My Unexpected Weight Loss with GABA Powder: How It Worked, Its Impact on Stress and My Body, GABA Supplements I Tried, and Why I Stopped Taking It

My Unexpected Weight Loss with GABA Powder: How It Worked, Its Impact on Stress and My Body, GABA Supplements I Tried, and Why I Stopped Taking It

Hello everyone!

I recently came across a nootropic medication used for boosting brain productivity and fighting stress - gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA, GAMK). I think another detailed review of this medication won't be out of place on this platform. From it, you'll learn about:

which medications with GAMK in tablets you can buy at a regular pharmacy,which contraindications there are to taking this medication,how to dosage GABA correctly and how it affects stress levels and depression,whether it's worth it to buy gamma-aminobutyric acid as a pure powder.After using Pikamilona, a review of which you can read here, I decided to look for other medications with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GAMK) without talc, which is a component of the domestic Pikamilona.

Medications with GAMK, Russian and foreign production in tablets

There aren't that many of these medications. On the market, the following medications with gamma-aminobutyric acid in tablets are presented:

I was looking for a GAMK supplement, but I was put off by the products I found at first. The ones I listed out - Aminalon, Gammalon, Amilonosar, and Ceregamon - all had talc in their composition, which wasn't something I wanted to deal with.

I immediately ruled those out. Gammalon, which is made in Japan, seemed like a cleaner option, but it was way too pricey. I found it on Yandex Market for 6,500 rubles per pack.

Since those products didn't work for me, I decided to look for GAMK in powder form. When I searched on the major Russian marketplaces, I kept coming across products with GAMK in capsules, but I didn't bother looking closer because the capsules had all sorts of unknown ingredients. In the end, I settled on a pure GAMK powder from the Chinese pharmaceutical company Suzhou Vitajoy Bio-Tech Co.

Packaging and manufacturer

It comes in a silver Zip-Lock packet.

GABA gamma-aminobutyric acid reviewsThe manufacturer, Suzhou Vitajoy Bio-Tech Co, is a pharmaceutical company based in China. They specialize in producing vitamins, organic superfoods, plant extracts, amino acids, and dietary supplements. Their subsidiaries are also located in Europe (Netherlands) and the US.

Ingredients

reviews for GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) Ingredients: gamma-aminobutyric acid.

GABA acid reviewsAs you can see, the ingredients list is totally clean. This is a pure GABA powder. Unlike other modern tablets, it doesn't contain any fillers like genetically modified cornstarch or potato starch, stearic acid, microcrystalline cellulose, or other mystery ingredients.

Contraindications

The packaging warns about some potential issues with using this GABA supplement.

It's not recommended for people with individual sensitivity to the product ingredients, pregnant women, or breastfeeding mothers.

GABA instructions reviewsIf you want to know more about potential side effects, I'd suggest checking the instructions for 'Pikamilon' and other similar supplements that are registered in Russia.

How to dose GABA correctly

The instructions say to take a massive dose of 3-5 grams per day.

GABA Instructions and ReviewsAs stated on the packaging:

«Recommendations for use: take as a dietary supplement 3000-5000 mg to boost growth hormone metabolism, best taken once a day in the evening or before bed».I'm not disagreeing with the distributor, but I want to flag this for my readers: the daily dose suggested on the packaging far exceeds the minimum dose of "Pikamilone" for a 3-month period. I didn't follow the instructions, of course, because I think this dose could lead to a heart stop

When I took this acid, I experienced a pretty nasty side effect that I believe was caused by overdoing it. One night, I woke up feeling like I was short of breath. From my experience, it was probably due to a sharp drop in heart rate. My heart was beating way too slowly, which means my body wasn't getting enough oxygen. That's not a situation you want to find yourself in, as it can lead to a severe panic attack. So, be super cautious with your GABA dosage.

I take 335mg of GABA every day, which is half of the large measuring spoon that comes with the acid. I take it after 18.00 or at night. If you have an 8-hour workday, it's probably better to take it somewhere between 16.00-17.00, as an inadequate dose of GABA will definitely manifest during sleep. If you decide to try GABA powder, start with a dose of 40-80mg. If you don't feel any effect, gradually increase the dose and carefully listen to the sensations that occur after taking the acid.

For easier dosing, a measuring spoon is included with the powder. One end of the spoon measures 80mg, while the other end measures 670mg.

impact of GABA on the body reviews

GABA gabba instruction for use reviewsThe impact of GABA on my body

After I started taking it, I noticed that, just like with 'Pikamilon', my productivity at work went up. It was easier to focus on tasks and tackle complex problems. My anxiety decreased, my sleep improved (it became deeper), and I felt more calm and balanced. My mind cleared up. That had a positive impact on my overall well-being. My mood improved, and I became more optimistic about life.

I also noticed that the acid has a direct and quite significant impact on the cardiovascular system. When I take GABA, my heart rate decreases. One time during the day it dropped to 60 beats per minute. For me, that's a very low reading. At the same time, my blood pressure drops. This isn't mentioned in the product instructions. It's a slight decrease, but it's there.

Many people in the GABA reviews write that when they take the acid, they experience a strong headache and tingling in their body. I think the headache that everyone complains about might be caused by the decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. I established this through empirical observation. I always get a headache when my blood pressure drops (when it falls below the comfortable levels for me). So, to avoid these unpleasant effects of taking GABA, start with minimal doses. Gradually increase the dosage, but don't exceed 670 mg. At the same time, continuously monitor your blood pressure and heart rate.

I was blown away by the most unexpected effect of taking pure GABA: I lost 3 kilos in just 2 months. I didn't see that coming, even though it's been mentioned in reviews on foreign websites!

According to the instructions for Pikamilon, the product is used to reduce the urge to drink alcohol. And boy, does it work! When I take GABA in powder form, I genuinely feel this effect. My urge to drink alcohol really does decrease. It's become completely irrelevant to me.

Can you take GABA and drink alcohol at the same time?

No, because they have mutually exclusive effects on the body. When you consume ethanol, the level of GABA in your body plummets. If you drink regularly, the consequences become apparent in reduced sensitivity to GABA receptors. Alcohol suppresses the central nervous system, causing stress and anxiety. This can prompt you to drink more to quell these feelings, which can easily lead to increased dependence. Reduced sensitivity to GABA receptors is also a major factor behind heightened anxiety during withdrawal.

GABA, on the other hand, stabilizes the nervous system. Consuming acid and alcohol at the same time is like treating a patient, only to harm them further after they've recovered.

Is it worth buying GABA in powder form?

Compared to my purchased gamma-aminobutyric acid powder, the value for money with Picamilon is obvious.

From the Picamilon instructions:

For depressive states, Picamilon is recommended to be taken in a dose of 40 to 200 mg per day for 1.5 – 3 months.I have Picamilon in a pack of 30 tablets at 20 mg (total 600 mg). At the minimum dose of 40 mg per day for a 1.5-month course, I'd need to buy approximately 3 packs (1 pack for 15 days). That's 1800 mg. The cost of 3 packs of Picamilon at 20 mg is 291 rub.

I have a pack of 100 grams of pure GABA. Its cost is 424 rub. For comparison - in 3 packs of Picamilon at 20 mg, there's around 2 grams of gamma-aminobutyric acid with various additives. The advantage is clear.

Overall, GABA powder has become an effective tool for me in fighting chronic stress, anxiety, and depression. I recommend it to anyone experiencing similar issues.

Thanks for your attention!

If I missed anything, please let me know in the comments. Feel free to ask questions, and I'll do my best to answer them.

My reviews on other nootropic medications for treating depression:

☑️ The Reishi mushroom: a natural sleep aid and stress reliever

☑️ Pikamilon as an alternative to antidepressants: a stress-reliever and sleep-improver