Posted by willyee on September 6, 2005, at 17:06:07
In reply to GABA meds other than benzos?, posted by blueberry on September 6, 2005, at 15:46:40
> Are there any meds that enhance the effects of GABA, other than the benzodiazepines? Any of the anticonvulsants for example? Anything?
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> I've recently discovered that xanax does wonders for me in terms of anti-anxiety, anti-panic, positive effect on motivation, and general well being. I only need .25mg four times a day. Without it, I get severe anxiety and panic, I mean emergency room kind of stuff. Very severe and very scary.
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> But I don't want to continue with xanax for fear of tolerance over time, dose escalation over time, and being addicted. My GP can prescribe it up to 4 months, but after that I would have to search for a pdoc to legally prescribe it long term. I don't want to do that.
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> I've been on 20mg prozac and 5mg zyprexa for years with no problems at all. But in the last few months anxiety and panic have developed very seriously to where I cannot hardly even tolerate an ssri any more and either zyprexa or seroquel only calm things down slightly but not nearly enough.
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> I need a GABA med, but preferably not a benzo. Any ideas?
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> Thank you!
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>
Almost every anti-convulsant effects gaba,in fact there are only a few that dont,lamictal for example,but the majority do.
Unfortunaly just saying u need gaba isnt all these is.Like serotion there are different ways in which a med,drug,herb etc interacts with gaba,and usualy simply increasing gaba does nothing for anxiety and can actualy make it worse.Benzos have a specific function at benzo recpetors therefore effect gaba a certain way,i know it but prob a fellow member can explain it more clearly than i can,because of the way benzos affect specificaly gaba is what makes them unique,and more effective than anti-convlsants alone for anxiety.
If you respond so well to a benzo,chances are nothing will give u that rate of relief then in fact a benzo.
HOwever adding a gaba med such as a ani convulasant can do a lot of things,it can first help a benzo become more effective,which in turn can allow u to use a lower dose of a benzo,as well as use a benzo less,at the same time providing u with more reliaf.
A gaba med can also help a benzso from pooping out or devolping tolerance to one.Also as a benzo is different,so is a gaba anti-convualsant,and can offer additonal benifits which a benzo can not.
So there are a lot of reasons to use one,unfortunaly for hard core anxiety a gaba med usualy isnt sufficent enough alone without a benzo,however everyone is different.
Just fyi,ur common gaba meds are...
Depakote
Nuerontion
Topamax
Tegatrol
Also gabitril is a gaba med that unlike the rest really does MOSTLY just increase gaba levels and UNLIKE the others doesent do other things,so in the form of a pure gaba med,gabaitril would be the one to offer an increase in gaba.
Over the counter stuff that would increase gaba arePicamilion
l theanine
kava kava
taurine
The above all increase gaba in a more natural way,and all have qouted effects on helping anxiety.
Unfortnalty one of the most potent meds on gaba is ghb,currently xyrem,and currently 90 percent illegal.
poster:willyee
thread:551444
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050901/msgs/551467.html