Dosage and Timing of GABA Supplements A small-scale study found that taking a 300 milligram (mg) dose of GABA before bed for several weeks was well-tolerated and reduced the time required to fall asleep.
The usual doses are 100 mg of GABA and 1–3 mg of melatonin, taken 30–60 minutes before bedtime. At these levels, melatonin and GABA are safe and generally well tolerated.
Much higher dosages are sometimes recommended by alternative practitioners for treating anxiety or insomnia, as high as 1000 mg daily, in the (probably vain) hope that some tiny amount of this orally ingested GABA might make it into the brain.
People who are using GABA to enhance the quality of their sleep are best to take a single, larger dose half an hour before bed. GABA is most effective on an empty stomach, so it is a good idea to wait an hour between eating food or drinking protein, and GABA supplementation.
The NNHPD monograph for Cognitive Function Products recommends a daily intake of 50–3000 mg GABA that does not exceed 750 mg per single dose; it also says to consult a healthcare practitioner for use of products providing 300 mg/day or more when GABA is used for longer than 4 weeks [48].
Treatment for depression
Some studies have shown that GABA supplements can act just as quickly and effectively as some antidepressants. This may be counterintuitive, as GABA's role is to calm the brain down.
Clinical studies suggest that taking up to 120 milligrams (mg) of GABA per day as supplements for 12 weeks is unlikely to cause adverse effects. People should take care when using them with other drugs. Using them with medications for high blood pressure or epilepsy may increase the impact of those drugs.
GABA Dosage Guide
The typical dosage for general stress relief is around 750–800 milligrams daily, divided up into three to four doses over the course of the day. For anxiety, some recommend taking between 250 milligrams to 650 milligrams three times daily, for a total of 750–1,950 milligrams.
Too much GABA can cause an increase in anxiety, a shortness of breath, numbness around the mouth and tingling in the extremities. When you start taking GABA you might experience drowsiness or lightheadedness (so don't take it before driving), and in some individuals, skin hives or a rash may appear.
As the main 'inhibitory neurotransmitter' in the brain, its principal role is to reduce the activity of nerve cells in the nervous system. By reducing the excitability of those nerve cells, GABA has a calming effect on the brain and body. So it's thought to help reduce anxiety, stress, and promotes sleep.
It slows down your brain by blocking specific signals in your central nervous system (your brain and spinal cord). GABA is known for producing a calming effect. It's thought to play a major role in controlling nerve cell hyperactivity associated with anxiety, stress and fear.
Gabapentin and magnesium can interact with each other. Magnesium can lower the effects of gabapentin. If you've been prescribed gabapentin and take a medication or supplement containing magnesium, it's recommended to take gabapentin at least 2 hours after taking it.
While GABA provides emotional and behavioral support by reducing excitability and promoting relaxation and calmness, melatonin provides physical sleep support by directly regulating the sleep-wake cycle. It improves sleep quality, increases total sleep time, and decreases the amount of time it takes to fall asleep.
If we consider that the average half-life of gabapentin is around seven hours in most people, it would take about 48 hours for the drug to be totally eliminated from the system; however, there other factors that can affect this process.
Dosage for Epilepsy with Partial Onset Seizures
The starting dose is 300 mg three times a day. The recommended maintenance dose of gabapentin is 300 mg to 600 mg three times a day. Dosages up to 2,400 mg/day have been well tolerated in long-term clinical studies.
High blood pressure
A 2009 study found that taking a GABA-containing Chlorella supplement twice a day reduced blood pressure in those with borderline hypertension.
2 However, high daily doses of GABA (5 to 10 grams) may result in a burning sensation in your throat and low blood pressure. The upper recommended intake is typically 3 grams per day—with no more than 750 milligrams per dose.
As a general rule you will get the best results if you take GABA on an empty stomach or away from food. If you can't take it away from food, don't worry, it will still work, it may just not be as fast acting. For anxiety or chronic stress take 1-3 caps in the morning – and then take 1-3 caps in the afternoon.
The evidence for GABAergic involvement in panic disorder is that blocking GABAA receptors with antagonists leads to severe anxiety in man and in animals,22,23 whereas increasing GABA function with agonists reduces anxiety.
Anxiety Management
Just one hour after taking GABA, they saw a significant increase in alpha waves, which caused feelings of calm and relaxation.
For example, when alcohol intake is high, in an effort to avoid an excessive accumulation of GABA (as well as other neurotransmitters), receptor response is dampened. Meaning that over time, you'll need more of the substance to provide the same effect, which may lead to potential addiction and alcohol dependency .
Low GABA activity is linked to insomnia and disrupted sleep. In one study, GABA levels in people with insomnia were almost 30 percent lower than in people without the sleep disorder. And these low GABA levels also corresponded to more restless, wakeful sleep.
Medications for high blood pressure (Antihypertensive drugs) interacts with GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID (GABA) GABA might lower blood pressure. Taking GABA along with medications that lower blood pressure might cause blood pressure to go too low.