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GABA

Half-life

~1 hour

What is GABA?

Gamma-aminobutyric acid — the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter. Limited BBB crossing from oral.

How GABA works

Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain. Binds GABA-A and GABA-B receptors to reduce neuronal excitability. Poorly crosses BBB — IV form more effective.

Benefits & uses

  • Promotes relaxation
  • May support sleep
  • Eases acute stress

Common uses: Relaxation, sleep, acute stress.

Recovery

GABA dosage

Typical dose
100–500 mg as needed

GABA half-life

~1 hour (plasma GABA)

GABA side effects

  • Minimal effects from oral GABA (poor BBB penetration)
  • IV GABA is more effective but expensive and requires clinic administration
  • Perfectly safe orally — functions as neurotransmitter precursor
  • Generally well tolerated
  • Tingling/flushing at high doses

Track GABA in Protokol.

Log doses, model half-lives, check interactions, and line it all up against your bloodwork. Free on iPhone and Android.

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For research and educational purposes only. This page is not medical advice and is not a recommendation to use any compound. Many compounds listed are not approved for human use, and some are prescription-only or controlled in your jurisdiction. Dosing figures are reference or observational reports. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing anything. Protokol is for tracking purposes only.