Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I have been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder & panic issues and have been on Cipralex 10mg and Paroxetine CR 25 mg for the past eight years. The SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake Inhibitor) medications I take seem to help, but I still have anxiety and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) issues.
I had an SNP (single nucleotide polymorphisms) test done and found to have pathogenic gene variants of the GAD 65 (glutamate decarboxylase) enzyme that may inhibit the conversion of glutamate to GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). I need to know if there are GABA agonists and Glutamate inhibitors available.
Please help.
Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I read and understood your query and can understand your concern. We have GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) agonists under the category of drugs called Benzodiazepines which are used for short-term management of anxiety symptoms but are not recommended for long-term use as they are highly addictive. There are also GABA-B agonists, a routinely used drug is Baclofen, used as a muscle relaxant and anti-craving medicine. We also have glutamate antagonists, of which a class of glutamate receptors, namely NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) antagonists, are commonly used in anesthesia. The drug Ketamine, one from this group, has shown promising results in depression and anxiety.
I hope this answers your query. And I suggest you to consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them and take the medications with their consent.
I hope it helps.
Thank you and take care.
Patient's Query
Hello Doctor,
My specialist doctor could not suggest glutamate antagonist and GABA agonist(gamma-aminobutyric acid). So can I take the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), Vortioxetine, as it enhances the release of glutamate and inhibits the release of GABA?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I read and understood your query and can understand your concern. I would not suggest taking Vortioxetine, as it is not much effective on glutamate and GABA and shows the least effect on OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) issues. Instead, I suggest you increase the dose of SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) as OCD issues require higher doses. But consult your specialist, discuss with them, and take medications with their consent.
Thank you and take care.
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Answered byDr. Sreenivasan Vazhoor Ramsingh
Medically reviewed byiCliniq medical review team
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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