Have you been itching to try the amino acid GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)? It has been known to help with a host of issues… it stimulates serotonin so helps with anxiety or depression, it helps you relax or is used as a sleep aid, helps panic attacks, improves focus, relieves ADHD symptoms, calms racing thoughts, can be used for pain relief, nervousness, stress, improves focus, helps you to lose weight, and promotes body building. Interestingly, among some other GABA side effects, it can also cause temporary itching!
The neural processing of the itch response was researched and studied by T Akiama and E Carstens of the University of California, Davis, Department of Neurobiology. They recognized that some of the neural mechanisms of itch include the use of the amino acid GABA (although their research was far more encompassing than just GABA side effects, it also included glutamate and a plethora of other mechanisms and biological processes).
Itching is an irritating issue to deal with, can be medically costly, as well as a socioeconomic issue. So what of GABA side effects?
Be careful of GABA side effects if you are taking alcohol, barbiturates, or anti-anxiety drugs (benzodiazepine tranquilizers), or if you have biopolar or unipolar depressive disorders, are or pregnant or nursing.
Itchiness is one particular GABA side effect that appears to go away with time. Usually the itchiness just shows up the first 15 minutes or so after taking GABA.
A doctor can test you to find out if you are low in GABA, or help you with information and advice in case you are having any GABA side effects.