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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Maxime on April 30, 2005, at 16:11:49
HI
If I wanted to come off my 4 mg of clonazapam, would I be able to use GABA instead. Would it help with withdrawal?
Didn't know if I should post this here or on the withdrawal board.
Maxime
Posted by lotus on April 30, 2005, at 18:06:48
In reply to Can GABA replace Clonazapam, posted by Maxime on April 30, 2005, at 16:11:49
> HI
>
> If I wanted to come off my 4 mg of clonazapam, would I be able to use GABA instead. Would it help with withdrawal?
>
> Didn't know if I should post this here or on the withdrawal board.
>
> MaximeGABA doesn't cross the blood brain barrier very well,so you would probably want to try niacinimide or maybe Picamilon which is GABA bonded to niacin, but I don't think it would be anywhere near as strong as clonazepam.I think someone here mentioned using high dose niacinimide to come off of a benzo.
Posted by linkadge on April 30, 2005, at 20:11:21
In reply to Re: Can GABA replace Clonazapam, posted by lotus on April 30, 2005, at 18:06:48
For me, gaba has an effect but a short lived one.
I have found that I can reduce my clonazepam dose with taurine, and inositol, both of which have an effect on gaba receptor sensitivity/function.
Linkadge
Posted by Declan on May 2, 2005, at 6:08:49
In reply to Can GABA replace Clonazapam, posted by Maxime on April 30, 2005, at 16:11:49
Might help you taper. I tried taurine, GABA, and low dose Dilantin (30-60mg/d). None will substitute and certainly not straight away. Now that I think of it I also tried glycine and inositol. And herbs.
Declan
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 5, 2005, at 19:17:26
In reply to Can GABA replace Clonazapam, posted by Maxime on April 30, 2005, at 16:11:49
It can be a great placebo in people who don't know that it has no effect.
Oops, I'm sorry, you'll have to try another treatment now. ;)
Posted by Chairman_MAO on May 5, 2005, at 19:24:06
In reply to Can GABA replace Clonazapam, posted by Maxime on April 30, 2005, at 16:11:49
If you can tolerate it, Depakote is a great drug to use during benzodiazepine withdrawal, as it is a:
1) Na+ blocker. Guards against convulsions, stabilizes mood.
2) GAD inducer: increases GABA synthesis
3) SSADH inhbitor (I think): increases GABA levels by slowing gaba catabolism
4) I think it also may be a GABA-T inhibitor at high doses due to a secondary effect that's a result of the SSADH inhibitionTrileptal or Tegretol are also good for benzo tapering. If you want to go the natural/alternative route, high doses of gastrodin + kava extract + phenibut + l-theanine together along with 25-50mg picamilon tid would help.
Also, most people do not know this, but vanillin (the chemical used in artifical vanilla flavoring) is a GABA-T inhibitor. I believe around 3g/day in divided doses can provide a decent effect in man. Never really tried it, just read some references to it.
And speaking of GABAnergics in disguise, the active ingredient in LISTERINE (thymol) is a positive GABA-A modulator (or direct GABA-A agonist, I forget which). I wonder if any gets absorbed buccally/sublingually when rinsing with listerine; that could account for some of the "addictiveness" of mouthwash.
This is the end of the thread.
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