How to Increase GABA
Health ConditionsHormones & Metabolic Disorders

What Is GABA?

What Is GABA?
iStock; Everyday Health
By
Updated on March 6, 2026
by
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is a neurotransmitter that sends chemical messages through the brain and the nervous system and is involved in regulating communication between brain cells.

The role of GABA is to inhibit or reduce the activity of the neurons or nerve cells.

GABA has a calming effect and plays an important role in anxiety, fear, sleep, and stress.

Lower than normal levels of GABA in the brain have been linked to depression, sleep disorders, increased anxiety, and schizophrenia.

GABA Receptors

GABA receptors on nerve cells receive the chemical messages that help to inhibit or reduce nerve impulses.

Prescription medications called benzodiazepines bind to GABA receptors, mimicking its natural calming effects.

Diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan) are among the most widely prescribed benzodiazepines for insomnia and anxiety disorders. They slow down the body’s central nervous system and cause sleepiness.

Benzodiazepines can be addictive and should be used only as prescribed. Taking too much can lead to shallow breathing, clammy skin, dilated pupils, weak pulse, coma, and death.

Medications used to treat insomnia, including zolpidem (Ambien) and eszopiclone (Lunesta), work by improving the ability of GABA to bind to GABA receptors in the brain.

GABA Supplements

GABA supplements, taken alone or in combination with other ingredients, are marketed widely for use in treating depression, anxiety, and insomnia.

While a few small studies have suggested that GABA supplements may help to lower anxiety levels, more scientific evidence is needed to support these overall claims.

GABA supplements may increase levels of the chemical circulating in the blood, but there is little evidence to suggest that circulating GABA can pass through the blood-brain barrier and increase GABA levels in the brain.

Talk to your doctor or a qualified healthcare professional before taking GABA supplements (or any other supplements).

The Takeaway

  • Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in behavior, cognition, and regulating stress.
  • Low levels of GABA are linked to anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
  • Some prescription drugs, like benzodiazepines, diazepam, and zolpidem, can mimic the effects of GABA.
  • GABA supplements may help treat depression, anxiety, and insomnia, but more research is needed to confirm these effects.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA). Cleveland Clinic. April 25, 2022.
  2. Chen RJ. GABA Receptor. StatPearls. February 18, 2025.
  3. Edinoff AN. Benzodiazepines: Uses, Dangers, and Clinical Considerations. Neurology International. November 10, 2021.
  4. How to Taper Off Benzodiazepines . American Addiction Centers. August 23, 2024.
  5. Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) . Cleveland Clinic. April 25, 2022.
Meet Our Experts
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network
jason-paul-chua-bio

Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor

Jason Chua, MD, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Division of Movement Disorders at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He received his training at th...

See full bio

Lindsey Konkel

Author

Lindsey Konkel is an award-winning freelance journalist with more than 10 years of experience covering health, science, and the environment. Her work has appeared online and in pri...

See full bio
See Our Editorial PolicyMeet Our Health Expert Network