I've started taking GABA and 5-HTP 4 days ago.
I didn't score low on any of the quiz tests (although it's been some time that I took them) but have been suspecting serotonin deficiency, so the main thing was 5-HTP, and due to Laura's remark in USD thread I also included GABA cause I've noticed that lately, while making more changes in my diet, I crave sweets heavily. Not that I'm on USD yet, still need to deal completely with sugar and coffee, but I make progress. Baby steps but it's moving in right direction. At least it looks that way to me. I'll post details about that and other things in different thread(s).
Laura said:
The more we observe and experience, the more I think that nobody should undertake a detox diet without having a supply of 5-htp and GABA on hand, and melatonin, too, to assist with stopping cravings and to help sort out the sleep cycle. Eating properly is one leg of this program, and sleeping properly is another.
Since it's veeery difficult to find these stuff in Croatia (as I've written before), I found only one place where they can be bought over the counter and they are not optimal, ie. 5-HTP comes as 100mg - 30 capsules _http://www.vitasprings.com/5-htp-100-mg-30-capsules-lifetime.html - ~15€ and GABA is GABA-PLUS with Inositol and Niacinamide - 50 capsules _http://www.twinlab.com/product/gaba-plus%E2%84%A2-caps - ~15€
I checked on Inositol and Niacinamide and it seems that they are ok but it would make me more calm if someone with more knowledge about it could chime in here.
I have to admit that it took me quite some time to start taking them (I bought them several weeks ago).
I wasn't sure if taking them both at the same time is good way to go, 5-HTP is 100mg and not 50mg, and on GABA label it says to take it before bedtime, so I started with 100mg 5-HTP at dinner time and 1 capsule of GABA (that would make just 100mg GABA, but 600mg Inositol and 200mg Niacinamide) before bed.
First evening after 5-HTP I noticed that I was getting a little bit sleepy (which was strange cause I read that if taking with meal effects won't show until some time has passed) - it could had been an auto-suggestion - and after GABA I experienced a tingling sensation in my legs - before reading this thread I would have described that sensation as "running legs" - while in bed. That night I had pretty restless sleep and woke up slightly sweaty. Well, the same effect sometimes I get from EE, probably when my machine is slightly intoxicated, so my conclusion was that I was detoxifying (which at other hand confirms for me that EE is really working, if ever there was any doubt about that ;)). I continued taking them like that for next 3 days, no more tingling sensations but each night it was harder and harder to fall asleep, and last night ended laying down for several hours with my mind running (I've "written" several posts on forum during that time; it would be much easier for me, as I'm slow writer, if we could communicate in that way :D) and had to concentrate hard to calm it down to try to fall asleep. And as soon I would slowly fall asleep, concentration would loosen and there it would go again. I got decent sleep only few hours before getting up and had a feeling of being somewhere between sleep and waking state for the most of the night.
Nevertheless, surprisingly, today I wasn't sleepy at all but felt quite energized, just like previous days since I've started taking 5-HTP and GABA. These few days my mind was very sharp and bright and I've been feeling pretty good, both body and emotions as well (being in touch/connected with them).
Anyway, I was concerned about having trouble falling asleep since it's opposite from what I'm trying to achieve and following post stick out:
Psyche said:
Hi slowone,
You can add 500mg of GABA twice a day. Dinner time and before bed is the favored timing, but you can experiment with that. I heard how some had needed more. But the recommended dose for a GABA imbalance is 500mg x 2. If it energizes you before bed time it might be due to sluggish liver issues, then you know that you need to take the GABA during the day.
In another Psyche's post I've recognized some more possible sluggish liver symptoms (together with having slight troubles when I started to use lard) so I'll have to check that issue more in detail.
Regarding GABA and 5-HTP, this evening I decided to swap them, took GABA during dinner and will take 5-HTP before bed.
Shortly after taking GABA I felt a rush of energy but things calmed down not so long afterwards.
Any advice appreciated and will keep you posted how things develop.