Baclofen and Phenibut, and other agonists, are worse than Gabapentin in my experience, likely because I have lower than normal levels of GABA.
It's the only thing that explains how it helps me a lot with depression and anxiety, I get none of the negative effects and have very few withdrawal effects.
But I haven't noticed much of an effect on eating tbh.
Did help me drink much less alcohol though. I'm likely drinking because alcohol indirectly affects GABA receptors.
Wow, 1. who tf gave you phenibut before gabapentin/pregabalin? Phenibut is notoriously hard to quit. It takes at least a few weeks of gradual tapering down. 2. Together with a benzodiazepine? Wew, lad. Should've also taken a few shots of vodka before sleep for the insanity trifecta.
Edit: sorry, I always assume other people have access to medication. I don't so I shouldn't have laughed.
Yeah, so there are a few gabapentinoids/gabaergics out there, and they can help a lot.
But please read everything you can before deciding on something.
Just a couple of pages of Phenibut experiences have convinced me to not try it because there are better alternatives with fewer side effects.
Do you have links to more info on this? Sort of an armchair pharmocologist and had never heard this about gabapentin. I thought it was a straight up gaba agonist like phenibut. But makes sense that it would be different given its very unusual dose response curve/self potentiation.
(Probably making anyone who actually knows what they're talking about cringe. Take it easy, lol)
Phenibut (beta-phenyl-GABA, mentioned in the article) is a GABA-B drug discovered in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. It's not approved for any health condition in the US, but is sold as a "dietary supplement". It acts on the same receptor as Baclofen, a prescription drug that's used to relieve muscle spasms and spasticity. In higher doses, it can affect GABA-A, with effects similar to alcohol or some benzodiazepines. After regular use measured in weeks, it can cause a potentially life-threatening withdrawal syndrome that includes seizures.
As someone who's taken it a couple times, didn't get much out of it, and is now amazed he didn't end up in serious trouble: stay the hell away from Phenibut. Or, don't take my word for it: Google for "phenibut withdrawal".
Does a positive allosteric modulator of the GABAa receptor cause addiction the same way any old GABA agonist does?
I love GABA agonists from
benzos, benzo likes to phenibut and really wonder how it feels. If it feels the same way, then it feels like being wrapped in comfortable cotton, with all worries gone -heaven on earth. Hence the extreme addiction risk.
The drugs we are talking about are Bretazenil[1] and Pagoclone[2], which are more targeted than GABA agonists - they only bind to certain subtypes of the GABA receptor. They are also claimed to be partial agonists , meaning even at maximum capacity they only stimulate the receptor to a fraction[3] of a full agonist. One the other hand The potential of abuse of Pagoclone claimed to be similar to that of valium(how did they measure that ?).
On the other hand, there's some interesting work on molecules that decrease dependence/tolerance.For example there's work on reducing morphine abuse potential using calcium/magnesium in rats[4].There's also conflicting research results regarding the effect of magnesium, glycine and zinc on the effect alcohol has on the NMDA receptor(which is supposed to be the main cause of tolerance)[5].
So maybe there's a combination that gives most of the benefits of alcohol , with a small dependence potential. Let's not get discouraged from this noble goal yet.
Random, but this makes me wonder about Gabapentin. I had a family member take it and apparently acted very erratically, and reports online indicate that it might have similar effects as those boasted by these new drinks.
Can any of the (armchair) pharmacologists shine any light for me? Thanks! I googled some, but I think I'm too inexperienced to even have a foothold to know where to start for researching or really even knowing what I need to understand to guess at this.
Reading about this venture to make anf popularize GABA tickling drug without the self limiting ill effects is worrying in the long term.
Such things exist, and sure, one is fine.. but one a day for a week and then you are heading for an undescribably hellish withdrawal.
I had a brief dalliance with Phenibut for anxiety self medication. It targets GABA receptors, and boy does it work. But read about it in the forums and then you'll find the horror stories of people trying to quit, or running out and having months of nightmares and shakes and paranoia. I noped out of that in time, thankfully.
If anyone wants to know what this might feel like, get on a gaba blocker. Then get off of it. Notice the difference. GABA is important stuff in your brain.
Note: I don’t actually recommend doing this. GABA blockers can fuck you up.
I also tried gabapentin for suspected nerve damage, and it made me feel like I was drunk - that's not a state that would allow me to live a normal life, working, driving etc
Informative post, but I have one minor correction:
Gabapentin(and pregabalin), while a GABA analogue, doesn't actually interact with GABA receptors og GABA itself at all. It acts on voltage-gated calcium channels, which is in part similar to the downstream signalling effects of GABA, and hence gives the effects you describe.
WTF? I don't know what drug is being sold in that article, but it's likely that it is a GABA agonist. And if it's that there is the risk of drug dependency. We know it because the benzodiazepines and barbiturates are quite addictive.
I take gabapentin for nerve damage, no euphoria but I do get a detached feeling of general wellness.
Its not all good though, it also makes my head fuzzy, enough that it impacts work so I keep the doses to the minimum during the day and take some pain in return for clarity, it's a devils choice either way though.
Gabapentin is often prescribed for depression. It can be taken with other antidepressants. I’ve heard it can cause severe weight gain via water weight and bloating.
It's the only thing that explains how it helps me a lot with depression and anxiety, I get none of the negative effects and have very few withdrawal effects.
But I haven't noticed much of an effect on eating tbh.
Did help me drink much less alcohol though. I'm likely drinking because alcohol indirectly affects GABA receptors.
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