Hi. I posted a thread some 6 months or so ago concerning a very negative reaction I had with phenibut.
The thread can be found here:
http://www.longecity...ative-reaction/
(I developed a severe sense of depression and apathy, strange crying spells, a total loss of interest and just generally withdrew from everyone and everything)
Since December, I avoided phenibut at all costs and solely focused on nutritional supplements and a few herbs etc to help rebalance me.
I really thought as though I had been making progress. The first week of April, I really felt like myself again.
But I made another huge mistake.
I was surfing one night and came across some really interesting information on Kava Kava. I remember reading about it having a reverse tolerance etc and I read a few testimonials which praised it.
The curiosity of trying it got the better of me and I ended up placing an order online of a 20:1 90 capsule extract 250mg standardized to contain 30% Kavalactones.
I placed my order on April 6th, and I received it the next day, and I look a capsule that night and went straight to bed. The next day, I felt really calm and relaxed and had a spring in my step. The effect was extremely subtle but I just generally had a good day.
I did not take it again until Friday that same week. The Saturday morning I felt really great too - I actually felt really attractive! Like somehow my anxiety had diminished enough for me to actually start feeling a certain level of self esteem and self worth. I hadnt experienced this in years, but I just generally noticed that I had been getting a lot more attention from people, and I just looked healthier and my skin was glowing. It was probably just a reduction in my anxiety, but regardless, I felt really good.
I thought I could get used to taking this Kava Kava maybe once or twice a week, as it was nothing like Phenibut, no way as powerful.
I thought wrong.
During the second week, One night, I made the mistake of taking 2 capsules instead of one. The next day my anxiety levels had increased slightly and I found myself just generally stressing a bit more so than usual.
A few nights later, I ended up taking 3 capsules one evening. The next day, I started to have a HUGE increase in anxiety and severe apathy and depression.
I did not associate it with the Kava at the time. I'm very stupid in that sense. I should have known it was something to do with the Kava.
I ended up thinking maybe that it was losing its effectiveness, so I ended up taking 4 capsules a few nights later, and the next day, again, a HUGE HUGE increase in anxiety, I had a horrific panic attack, and a strange come down sensation of deep dark depression.
It was around this time I started to realise that something was not right here - so I researched Kava online and read information that I already loosely knew, concerning gaba receptors etc, but then I noticed that phenibut also made me feel this way, but minus the anxiety. It was more of a deep depression and loss of hope, but the Kava is a really really Anxious state coupled with a deep depression and a feeling of no hope.
It really feels like Ive totally messed up my brain chemicals. The kava has done something strange to me. I dont feel like the same person.
I have not used it since May, but I still feel the same. My anxiety and panic attacks have increased in frequency and my depression is becoming unbearable. The crying spell frequencies have increased ten fold.
I reviewed my supplement stack again,and researched each individual herb that I had been taking, and I was horrified to realise that I have actually been taking herbs and supplements that are also Gabaergic, for a very long time. (Gotu Kola, Tulsi, Black Seed Oil, Ashwagandha, theanine, probiotics etc). But I never once had any deep reactions to these like I have done with the Kava Kava.
I really feel as though my Gaba receptors are totally screwed up. The panic attacks are horrible, the stress and anxiety and depression are awful. It feels like ive gone back to square one again.
I dont know why anything that agonises my gaba receptors makes me feel so incredibly awful. Ambien, Phenibut and now Kava Kava. Ambien was horrible. I felt suicidal after only a few doses. Phenibut just left me deeply depressed. And now Kava Kava, horrid anxiety attacks with awful deep dark depression and loss of hope no point continuing feeling..
Is there anybody who has had a similar experience to Kava? The effects have not worn off, even after over a month of not using it. Its just lingered and Im scared.
Is there anything I can take? amino acids? anything to stop this or to balance myself again. Its so scary
