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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by qbsbrown on April 7, 2009, at 17:29:29
It seems that all of the readings that I find, say that since it can not cross the blood brain barrier, it is worthless.
I am withdrawing my valium, and wondered if it would assist at all. Someone even mentioned that no one on medication should take it.
One thing I found that does work is the amino acid l glutamine.
I took it yesterday, and had to catch a flight, and it was the first time in over 5 years that I didn't have anxiety or a panic attack on an airplane flight.
Thanks for your advice.
Regards,
Brian
Posted by nolvas on April 8, 2009, at 10:20:13
In reply to Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by qbsbrown on April 7, 2009, at 17:29:29
Niacinamide can help wean you off Valium.
"The book I have is called "Depression Free Naturally" by Joan Mathews Larson, Ph.D.
Niaciamide is mentioned several times, but on page 156 its says:
In 1979, shortly after the original Valium patent expired, Hoffmann LaRoche, the drug company that made Valium, published an article entitled: "Nicotinamide is a brain-sonstituent with benzodiazepine-like actions.: What that means is niaciamide (nictinamide is the British name for niacinamide) acts like Valium and the entire group of benzoldiazepines in the brain--with the difference, of course, that niacinamide is not addictive. The reason niacinamide is not widely used as a tranquilizer is simple: it isn't patentable! Drs. Abram Hoffer and Humphry Osmond, an orthomolecular psychiatrist who worked with Dr. Hoffer extensively, found that a possible genetic deficiency exists in some people that requires them to need larger daily quantities of niacinamide to produce a normal state of calm. Since it is water-soluable, niacinamide is not stored long term in the body. One to 3 grams in divided daily doses have been used successfully by many.
WARNING: If you persistently experience nausea from taking niacinamide, it means your liver is unable to handle the amount of B3. Immediately stop taking it for a while, and if you resume again, cust the dose in half.Dr. Mensah at Pfeiffer has her taking 500 mg of Niacinamide twice a day (total of 1 gram). "
Source : http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/laura/vpost?id=2659938&goto=nextnewest
Some people have used L-Theanine as well to reduce their dosage of Valium. In my experience L-Theanine is no where near as potent as Valium, some people respond very well to L-Theanine.There is a support website for withdrawing from Valium >
My experience with Valium is that it works really well and I used to take it as and when I need it. Since I won't get it illegally and my doctor won't prescribe it me (unless I have a particular crisis) then I haven't got addicted to it.
I wish you well in coming off the Valium, it is possible but you need to do it with the guidance of a professional.
Some studies, taken from the excellent Hyperhealth 5 CD-ROM >Peer-Reviewed Professional Medical Journals
·Akhundov, R. A. [Nootropic and anxiolytic properties of endogenous ligands of benzodiazepine receptors and their structural analogs]. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 97(2):174-177, 1984.
Experiments on mice and rats were made to study the nootropic and anxiolytic properties of endogenous ligands of benzodiazepine receptors of nicotinamide and inosine and of their new structural analogs - NMF and AZN. They were shown to have overt antihypoxic and anxiolytic effects. NMF and AZN given in 10-fold lower doses than endogenous benzodiazepine ligands appeared more active than these compounds and almost similar to diazepam as regards the activity. The data obtained point to the possibility of a purposeful search for new efficacious psychotropic and nootropic substances in the series of compounds structurally related to endogenous ligand of benzodiazepine receptors.
·Akhundov, R. A., et al. [Psychoregulating role of nicotinamide.] Biull Eksp Biol Med. 115(5):487-491, 1993.
In the experiment and clinics, psychotropic effect of nicotinamide (tranquilized and nootropic activity) has been established. It has been shown that nicotinamide in conflict situations has an anxiolytic effect, increases aggressive reaction threshold, and decreasse the quantity of induced fights during interspecies' incompatibility modelling.
·Meletis, C. D., et al. Mental health: not all in the mind - really a matter of cellular biochemistry. Alternative & Complementary Therapies. February 2004:39-42.
The niacinamiude form of vitamin B3 exerts effects similar to benzodiazepines in the brain. It stimulates GABA receptors, thereby exerting calming effects. Niacinamide supplementation may thereby reduce anxiety symptoms. Suggested dosage is 300 mg per day.
·Mohler, H., et al. Nicotinamide is a brain constituent with benzodiazepine-like actions. Nature. 278(5704):563-565, 1979.[no abstract available].
·Wright, J. Treatment of chronic anxiety and associated physical complaints with niacinamide and essential fatty acids: two cases. Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine. 7(3):182-185, 1992.
Laypersons Publications
·Bourassa, D. J. Silencing the aging gene: another look at clinical uses for niacinamide, the other B3. Vitamin Research News. May 2000.
Niacinamide has been found to be effective for reducing anxiety. It may be an effective alternative to benzodiazepines for the treatment of anxiety as niacinamide has demonstrated benzodiazepine-like actions. Niacinamide is likely to be an endogenous ligand for the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor complex.
·Vayda, W. Tranquillizers: is the remedy worse than the disease? Nature & Health. 5(1):44-48, 1984.
The author advocates the use of 1,000 - 6,000 mg of the niacinamide form of vitamin B3 per day for the treatment of anxiety on the basis of its ability to exert benzodiazepine-like activity within the brain.
Posted by qbsbrown on April 8, 2009, at 10:36:08
In reply to Re: Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by nolvas on April 8, 2009, at 10:20:13
Thanks for the advice.
I didn't know you could take that much niacinimide. I was only taking 300mg of niacinimide. I'm gonna give the 500 twice daily a go.
Funny you mention theanine, I was going to go buy some today.
For withdrawal, I'm also taking mag/cal.
I also found that l glutamine (precursor to GABA) has a great calming effect for me.
Thanks for the help.
If you have any further advice, I appreciate it.
Brian
Posted by qbsbrown on April 9, 2009, at 10:20:38
In reply to Re: Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by qbsbrown on April 8, 2009, at 10:36:08
Could B Complex help at all for weaning off of valium? I can tell that it helps with depression and stress, but didn't know if it was revving up withdrawal symptoms.
The niacinimide does help, and i'm excited to try theanine.
Regards,Brian
Posted by bleauberry on April 10, 2009, at 19:40:54
In reply to Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by qbsbrown on April 7, 2009, at 17:29:29
For every article you can find that claims Gaba does not cross the brain barrier, I can find one that says it does.
There are even books written by alternative doctors that use it regularly on patients. I don't think they would be doing that, or writing books on it, if they weren't seeing some helpfulness.
All I know is that whenever I took Gaba, I definitely felt it. I had no doubt it got into my brain.
I did not however find it to be good monotherapy. It needs partners. Things that qualify would be glycine, magnesium, 5htp, tryptophan, niacinamide, valerian root, passionflower.
Posted by qbsbrown on April 10, 2009, at 19:46:07
In reply to Re: Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by bleauberry on April 10, 2009, at 19:40:54
> For every article you can find that claims Gaba does not cross the brain barrier, I can find one that says it does.
>
> There are even books written by alternative doctors that use it regularly on patients. I don't think they would be doing that, or writing books on it, if they weren't seeing some helpfulness.
>
> All I know is that whenever I took Gaba, I definitely felt it. I had no doubt it got into my brain.
>
> I did not however find it to be good monotherapy. It needs partners. Things that qualify would be glycine, magnesium, 5htp, tryptophan, niacinamide, valerian root, passionflower.Yeah, I've heard both sides of the GABA story. I had a bad reaction to 5htp, niacinamide and even valerian. I think I'm just too sensitive.
how long did it take you to get through your benzo withdrawal hell?
This is my 5th attempt after being on them for over 5 years. This time I'm taking it ssssllllooowww. Some nasty stuff.
Any advice for this.
I fall asleep ok around 10-12pm. I'm sleeping deep, having dreams, then i'll just wake up like a deer in the headlights, physical anxiety, nervous adreneline rushing (my testicles up my stomach, at around 6am, or before sunrise.
Even though I take a 10mg valium up on waking,this seems to last til around 11 am.
Any tips?
Posted by nolvas on April 11, 2009, at 5:26:21
In reply to Nolvas: B Complex for benzo withdrawal?, posted by qbsbrown on April 9, 2009, at 10:20:38
The B Vitamins have a myriad of important biological functions in the body. I have found that it's best to take the lowest concentration B Complex and then work up from there. For example a very strong complex such as B100 makes me much more anxious.
I seem to find it better to take the B Vitamins as a complex earlier in the day.
Posted by Lao Tzu on April 15, 2009, at 6:41:43
In reply to Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by qbsbrown on April 7, 2009, at 17:29:29
I do think GABA is rather worthless for anxiety. I've tried it countless times, and it did nothing special. On the other hand, when I was taking Ativan (a benzodiazepine like Valium), I started taking L-glutamine 500mg per day, and I noticed that they both complemented each other very well. No depression. No anxiety. A little more energy. That's my experience. Whether GABA would help with a Valium withdrawal I cannot say. I doubt it, though. You might do much better taking Niacinamide (not Niacin) than GABA to help you ease off the Valium.
Posted by tonyz on June 20, 2009, at 17:13:58
In reply to Re: Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by bleauberry on April 10, 2009, at 19:40:54
Blueberry,
Do you treat your depression primarily with natural substances? Have you ever tried St John's Wort (the German brand that is standardized hypericin and hypoferon)? I was stable on Sam-e for about 2 years but then I think it stopped working. Only thing I think it may have been disrupting my sleep a bit.
Posted by lainiebug on October 8, 2009, at 12:12:08
In reply to Re: Is GABA supplement worthless?, posted by qbsbrown on April 10, 2009, at 19:46:07
> I fall asleep ok around 10-12pm. I'm sleeping >deep, having dreams, then i'll just wake up like >a deer in the headlights, physical anxiety, >nervous adreneline rushing (my testicles up my >stomach, at around 6am, or before sunrise.
I have the same problem (sans testes LOL). Let me know if you get any tips that work. I was doing really well for awhile, even off of anti-depressants, but just had a messy end to a 1-year relationship and feel like I'm going crazy.
This is the end of the thread.
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