GABA Reviews for Improved Mood, Relaxation and Calm

GABA’s popularity as a nutritional supplement continues to grow despite the contradictions regarding its potential benefits.

The ongoing controversy centers around whether or not GABA supplements are able to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier or not. If it cannot, then it said to not be able to provide benefit to our brains.

Researchers tell us these supplements are unable to penetrate the barrier with any degree of effectiveness and therefore cannot be instrumental in increasing the levels of the GABA neurotransmitter in our brains.

User reports and GABA reviews, however, often directly contradict the scientific reports about the supplement, leaving researchers searching for a mechanism which could be causing the effects.

As it currently stands, some users continue to experience a better sense of well-being, better sleep, improved focus and more satisfaction with life in general when supplementing with GABA. It has been suggested that the growing number of users with positive reviews may be due entirely to the placebo effect, but there are other alternative theories as well.

One theory about why GABA supplements seems to cause effects for some people is related to the area of current research regarding blood-brain barrier hyperpermeability. It has been hypothesized that personal differences in blood-brain barrier permeability (whether naturally or possibly due to conditions such as chronic inflammation) may allow compounds like supplemental GABA into the brains of some people.

Another theory states that GABA may not have to directly cross over the blood-brain barrier to cause effects there. While the exact connection is still being studied, it is believed that the network of neurons in the gastrointestinal system (the enteric nervous system) has a connection with our brain and may actually play a role in our mental state. The theory therefore is that GABA supplements may interact with GABA receptors in the gut to then cause mental effects.

Either of these theories could reconcile the current scientific knowledge about GABA and the blood-brain barrier. At this time neither of these theories have been proven or even thoroughly studied though, and both would be good areas for future research.

The debate over efficacy aside, this article is intended to offer insight directed toward potential users of GABA supplements. The GABA reviews selected here have been chosen because they tend to reflect many other users experiences in a general sense.

GABA is available as a dietary supplement only, and the FDA has not approved GABA as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

GABA

GABAergic Supplement

Mood

Sleep

Body- building

How It Works:

• Anxiolytic effects to reduce stress
• May improve sleep & anxiety
• Supports fat loss & increases HGH

Dosage:

Between 250 - 1500 mg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top GABA Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

GABA Reviews for Calm & Relaxation

GABA is used most frequently for anxiety or panic attacks. It is unknown why some people experience anxiety relief and others do not.

GABA supplements have been used by some people as a natural alternative to prescription medications. However, it is important to note that GABA is not a drug, and it should not be used in the place of prescribed medications without doctor approval.

One user shared:

I’ve taken 750mg, 1500mg, and so on multiple times in trying to gain relief with this supplement. I believe every time I did there was absolutely no effect, if not some slight placebo effect.

Compared to many other supplements I have to agree with the science and say this one is kind of a waste of money and has little benefit, if any.

Alternatively, another reviewer suffering with social anxiety shared the following GABA review:

This GABA supplement is working better than I could have expected. It’s not as good as a benzo, but it is working for me. It took about two weeks of taking a 500mg pill four times a day before I started to notice the effects.

Now, I definitely feel calmer and more sociable. I’d say the only negative aspect of it is that usually twice a day I feel high. It’s not a bad feeling by any means, but I’ve never gotten any kind of high off a benzo.

GABA Reviews for Depression

GABA supplements are not an antidepressant however some individuals have reported relief from certain depressive symptoms when taking GABA supplements. Whether this is due to a placebo effect or not is unknown.

A man reports his experience thus:

This stuff is fantastic, puts me in a good mood every day, it’s seems to make me feel kind of euphoric in a odd way for about 5 minutes, might be surprised if you where not expecting it.

Others, who have tried it with hopes of relieving some of their symptoms but experience no relief, also weigh in:

GABA is produced naturally in your brain, not in a pill. This did not work for me. I took up to 4 of these at once and still nothing. And no I’m not a drug addict. I don’t blame the manufacturers because I use their other supplements and love them. This simply did not work to help my depression.

GABA Reviews for Better Sleep

Sleep regulation may be the effect which has the highest number of positive reports from users, though there are a fair share of those whose sleep showed no improvement.

A woman writes about her husband’s experience:

GABA does everything that it’s suppose to, after suffering a stroke my husband was having difficulty sleeping, this supplement has allowed him to get the first full nights rest since.

Most people who take GABA for sleep disturbances take between 750mg-1000mg right before going to bed. Because GABA may make you drowsy, this is a good time for anyone planning to experiment with this supplement.

GABA Reviews Summarized

GABA reviews are often positive despite the lack of scientific evidence supporting the use of this nootropic. Although it has been shown that GABA is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier, it is possible there is some other mechanism at work.

Because everyone’s brain chemistry is unique, nootropics and other mind enhancing supplements or medications may affect individuals differently.

Until more is known about GABA supplements, there are other GABAergic supplements which are suitable replacements. Two popular supplements are L-Theanine and Lemon Balm, both of which are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and interacting with GABA receptors in the brain.

Rate This Article

(15 votes, average: 3.47 out of 5, rated)