Posted by willyee on September 9, 2005, at 11:31:03
In reply to Re: GABA meds other than benzos? » willyee, posted by Chairman_MAO on September 9, 2005, at 0:05:24
My post stated....."Almost every anti-convulsant effects gaba"
( I did not state they increase gaba or exactly how they affect gaba just that they touch gaba in some form.) Your reply as follows.....
> Most anticonvulsants do not affect gaba. The one common thing nearly all of them do is actually fast sodium channel blockade.
" **Anticonvulsants++** like Carbamazepine are believed to work in part by by enhancing the actions of a natural brain chemical, **GABA** (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that carries messages between brain nerve cells "Source
---http://www.remedyfind.com/rem.asp?id=933 ----
> Tegretol does not affect GABA.
" Mechanisms of action
Carbamazepine blocks frequency-, use- and voltage-dependent neuronal sodium channels, and therefore limits repetitive firing of action potentials.
It also affects calcium channels, **GABA** receptors, and adenosine receptors, and increases concentrations of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. Whether these effects contribute to its anticonvulsant activity is not clear. "Source
>Neurontin only increases **GABA** synthesis; otherwise it affects Ca++.
"Then there are the **GABA analogues.** These meds are basically fake GABA, a neurotransmitter critical to treating epilepsy, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder and a variety of other issues. Real GABA can't cross the blood-brain barrier, so don't waste your money on buying GABA at the health food store. Gabitril isn't really a GABA analogue, but it gets classified as such because all it does is potent GABA reuptake inhibition and absolutely nothing else. No voltage channel modification, no messing with glutamate or kainate. Nothing. So it may as well be fake GABA because you get slammed with enough of it when you take some. Trust me on that point. "**Neurontin** (gabapentin)
Lyrica (pregablin)
Gabitril (tiagabine)
Source
--http://www.crazymeds.org/anticonvulsants.html--> Topamax has weak gaba-a potentiation.
" Anyway, here's what Topamax does for you:It messes with your calcium and sodium voltage channels. Messing with voltage channels are one way anticonvulsants deal with reducing the hyperactivity in your brain that results in seizures and/or bipolar mood swings.
It makes you really receptive to the **GABA** you have in your brain. Not barbiturate-level receptive, but pretty damn receptive. That's why it knocks you out and leaves you feeling pretty worn out all day. It's also why it's an effective anticonvulsant and half-decent mood stabilizer. GABA is a key neurotransmitter in quelling bipolar and epileptic hyperactivity. It's also quite useful in dealing with various pain issues like migraines. "
Source
----- http://www.crazymeds.org/topamax.html -----
In my post i just stated anti convulsants affected gaba in some way shape or form,i did not specify how each one did.Also although i did not make it nearly half as clear as u have,i did in fact however state they perform other functions than affect gaba......
" Also gabitril is a gaba med that unlike the rest really does MOSTLY just increase gaba levels and **UNLIKE the others doesent do other things**,so in the form of a pure gaba med,gabaitril would be the one to offer an increase in gaba. "
Please Dont take this the wrong way,but i give u a lot of credit,have bugged your for a lot of advice via email which is still apreciated,....
However please dont go out of your way to contradict something i say,and to portray i have no idea of what im speaking of.
I am usualy very careful in what i say in posts,i try my best not to misinform,i dont believe i did in this case,and i kinda take offense to the way you pulled apart my post as to make me look clueless.
Again i hope u dont take this to heart,it just offended me,especialy since it comes from someone who i think pretty higly of as far as knowing there shi---.Thanks in advance.
poster:willyee
thread:551444
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050909/msgs/552724.html