always knew that they were different but I have had psychiatrists use them interchangeably. 

Bonnie shared this: I mentioned GABA to my dad’s nurse and she got all upset, thinking I meant Gabapentin. At the time I didn’t know it was two different things. Dad was in the hospital and I suggested gaba to calm him. She said, no, no, no! I didn’t realize we were speaking of two different things.

Lisa shared this: When I told my primary doctor [an MD] that I was taking Gaba instead of prescription drugs she asked “gabapentin?” I said “no, Gaba which is a supplement”. She looked confused.

Lindy shared this: It’s a common assumption. I think some GPs (general practitioners) shorten gapapentin to gaba.

Jane shared this: “Yes – I am very careful to say the “supplement GABA.” I mentioned it to an Anesthesiologist when I had surgery. I normally don’t tell the medical profession my supplements – they have no idea what they are. I do specify the “supplement GABA” to holistic providers – I don’t want any misunderstanding. I was on Gabapentin and Lyrica for a long time. Horrific medications with severe consequences

If you relate to any of this feedback, keep sharing in order to educate, explain the difference and clarify to make sure there is no confusion.

What is GABA?

If you are new to the amino acid GABA, it’s a supplement that is used to raise low GABA (the neurotransmitter) levels and ease the physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety.

The other symptoms we see with low GABA are panic attacks, physical tension in certain settings like public speaking or driving, and the need to self-medicate to calm down, often with alcohol but sometimes with carbs and sugary foods. Insomnia can also be due to low GABA and you’ll experience physical tension (rather than the ruminating thoughts which is the low serotonin type of insomnia – although it’s not uncommon to experience both). GABA also helps with muscle spasms and pain relief when muscles are tight.

You can read this blog, GABA for the physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety for my biggest takeaways for using GABA effectively.  I also share a number of GABA products and some feedback from folks who have experienced the benefits. One example is this:

I have used GABA (several brands, just open a capsule and sprinkle a small amount under the tongue) for years now, with calming results within minutes.

With regards to the question about GABA being available in health stores: there are amino acid supplements that are available over the counter at a health store and also via my online health store here (these are products I have vetted and use with clients).

Here is the blog I referred to above: GABA for children: ADHD, focus issues, irritability, anxiety and tantrums. My blog is a wealth of information when it comes to GABA so be sure to use the search feature.

What is gabapentin?

Per the Cleveland Clinic site:

Gabapentin is a prescription medication known as a gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) analogue. GABA reduces the excitability of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain, which play a role in seizures and the transmission of pain signals. Gabapentin mirrors the effects of GABA calming excited neurons. Gabapentin is in a class of medications called anticonvulsants.

It’s been approved for seizures and nerve pain caused by shingles, however, off-label use is common when it comes to other types of pain, anxiety and depression. This  paper, Outpatient Off-Label Gabapentin Use for Psychiatric Indications Among U.S. Adults, 2011-2016 warns of

risks associated with gabapentin combined with central nervous system depressant (CNS-D) drugs, which are commonly prescribed in psychiatric treatment….Over 6 years, 58.4% of off-label gabapentin visits listed one or more concomitant CNS-D medications, most frequently antidepressants (24.3%), opioids (22.9%), and benzodiazepines (17.3%).

The above Cleveland Clinic site lists some brand names – Horizant®, Gralise® and Neurontin® – but it is known by many different names in other countries. You can look it up in your country here.

You’ll also see all the side effects and the fact that dependence and withdrawal is downplayed despite the growing evidence that these are very real issues. More on that below.

There are many issues with gabapentin dependence and withdrawal

This blog post is really about terminology and the interchangeable use of GABA and gabapentin, but if you’re new to gabapentin, it’s important to be aware that there are many issues with dependence and withdrawal (often similar to benzodiazepines):

On day 3 of hospitalization, she developed restlessness, disorientation, confusion, agitation, and anxiety. She was presumed to be suffering from ethanol withdrawal and was treated with benzodiazepines but had no improvement in symptoms. During days 4 and 5, the patient became increasingly confused, agitated, and anxious, with complaints of headache, light sensitivity, and increasing nervousness. On day 5, gabapentin was reinitiated, and the patient’s confusion and agitation improved that evening. The next morning, the patient was calm, alert, and cooperative.

To our knowledge, this is the first reported cases of akathisia induced by gabapentin withdrawal. Available case reports suggest that gabapentin withdrawal can occur at doses ranging from 400-8000 mg/day. Patients experienced symptoms similar to those that develop with benzodiazepine withdrawal and were taking gabapentin for as little as 3 weeks to as long as 5 years.

This case highlights the need for patient-centered slow tapers in patients with severe gabapentin dependence and withdrawal.

The withdrawal took 18 months.

There is one case report of macular edema after gabapentin use and gabapentinoid (pregabalin/Lyrica) more so than gabapentin/Neurontin) prescriptions increased risk of suicidal behavior and unintentional overdose.

This 2017 paper, Gabapentin and pregabalin: do the benefits outweigh the harms? summarizes as follows: “Prescribers should be aware of the very limited clinical evidence for use of gabapentin and pregabalin outside their licensed indications, as well as their capacity to do harm.”

The amino acid GABA has none of these issues.

Why it may be confusing for practitioners

Other than the fact that gabapentin is described as a GABA analogue, I can see why it may be confusing for practitioners who don’t yet know about my work and the amino acid GABA.

The fact that GABA is an amino acid supplement and also a neurotransmitter may also be contributing to some of the confusion.

The other fact that I believe is adding to the confusion is because of how gabapentin is often referred to in the research. Let’s take this 2020 paper as an example: γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Derivatives Reduce the Incidence of Acute Pain after Herpes Zoster – A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

It has γ-aminobutyric acid and derivatives in the paper title and as part of the aim, is mentioned in the results and elsewhere too:

  • The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of GABA and its derivatives in reducing acute pain incidence in patients having HZ.
  • The results showed that the treatment with GABA and its derivatives significantly reduced the number of patients with acute zoster pain.
  • There is no guideline for using and dosing GABA and its derivatives to prevent acute HZ pain.

And elsewhere they refer to GABA-like compounds:

  • The optimal dosage of GABA-like compounds is still to be determined.
  • Nevertheless, the presently available data indicate that the application of GABA-like compounds in this respect is very promising.

The entire review is about gabapentin/neurontin and is not about the amino acid GABA at all, even though the search terms used for this paper included: gamma-aminobutyric acid and gaba.

This is just one example of many such papers. I know what the amino acid GABA is and I was initially confused when reading the title and abstract, and even when reading the full paper (initially hopeful the paper would also be discussing the amino acid GABA).

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

If you are new to using GABA or any of the other amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA and low serotonin).

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

I appreciate these women for sharing their interactions with practitioners so we can all be enlightened.

Have you heard GABA and gabapentin used interchangeably? Did you think they were the same thing at one stage?

How do you refer to GABA and gabapentin in order to avoid confusion?

If you’ve been prescribed gabapentin what was/is it prescribed for? And did you/do you also have a prescription for an antidepressant, opioid or benzodiazepine?

Have you had/do you have any issues using gabapentin?

Have you had success using the amino acid GABA? If yes, what for?

Feel free to post your questions and feedback in the comments below.

5-HTP with Paxil, when nursing, for men, with insomnia in Parkinson’s and when it gives you nightmares: questions and answers

By Trudy Scott 8 Comments

5-htp q and a

5-HTP is an amino acid, made from the seeds of an African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia, and used as a supplement to ease low serotonin symptoms of worry-type anxiety, often with ruminations, obsessing and panic attacks. When you have insomnia caused by low serotonin you may lie awake worrying. This type of anxiety is different from the low GABA physical/tension type anxiety. Other low serotonin symptoms include low mood/depression, late afternoon and evening carbohydrate cravings, pain, digestive/IBS symptoms, PMS, irritability, rage and anger, TMJ, low confidence, imposter syndrome and perfectionism.

I’ve blogged about 5-HTP extensively and I receive many great questions about this supplement. Today I’m going to share some of these questions and my answers so you can get the benefits too: using it with Paxil, insomnia when you have Parkinson’s disease, if 5-HTP works for men, timing of 5-HTP with nightmares and if 5-HTP can be used in pregnancy and when nursing.

Haley shared how 5-HTP helps with insomnia and asks about taking it with Paxil:

I was taking 5-HTP and it definitely helped me sleep at night. I recently started Paxil for my panic attacks after a recent trauma and I’m no longer sure if I can take Paxil with 5-HTP or not?

I’m so glad to hear 5-HTP helped with sleep. I’m sorry to hear about your recent trauma but keep in mind the other benefits of 5-HTP – helping with panic attacks is just one. When I’m working with someone who has experienced something like this and is already seeing benefits with 5-HTP, we increase their 5-HTP to help with the panic attacks too.

If they have already started Paxil and would prefer to stop using it I have them read this tapering blog and work/discuss with their prescribing doctor. There is the risk of serotonin syndrome with SSRIs (such as Paxil) and 5-HTP (and tryptophan).

There are many nutritional solutions for trauma and psychological stress (a natural disaster or anything else) and we’d address all this too.

Lynn has Parkinson’s disease and sleep problems:

I have Parkinson’s and sleep is starting to be an issue. I usually fall asleep but after about 4 hours I’m wide awake. I’m afraid this sleeplessness will negatively affect my brain if I can’t remedy this. I take carbidopa/levodopa. I’ve seen a sleep neurologist and she wants to prescribe drugs which again I’m afraid will have a negative effect on my brain. Your suggestions around 5-HTP would be very much appreciated.

We always start with the low serotonin symptoms and do a trial of either 5-HTP or tryptophan if it looks like low serotonin is the root cause of the sleep issues (there are many other root causes of insomnia).

If you score high on many of the low serotonin symptoms I suggest sharing this 5-HTP/Parkinson’s disease blog post and research with your sleep neurologist and Parkinson’s doctor: “Research shows that the amino acid 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), the intermediate metabolite of tryptophan in the production of serotonin, offers benefits for Parkinson’s disease patients. It has been reported to ease depression and to reduce levodopa-induced motor complications. This was reported in two separate studies by the same research team at the University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. They were small studies and considered preliminary.”

Meleah asks about using 5-HTP with men:

Hi Trudy, did you recommend the same protocol for men? Most of the examples are about women and I have a male friend who needs help

Generally speaking the amino acids work the same for men but I have found that the impact they have on the sex hormone estrogen when using 5-HTP or tryptophan (and progesterone when using GABA) means they tend to work exceptionally well for women.

I also have much more experience working with women so I have more to share on these outcomes. With the few men I have worked with I find they tend to under-report when looking at their low serotonin symptoms so this needs to be taken into account when doing the trial of 5-HTP or tryptophan.

Scott shared how he uses 5-HTP for insomnia and his solution for preventing nightmares when using it:

In regards to nightmares with 5-HTP, I definitely seem to experience disturbing dreams when I take it within 4 hours of bedtime. Therefore, I normally don’t take any after 7pm but do take it periodically throughout the day.

I also suggested it to a friend who tried and likes it very much, however, he experienced excessive dreaming which interferes with him sleeping soundly, so I suggested the same protocol to him.

When I was in college, I am now a senior, I tried taking regular tryptophan and soon started having nightmares and hallucinations as I began seeing faces on the wall when I was trying to fall asleep.

I only take 5-HTP now, in extended release 200mg tablets from the Natrol company. Thank you, Trudy, for bringing this subject up.

I thanked him for sharing this interesting nuance of nightmares with 5-HTP and using it in the day instead. (which I blogged about here i.e. some folks do get nightmares when using 5-HTP)

I’m glad he figured this out and it helps since tryptophan does cause him nightmares. We are all so different and have to find what works best for our unique needs.

Carly asks about using 5-HTP when nursing:

Can someone take 5-HTP while nursing?

5-HTP has not been studied during pregnancy or nursing but a free form amino acid blend that does contain tryptophan is often very helpful. You have to really look for these because many companies choose to leave out tryptophan. I have a few listed on the supplements blog.

Other approaches to improve mood, reduce anxiety and help with sleep while nursing include exercise, yoga, diet and bright light therapy/full spectrum light. Dr. Aviva Romm writes about herbs for anxiety and specifies which are safe while nursing.

If you are new to other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, and pyroluria my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start for the foundations. Much of this helps with low mood, cravings and insomnia too. More here.

5-HTP is often successfully used in conjunction with other amino acids

Here are some useful blogs related to low serotonin and 5-HTP. As you can see, it’s often successfully used in conjunction with other amino acid supplementation:

As always, it’s not only the low serotonin we need to address. 5-HTP offers quick relief but we must always do a full functional workup looking at diet, nutritional deficiencies, digestion, all hormones, toxins and infections (and so on) so we can address all possible root causes – and why serotonin is low in the first place.

I also want to add that I typically start with tryptophan for low serotonin support simply because I have such good results with it and because 5-HTP can raise cortisol in some folks. If we already have salivary cortisol results and none of the four collections are high then 5-HTP is an option to consider.

Resources if you are new to using 5-HTP and other amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using 5-HTP or any of the other amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA and low serotonin).

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Thanks to these folks for asking good questions and for allowing me to share here.

What questions do you have about 5-HTP?

Which low serotonin symptoms can you relate to and has 5-HTP or tryptophan helped? Or have you found success with a combination?

Feel free to post your questions and feedback in the comments below.

GABA Oolong tea in children with autism: improvements in sensorimotor skills, autism profiles, anxiety and sleep (new research)

By Trudy Scott 14 Comments

gaba woolong tea and autism

A small feasibility study, A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised-designed GABA tea study in children diagnosed with autism spectrum conditions, explored the effect of drinking GABA Oolong tea on sensorimotor skills, autism profiles, anxieties and sleep of children with autism.

It was a very small study with nine children (5 male and 4 female) but the results were very promising… “significant improvement in manual dexterity and some large individual improvements in balance, sensory responsivity, DSM-5 criteria and cortisol levels with GABA tea.”

In addition to reducing anxiety (in all but one participant – more on that below), the paper lists the following additional information related to sensory issues, cortisol levels and sleep:

  • Results also demonstrated that sensory responsivity improved in two-thirds of the participants and autism symptomology decreased in over half, with four of these individuals being positively re-classified on the DSM-5 scale
  • Differences between evening and morning cortisol levels, deemed the ‘carryover’ effect and cortisol awakening levels were also decreased in over two thirds of the participants, which we attribute to a reduction in stress response which may have helped to reduce sensorimotor responsivity in individuals with autism.
  • Contrary to our hypotheses, GABA Oolong tea did not appear to impact sleep, with no discernible differences noted in a range of sleep parameters compared with the placebo, despite parents’ subjective reports that their children appeared to sleep more deeply.

They conclude as follows … “These results suggest that sensorimotor abilities, anxiety levels and DSM-5 symptomology of children with autism can benefit from the administration of GABA in the form of Oolong tea.”

What is GABA Oolong tea?

When I shared this study and results on Facebook, I had a few people ask if they could simply add the amino acid GABA to their Oolong tea: “Is it just brewed tea with GABA powder added? Or does someone make a specific tea? I can totally add some GABA to my daily tea.”

It’s not regular oolong tea with GABA added, instead it’s specially fermented to increase GABA levels naturally. Amber GABA Oolong tea by Meileaf is the actual tea used in the study and they share this on the product page.

The farmers achieve this by alternating the leaves between air and a nitrogen rich environment (with no air) during the oxidation phase. This is done over a matter of hours and naturally increases the GABA levels in the tea leaves.

They also share this: “In order to be called GABA tea, the leaves must contain at least 150 mg of GABA per 100g (normal oolong has about 6 mg so that is 25 times higher).”

GABA Oolong tea does also contain theanine, caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate. There is a large part of the study dedicated to theanine so feel free to read that at your leisure.

How much GABA was ingested by study participants?

It was a surprisingly low dose of GABA! They were given 4 cups a day of the GABA Oolong tea and this provided a total of 39.2mg GABA for the day. The authors share this about the amount of daily GABA the study participants received:

With the GABA Oolong tea the dose would be approximately 280 mg per 100 g tea. Based on using 3.5 g per tea portion this equates to 9.8 mg of GABA; multiplied by 4 throughout the day, being 39.2 mg of GABA.

I’ve reached out to confirm which tea was used in the study since Meileaf mentions that this tea contains 205 mg of GABA per 100 g whereas the study states there was 280 mg GABA per 100 g tea. I see consistency with assessing GABA levels accurately being a possible issue (more on that below).

One of the first questions I had was how could such a small amount – 39.2 mg GABA for the day –  be so effective? I typically have clients start with 125 mg GABA and they may end up using this dose 3 or 4 x day (so 375 to 500 mg GABA total for the day.)

That said, we are all unique and as I’ve shared, there can be an extremely large variation in dosing.  In this blog I share how Syd gets sleep and body anxiety benefits with just 1.5 mg to 3 mg GABA and yet Christina’s agoraphobic client was able to leave the house with 3000 mg GABA.

My other questions: the placebo, caffeine, a histamine reaction, low cortisol and B1 depletion

With new research there are always many factors to consider and I have a number of other questions I’d love to see addressed:

  • Why did the placebo tea also contain GABA? It had 22.2 mg per day of GABA – about half that found in the GABA Oolong tea.
  • GABA Oolong tea does contain small amounts of caffeine and how would this affect susceptible individuals? One child was more anxious – was it due to caffeine or was it too much GABA for his needs or a histamine reaction due to the fermentation process (or something else)?
  • Do we need to be concerned about long term use and depletion of vitamin B1/thiamine which happens with regular tea.
  • And what about the effects if someone already has low cortisol levels?
  • Will there be standard levels and accurate measures of GABA in the various GABA Oolong teas that we can rely on? This applies to consumers and practitioners wanting to try this approach and for ongoing research.
  • How much of the effect was also due to addressing dehydration and helping with dietary oxalate issues which are known to be common in autism?

Hopefully new ongoing research with more participants will shed light on some of these questions.

I’d also love to see head to head research comparing GABA Oolong tea with supplementation of the amino acid GABA, and a study where both are used for possible synergistic effects.

I do appreciate that the authors attempt to address the GABA blood brain barrier (BBB) debate and how GABA could work, focusing on a permeable blood brain barrier in epilepsy and increased epilepsy in autism. This angle is new to me. I’ve addressed the leaky BBB at length here in my interview with Dr. Kharrazian (it’s a theory) and one of my interviews on a prior Anxiety Summit (there are many possible mechanisms and the peripheral effects).

If you’re new to symptoms of low GABA (and cases highlighting the calming effects of the amino acid GABA used as as a supplement)

GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid) is a calming neurotransmitter and the calming amino acid GABA used as a supplement can raise GABA levels. With low GABA levels you’ll feel a physical-tension and stiff-and-tense-muscles type of anxiety.

The other symptoms we see with low GABA are panic attacks, physical tension in certain settings like public speaking or driving, and the need to self-medicate to calm down, often with alcohol but sometimes with carbs and sugary foods. Insomnia can also be due to low GABA and you’ll experience physical tension (rather than the ruminating thoughts which is the low serotonin type of insomnia – although it’s not uncommon to experience both). GABA also helps with muscle spasms and pain relief when muscles are tight.

Here are are some case studies where you can read about the calming effects (and other benefits) of the amino acid GABA used as as a supplement:

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

If you are new to using GABA or any of the other amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low GABA and low serotonin).

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs. You can find them all in my online store.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Have you used GABA Oolong tea with clients/patients or personally? How much and what benefits have you seen?  Which product have you used?

If you’ve also used the amino acid GABA sublingually and with success, I’d love to hear how much (and which product) and how it compares with GABA Oolong tea for anxiety, insomnia, sensorimotor skills and/or autism symptoms (as applicable to you, your child or other family member and/or your client/patient)?

If you have questions please share them here too.