20 replies to this topic

[goku]

I was thinking about trying 5 htp, but thought I read about some drawbacks. Any other ideas"?

[starr]

I'm doing better with Adrenal Health by Gaia during the day: http://www.gaiaherbs...roduct.php?id=5 It has Holy Basil, Rhodiola, Ashwagandha and some other things. I think they're going to start calling it Stress Response. I also take 400-800 mgs of Magnesium Glycinate at night before bed with Melatonin. The occasional Phenibut takes the edge off in a way that feels like a very mild benzo. I can't say I've had much luck with 5HTP, GABA, Theanine or even Tryptophan as stand alone supplements.

[doug123]

I've always liked phenibut for situations where I have to be "cool, chill, and relaxed." The first time I took it I tried 500mg and I felt it...but I've gone all the way up to 2 grams (2000mg) on occasion when I meet up with a really beautiful, intelligent woman and need to keep my cool. I have a tendency to freeze up when a woman is: a) Super intelligent and b) Super hot. I've never felt anything significant from Theanine, although I think it is somewhat effective and safe. Alcohol has some similar effects to phenibut, but my intellect seems to suffer a bit if I drink more than, say, two beers. I try not to drink because alcohol tends to impair my judgement and increases the likelihood I might make the fatal mistake of doing REALLY stupid stuff like a) get together with a woman and wake up the next day and wonder "why did I do that?"and b) take substances that might be neurotoxic, addictive, and end up insane. I would just take a benzo like Ativan to deal with super hot, intelligent women....but I get addicted too easily.

I think Phenibut is definitely safe. CNS reviews says:

http://www.ncbi.nlm....l=pubmed_docsum

CNS Drug Rev. 2001 Winter;7(4):471-81.

Phenibut (beta-phenyl-GABA): a tranquilizer and nootropic drug. Lapin I.

Department of Clinical and Experimental Psychopharmacology, Bekhterev's Psychoneurological Institute, Bekhterev Street, 3, St. Petersburg, 193019, Russia. spbinstb@infopro.spb.su

Phenibut (beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl) is a neuropsychotropic drug that was discovered and introduced into clinical practice in Russia in the 1960s. It has anxiolytic and nootropic (cognition enhancing) effects. It acts as a GABA-mimetic, primarily at GABA(B) and, to some extent, at GABA(A) receptors. It also stimulates dopamine receptors and antagonizes beta-phenethylamine (PEA), a putative endogenous anxiogenic. The psychopharmacological activity of phenibut is similar to that of baclofen, a p-Cl-derivative of phenibut. This article reviews the structure-activity relationship of phenibut and its derivatives. Emphasis is placed on the importance of the position of the phenyl ring, the role of the carboxyl group, and the activity of optical isomers. Comparison of phenibut with piracetam and diazepam reveals similarities and differences in their pharmacological and clinical effects. Phenibut is widely used in Russia to relieve tension, anxiety, and fear, to improve sleep in psychosomatic or neurotic patients; as well as a pre- or post-operative medication. It is also used in the therapy of disorders characterized by asthenia and depression, as well as in post-traumatic stress, stuttering and vestibular disorders.

PMID: 11830761 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

For the first time in documented history, I have seen a company performing a REAL independent test to ensure their product is safe and legit, so I can finally take phenibut without worrying it's contaminated, low in purity, or fake.

I describe that here:

http://www.imminst.o...=198&t=12136&s=

Edited by nootropikamil, 24 August 2006 - 06:40 AM.

[Pablo M]

I have tried and liked theanine. Also there are some studies regarding vitamin C and cortisol suppression. Search PubMed.

[superpooper]

2-6 grams of inositol. It makes you very drowsy though.

[xanadu]

I've tried inositol with very little results. I've taken up to 12gm a day for weeks with no more than a tiny effect. Gaba helps a little as does taurine but neither of those is anything major. Phenibut is supposed to produce tollerance so you can't use it often but it works.

[lynx]

The only draw back with 5-HTP is that it doesn't work.

Tryptophan is what you want. Works well.

A combo of 5g Taurine, 1.5 g Tryptophan, and 2-300mg of Theanine is nothing short of stellar.

[Centurion]

Sex! particularly if its with someone you love / care about. There's also the manual method I suppose if sex isn't forthcoming at the time. I think it causes serotonin release or something.

[Pablo M]

I'm surprised ajnast hasn't mentioned Yoga or meditation.

[Matt]

Relieving stress symptoms try 2000-3000mg Vitamin C spread throughout the day. It stops or lowers the rise in cortisol and adrenaline when people are under stress.

(1) Vitamin C supplementation attenuates the increases in circulating cortisol, adrenaline and anti-inflammatory polypeptides following ultramarathon running.
PMID:11590482

(2) Vitamin C: Stress buster
The vitamin helps reduce the effects of stress. It's already everybody's favorite nutritional supplement, linked, however controversially, to preventing the common cold and fighting cancer. But vitamin C recently added a new notch on its belt. The vitamin helps reduce both the physical and psychological effects of stress on people.
http://www.psycholog...425-000001.html

[Athanasios]

Thanks Pablo M, Matt. I will have to look more into that. It makes drinking green tea which has both vit C and theanine look even better!

I saw Ashwagandha was mentioned above, but I would like to drop the name once again. After a week of taking it, I noticed a big change for the better in my stress and anxiety levels. It also has the cortisol busting property.

Edit: In Food, Nutrition & Exercise forum? Why not the Supplements forum due to the thread title?

Edited by cnorwood19, 25 August 2006 - 04:35 PM.

[goku]

what's people's thoughts on subcutaneous injection of vitamin C for getting levels very high for health even if you're in normal health. Is there any concern for having very high levels of C I should be aware of?

[Pablo M]

Thanks Pablo M, Matt. I will have to look more into that. It makes drinking green tea which has both vit C and theanine look even better!

I don't think tea would have enough vitamin C to have a relevant effect. The doses Matt mentioned (2-3 grams) can, in practical terms, only be acheived with supplements. FYI I routinely take 10+ grams per day.

[john_shade]

High-dose vitamin C and theanine, as stated.

Also, rhodiola, ptd-serine may help. Of course, you have to try the stuff yourself before making judging their effects on your very unique physiology.

[health_nutty]

Kava kava works but the safety issue is still not closed in my book.

[superpooper]

Kava kava works but the safety issue is still not closed in my book.

Use only the root. Stay away from the supplements.

They found out supplement companies where putting the stems of the plant in the extracts. The stems contain a liver toxic compound(I think the leaves too). Raw kava root is safe though.

[salesman]

Chelated Magnesium in hot water always chills me out and gets me to tucker down at night before bed. As well as 5htp which converts to Melatonin when taken at nighttime. If you take the 5htp in the morning it converts to Seratonin and i dont take that unless im really anxious, because it can make you groggy.

[mewild]

Kava kava works but the safety issue is still not closed in my book.

Use only the root. Stay away from the supplements.

They found out supplement companies where putting the stems of the plant in the extracts. The stems contain a liver toxic compound(I think the leaves too). Raw kava root is safe though.

Dont mean to advertise but since I'm using it... NOW kava claims to use the root. Do you think they put the whole plant in there?