GABA and Benzodiazepines Usage and Precautions

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is a usually existing amino acid that functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Neurotransmitters work as chemical massagers.GABA is generally taken as an inhibitive neurotransmitter because it hinders and blocks specific brain signals and lowers or reduces activity. GABA has a calming effect when it binds to a protein in the brain called a GABA receptor. Anxiety, worry, and fear can all be alleviated by doing so. It may also aid in the prevention of seizures.

GABA has been a popular supplement in recent years as a result of these qualities. The latter is because it isn’t found in many foods. GABA can only be found in fermented foods, such as tempeh (Kanklai et al., 2020).GABA has long been used to reduce physical and mental fatigue. Low blood pressure, improved sleep, and stress control are also some of the GABA’S strong medicinal values (Reshetnik et al., 2017). Because GABA may cause drowsiness in some people, you should avoid driving or using machinery after taking it until you know how it affects you. There’s also no way of knowing if GABA interacts with any drugs or supplements. If one wishes to try GABA, one should consult the doctor first. Prescription knowledge should be adequate or over-the-counter medications one is taking and any herbs or other supplements. Doctors can offer a better sense of what to look out for if you’re taking GABA.

Benzodiazepine’s prescription is broad for anxiety disorders in the United States (55–94 percent of patients with anxiety disorders were prescribed benzodiazepines) (Chang, 2018). Benzodiazepines are thought to boost the actions of the neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA). They accomplish this by interacting with benzodiazepine receptors. GABA-induced regulation of neuronal transmission in the amygdala, located in the brain stem and known to mediate brain circuits involved in danger appraisal and fear perception, is thought to alleviate fear. The continued popularity of benzodiazepines can be attributed to several factors, including their ongoing success in reducing anxiety, tension, and different physical symptoms of anxiety and their rapid commencement of the therapeutic activity.

Benzodiazepine’s withdrawal syndrome is mainly presented as deadly, and patients and physicians alike fear it. Some individuals continue to use benzodiazepines to avoid withdrawal symptoms—increased anxiety of not quitting taking the drug and supports the idea that benzodiazepines are addictive. In general, benzodiazepines are well endured. Sedation is the most common side effect. For the most part, Sedation is dose-dependent, meaning that the larger the dose, the more probable people will feel slowed down, weary, tired, or even sleeping. Sedation happens most frequently at the start of treatment or shortly after the dose is raised (Jeschek et al., 2015)