When taken by mouth: GABA is likely safe when taken in the amounts commonly found in foods. It is possibly safe when taken in larger amounts as medicine. Doses of up to 1.5 grams daily have been used for up to one month.
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.
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.
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. Evidence points to a need to take GABA supplements for at least one week to influence stress levels or sleep.
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.
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.
GABA dosing
In general, it is recommended that users begin with the lowest suggested dose, and gradually increase as needed. For sleep, stress and anxiety: 100-200 mg and higher doses, in scientific studies. Individual dosing and length of use will vary. For high blood pressure: 10-20 mg, in scientific studies.
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.
It usually takes about 1 week for gabapentin (Neurontin) to kick in. But it might take up to a month to experience the medication's full effects. The most common gabapentin side effects include sleepiness and dizziness. These side effects may improve once your body gets used to the medication.
A dosage of 2-4 capsules (1000 – 2000 mg) is recommended when taken to support a positive mood or sleep quality. GABA is water soluble and does not need to be taken with food.
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.
Magnesium is a mineral that's important for your health. When a magnesium-containing medication or supplement is taken with gabapentin, it can lower gabapentin's effectiveness. It's recommended to take gabapentin at least 2 hours after taking magnesium.
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.
For this reason, it's best to play it safe and not use GABA if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Interactions. Not enough is known about how GABA may interact with drugs, foods, or other herbs and supplements, but use with caution if taking with blood pressure medications.
It is possibly safe when taken in larger amounts as medicine. Doses of up to 1.5 grams daily have been used for up to one month. There isn't enough reliable information to know if GABA supplements are safe when used for longer than one month.
Taking GABA as an oral supplement can provide people relief from anxiety and chronic stress. Studies have shown that supplementation was effective as a relaxant and anxiety reliever. Other studies have shown that it can help people to recover quickly from extreme stress incidents.
Taken together with the fact that vigabatrin also affects GABA-T in the brain, these results suggest that central nervous system GABA may have strong effects on food intake and body weight gain in addition to its peripheral effects.
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.
When GABA levels get too low, it's difficult for the body to relax after a stress-induced neurotransmitter release. Low GABA activity leads to anxiety, depression, insomnia, and mood disorders. GABA is a natural brain relaxant that makes us feel good.
Maximum Dose
Some doctors prescribe GABA in doses of up to 200 milligrams, four times a day, for a maximum daily dose of 800 milligrams. GABA sold as a dietary supplement typically contains 500 to 750 milligrams of the neurotransmitter with recommendations to take it up to two times a day.
When it comes to L-theanine and GABA, L-theanine wins the battle to cross the blood brain barrier. Once consumed, it can easily cross the blood brain barrier and its effects on the brain are noted within 30 minutes [7]. L-theanine helps to promote relaxation without making you drowsy.