Posted by HoldenYosarian on February 12, 2005, at 23:29:51
In reply to Re: Are any of these new GABA meds effective?, posted by sabre on January 28, 2005, at 15:49:25
I've had my share of experimening with better living through chemistry--tried almost every SSRI ever made--xanax, librium, Valium, Serax, Klonopin, Neurontin (briefly--might as well be placebo), in attempt to simply "normalize" and live a satisfying productive life...as well as an even more extensive foray into the "less sanctioned" versions of chemical recreation...I've also made an avocation out of studying the brain/mind and its workings, as well as biochemistry. I won't bore you with the details at this point.
The point is, if I understand it correctly, three beers, that you're looking more for the "illicit" goal than the societally-approved one (a pleasant buzz rather than simply the content stability promised--and of course rarely delivered---by the medical establishment). Far be it from me to judge. Frankly, I agree with you.
But I believe your entry focussed around manipulating GABA levels as a means of achieving this state. Of course, that's not surprising. That's all you hear about, practically, with respect to relaxation and contentment, these days..."GABA this, GABA that...".
The problem is, that it isn't as simple as focussing on GABA alone when trying to achieve that feeling of "pleasantly removed"...or should I say it..."Comfortably numb".
First of all, I agree totally with the guy who said that messing around with your GABA levels alone will, at best, leave you initially slow,
sluggish, and mentally foggy, but that the rebound anxiety involved with long periods of GABA increase--inevitable, of course--leaves you with the promise of overwhelming anxiety, which hardly made the stupor you were in during your GABA phase even worthwhile. And that's not to mention the Depression that's likely to accompany both the GABA boosting AND the detox.
Let me cut to the bottom line. People who find they need or even regularly want a "three beer effect" are usually those who need some sort of social lubricant or are otherwise uncomfortable with reality in a way that keeps them in a state of anxiety.
To put it simply, you're putting the cart before the horse. You've got to address that underlying cause before you can appreciate the quality or significance of the symptoms.
The answer is norepinepherine, not GABA. Call me paranoid, but getting caught up in the GABA merry go 'round is exactly what the Pharm. guys want. Addiction to the means of addressing symptoms, not an actual cure of the underlying imbalance/condition.
I don't have time at the moment to go into the relation btwn norep. and GABA, other neurotransmitters, etc--sorry. But if you want that "three beer effect", you're going to have to start with addressing your norepinepherine levels. Wellbutrin is a weak norepinepherine re-uptake inhibitor, as well as dopamine. Effexor is a stronger Nor. re-up inhib, and increases serotonin levels, as well. There's a new AD, called reboxetine, which is solely a Nor. re-up inhibitor, but I don't think you can get it in the states (guess why? As they say, just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean I'm wrong).
L-tyrosine, an amino acid, increases levels of Nor. (and Dopamine, but mostly Nor.) you should take at least 3g on an empty stomach for any results. There are other Nor. supplement precursors, as well, including D-phenylalanine, quite a few others, plus herbals.
For more info about importance of norepinepherine in the release and control of stress hormones and anxiety, do a search on "cortisol the hypothalamus and Nor.", "PTSD and Nor.,", "medication resistant depression and Nor."
Deal with the underlying reason, which almost certainly involves your Nor. levels, and then....drink three beers--or whatever.
poster:HoldenYosarian
thread:448915
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050212/msgs/457013.html