L-Theanine and/or GABA Calm?

[mexigrl64]

Hi all,

I did some searching and found threads on both of these but nothing that compared them. I did note one that someone took them together.

I started taking Magnesium and L-Theanine (100 mg) about 2 weeks ago. Tinnitus has been up and down but there was a period of calm. I do have the GABA Calm but was wondering if one is better than the other, or if the can or should be taken together. Does anyone have experience with that?

My L-Theanine dosing may be too low so perhaps I should bump it up. I was hoping it would help me sleep but I'm still pretty restless. I take them around 6PM at night.

Thanks and Happy 2019 to all

Laurianne

 

[Johnny Karate]

I take 600mg of Theanine 2 to 3 times a day and 750mg of GABA with 400mg of Magnesium at night. Works good together in my book. I also take 3mg of Melatonin nightly.

 

[ThomasC]

I tried L-theanine and it did nothing. I just felt a bit more calm. I've never tried GABA but I will. I'm afraid that it may give some complication like benzodiazepines.

 

[mrbrightside614]

Straight GABA doesn't cross the blood brain barrier and is largely useless. Theanine may help marginally, but you can develop a tolerance with it.

 

[foam]

L-Theanine works for me, I'm not using it at the moment but given how well it worked in the darkest early days I fully expect it could zero my remaining tinnitus for several hours these days if I got more of it.

 

[Johnny Karate]

L-theanine is not habit-forming as it does not lead to tolerance and dependence when used over long periods of time.
You can read current stuff on GABA supplements here:
https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health/gaba-supplements-glorious-gimmicky-or-just-garbage

 

[HeavyMantra]

I've found l-theanine to work OK against acute anxiety. It isn't Xanax obviously but I do find it useful if I'm very anxious. I take 1-2 teaspoons of powder.

 

[morgothaod]

Been taking this for about 10 days. It does help me sleep a little bit better (I have dreams). My tinnitus is still the same though. I take 1 pill at night.

https://www.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Melatonin-L-theanine-Supporting/dp/B082N5L4NN/

 

[Kirstine]

I take 600mg of Theanine 2 to 3 times a day and 750mg of GABA with 400mg of Magnesium at night. Works good together in my book. I also take 3mg of Melatonin nightly.

Just want to tell you that taking GABA as a supplement does not help. It never reaches the brain after being processed in the stomach

 

[Johnny Karate]

Just want to tell you that taking GABA as a supplement does not help. It never reaches the brain after being processed in the stomach

Can GABA supplements cross the blood brain barrier?

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the human cortex. ... It has long been thought that GABA is unable to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB), but the studies that have assessed this issue are often contradictory and range widely in their employed methods.

There are both a number of studies that were unable to show that GABA crosses the BBB and a number of studies that did show GABA's ability to cross. In view of the multitude of employed methods and species, in addition to the finding that GABA metabolism might differ between rodents and humans (Errante et al., 2002), it is not possible at this time to come to a definite conclusion with regards to GABA's BBB permeability in humans.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4594160/

 

[DebInAustralia]

Just want to tell you that taking GABA as a supplement does not help. It never reaches the brain after being processed in the stomach

It does if you have a leaky blood brain barrier...