Expert: Dr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi - 9/19/2009

Question
Hello i hope you can help. i would like to know what you would recommend for chronic anxiety in the following supplements: Gaba, inositol, niacinamide?
Firstly Ive just started a course of: gaba-1700mg, inositol-2600mg, niacinamide-2000mg, 5htp-300mg. Is this a safe yet effective combination at these doses? – Does this combination pose any risk of SEROTONIN SYNDROME??????
(Also i take daily 1200mg skullcap, 3000mg complex valerian, passion flower, hops, 800mg l-theanine).
Secondly apparently benzodiazepines with alcohol are fatal!? Is alcohol ok with my supplements or would that cause problems like OVER SEDATION or liver TOXICITY??? If so how much can you drink and what amount of time should there be between the above combination and alcohol???
I take no other supplements, drugs etc and have no disorder/medical problem. Finally would you recommend any other supplements as being more effective than the ones i take mentioned above?
Thanks for your help.


Answer
Hi Gary,
In my training as a pharmacologist or in my further research, I have not studied alternative medicines, hence I cannot really comment on the products you are taking. I therefore do not recommend those that you are taking or any other ones for you to take. I would suggest you visit a psychiatrist and take the drug the specialist advices.
Benzodiazepine and alcohol combination is dangerous but not necessarily fatal, this causes excess sedation and not liver toxicity. There is no standard by which I can say how much is safe. Individual sensitivity to this combination is variable and I cannot state any specific level which is safe.
Ravi Ghooi