Hi there.....

I was talking with my favorite Naturopath today and was asking for his recommendations for panic attacks. We were talking about anxiety and some things that can help.
In my case I'm trying to target panic attacks when driving.

I found L-theanine a little helpful.
I heard recently about inositol ( thank you, L), And he tells me this may help.
He highly recommended sublingual GABA too.
And other stuff like excercise, fresh air etc.

Has anyone gotten good results with any or all of these - espcially GABA
for not necessarily anxiety, but for full blown panic attacks? I do not get the kind where you
hyperventilate, nor the fear of dying. Mine are like my heart is pounding SO hard,
I get numb and tingly and nauseaus, I get jelly legs, have had my legs go out from under me like before you faint. Meaning, I would have fallen on the ground but I held onto something.
Things go dark like I'm going to black out.

Anyone have these symptoms of panic attacks that found gaba helpful?

Thanks Ladies,
-MB

I tried GABA for just anxiety, before the peri panic came a calling. I had a weird
reaction in that it made my lips numb. I tried it twice and had the same side
effect. Needless to say, I didn't take it long enough to make a assessment.

Inositol is being studied for depression and cancers. I tried it for sleep, but NOPE.


My alternative attempt of the month is Rhodiola rosea. I read in "Prevention," that
studies suggest it can reduce irritablility, depression and fatigue related to
hormonal imbalance. It's classified as an adaptogen, which increase your
resistance to stress. You could notice a stimulating effect (irritability or
insomnia); if so decrease the dosage.

With my luck the "hormonal balance," factor increases progesterone and
I'll be a blubbering mess. We shall see!!
I tried Vitex and hated it.

My panic is MUCH better! But, I'm still anxious, angry and have mood swings.
Not to mention the premenstrual depression. THis does get better. Two
steps forward, one step back.

And before my period the panic could broadside me again. Breath, Mary Beth.

Chris -

about breathing.....yep I have to work on that every moment I'm driving.
For some reason the auto-breath is off line when I am in the car.

Do you think there is any correlation between your panic seeing an improvement
and the Rhodiola rosea?

I have to register my car within a day or 2, plus need gas - these are only a few miles away,
but some bad intersections. I tried St John's Wort a little while ago to see if it helped- since it seemed to work once. Other times no effect. This time it is making my face tingle and burn and making me woozie....

-MB

I haven't tried the Rhodiola, yet. Likely treating the hyperthyroidism and
the Effexor helped the panic. It's not gone, but it's not nearly as severe.
The premenstrum and lack of sleep exacerbate the panic.

Also, I have used the floating technique, at times. Plus, when I would first
feel the twinges of escalating anxiety, it helps at times to tell myself I'm
anxious, but I won't let it escalate into panic.

Good luck, girl!

Hi MaryBeth,
I just wanted to add that I have tried GABA and it made me feel very relaxed. I got mine at Vitamin World and it is called Gaba Complex. It says you can take two, but I only took one. I was a passenger in a car and don't know if I would have felt comfortable driving. I felt way too relaxed for that.
I have a book called A-to-Z Supplements. It is by a James F. Balch, MD. It has a lot of info on different vitamins, herbs, minerals and other supplements. He says Gaba can be taken to calm the body in much the same way as Valium and other tranquilzers, but without the fear of addiction.
He also adds that too much Gaba can cause increased anxiety, shortness of breath, and numbness around the mouth and tingling in the extremities. It doesn't mention how much is too much...that being the main reason I started out with only one capsule. It was also one of those things that worked pretty much within the hour of taking it.
I hope this helps.
Happy New Year, Mary >^.,.^<
PS I also suffer from driving anxiety. I find that having the radio on and singing helps, that is for me...not my passengers. I am getting better but still have a hard time at stop lights and in traffic. This is so not like me. I used to LOVE to drive, but now find even being a passenger can be hard at times. That is when the Gaba comes into play.

Hi Minnie Mag -

Thanks very much for your post!
I did talk to a Naturopath/Vitamin Guru about the GABA.
He's been a friend I've know a long time, and I also order stuff from his little store.
I allow him to play with the order a little based on his own personal knowledge, his knowing me and my personality and health, my current syptoms, season, etc.

So the box arrived yesterday. He enclosed sublingual GABA - 100 mg tabs.
The brand is Source Naturals, the Product name is "GABA CALM"
Ingredients are: GABA 100mg, Glycine 50mg, N-Acetyl L-tyrosine 25 mg, taurine 15 mg
His instruction sticker for me said take 2 tabs under my tongue, and 3 times a day.
That would be around 600 mg per day.
I tried 2 under my tongue at home. My tongue went tingly, but then in about 15 minutes
the non-stop heart palps I had for days vanished. Hmmm! As for the tongue, I get that
with Echinacea, too. I felt less anxious, but did not feel so relaxed I would have been concerned about driving until I saw your post.

Anyways, I read your post about how you took some and wondered how much was too much since it made you so relaxed you weren't sure driving was a good idea. So I phoned him ,
and he said many people take much higher does of GABA daily no adverse effect - but to try low and build up. He suggested I stick with his recommendation for me - which was based on my weight, age, blood type, etc etc. You always have to see what works for you. He always reminds me to take the minimum needed for effect with these kinds of things that are targeting
specific symptoms. One might work, 2 might be better, 3 might make you dizzy. Sorta like Advil. I take one 100mg tab, If it isn't enough, I'll wait and try a 2nd one. Except like this morning, when I threw my back out and immediately took 3. Worth the heartburn for that sort of deal.

What else was in your GABA formula? I may try to find it on line to see if it had other ingredients.

The other thing I discussed with him was St. John's Wort.
I have seen it really help me with panic when driving, but not always - and the next day I always seem to have a meltdown, headaches, crying, hysterical, etc. I have a rare reaction to it like a psychotic break - maybe that's my problem with it. He's a huge advovate of "Eat Right for Your TYpe" a book about which foods and excercise and herbs are best for any one blood type - based on scientific research. He tells me St. John's Wort is not suggested for type O. I'll have to read up on why.....


I am going to try one GABA tab before driving next time I try to. Then the next try 2 as he suggested for me, but no more than that at a time. Probably not until Monday with this back thing.

I also got some little samples and found one more homeopathic remedy helpful. It is A flower Essence blend. You may have heard of Bach brand - they have one called Rescue Remedy with Star of Bethlehem extract. I have heard people who love this for panic. For me, I got a 2nd degree burn from a curling iron to vanish within a few hours with this stuff, but it did nothin for panic. THis other brand however (slightly different blend) seems to feel very different. "Five-Flower Formula". I'll try that another time and tell ya what I think. More reading to do - to compare indegredients. It does have the Star of Bethlehem - which is supposed to be good for shock, trauma, and panic. Sudden injury or sudden bad news or panic attacks all create similar
symptoms.

Thank you again for sharing your story about driving, it is comforting to know I'm not alone
in that problem. HUGZ


Peace,
-Mary Beth

Hi Again Mary Beth,
My Gaba Complex has 200 mg of GABA, 400 mg of Niacin (as Niacinamide, what ever that is??) and 1,200 mg of Inositol. Now that in itself is probably what made me so relaxed. It says that 2 tablets are needed to get the amounts I have listed. So I guess I am getting half. I don't take any medications because I am sooooooo sesitive to almost everything. I even got "loopy" on 2 motrin once. I had a root canal done a couple of weeks ago and the dentist gave me some pain meds that I did not touch. I know I would have had a negative reaction....which I believe is all in my head most of the time.
I also take the Bach Rescue Remedy. I have for about 3 years now but lately have noticed it doesn't do a whole lot for the panic/anxiety I have been having lately. I don't have the one with Star of Bethlehem in it...will look it up the next time I go to the health food store.
I am so glad you got relief from the palps...they are so maddening.
OK, Hugs back to you and Happy New Year, I hope this is a better one for you as far as this Meno Stuff, Mary >^.,.^<