Posted by Michael Bell on March 2, 2003, at 8:18:17
In reply to Re: Picamilon for Social Phobia - GHB analogue?, posted by btnd on March 2, 2003, at 3:10:10
> > Wow, this stuff seems to work. It's a Russian nootropic that is GABA bonded to niacin (vitamin B3). GABA by itself doesn't pass through the brain barrier easily, but it does when bonded with niacin.
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> Isn't this the way GHB works? GHB was created because scientists wanted GABA to cross blood-brain barrier.
> I'm glad Picamilon is working for you.
These sites describe in detail how GHB works:www.mindandmuscle.net/content/page-46.html
andwww.ualberta.ca/~csps/JPPS4(2)/M.Okun/GHB
To sun up those articles: basically, GHB's effects are a result from interaction with two systems: GABA and DOPAMINE.
GABA -- GHB's immediate sedative effects are mediated by the GABA system. GHB does NOT bind with GABA receptors, but it is a metabolite of GABA and GHB receptors do bind on GABAergic neurons. Also, there is a relationship to Benzos as well.
Dopamine: GHB causes dopamine transmission to be inhibited for several hours, causing a buildup of unreleased dopamine. For these hours, the user is calm and uninhibited. Eventually the user falls asleep, and then all the dopamine is released, causing person to be in a refreshed, hyper-alert state the next morning.
So to answer your question (finally) - GHB works differently from Picamilon. Picamilon only has immediate effects on GABA, according to much of the literature. But it probably has indirect effects on dopamine as well, b/c GABA mediates all of the neurotransmitters, and has a special relationship with dopamine.
poster:Michael Bell
thread:205031
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030301/msgs/205241.html