Pharmacological action of the drug
The medicine belongs to the group of metabolic drugs and helps to normalize metabolism, activate protective inhibition processes in the central nervous system, and increase mental performance.
The drug regulates the functioning of glutamate receptors and has glycine and GABAergic effects. This aminoacetic acid also has antioxidant, antitoxic and alpha-andrenoblocking properties.
All these capabilities of the drug allow it to:
- strengthen thought processes and improve brain performance;
- improve mood;
- reduce psycho-emotional stress;
- dull conflict and aggressiveness;
- increase social adaptation;
- protect the brain from the toxic effects of ethyl alcohol and medications that have a negative effect on the central nervous system;
- normalize sleep;
- eliminate symptoms of vegetative-vascular disorders;
- reduce the likelihood of brain disorders due to traumatic brain injury and ischemic stroke.
Glycine easily penetrates into most tissues and biological fluids of the body, including the brain. During metabolism, it breaks down into carbon dioxide and water, without accumulating in tissues.
Indications for use
The modern rhythm of life cannot pass without stress. Any stressful situation leads to activation of the sympathetic part of the brain. As a result, mental activity deteriorates, memory and attention decrease, and insomnia appears. The person is in an irritable state, cannot concentrate on work and experiences general malaise.
The drug Glycine helps fight stress; it is recommended to take it at different moments, accompanied by an increase in psycho-emotional stress.
Aminoacetic acid is especially needed during exams, public speaking, interviews and important work events. Indications for the use of Glycine can be identified:
- emotional instability;
- increased excitability;
- unreasonable mood swings;
- neuroses;
- sleep problems;
- deviant behavior of children;
- decreased brain and physical performance;
- hyperactivity;
- menopause;
- absentmindedness;
- depressive states.
Glycine for adults and children can also cope with the following pathological conditions:
- ischemic stroke;
- VSD;
- encephalopathy;
- neurological abnormalities;
- traumatic brain injuries;
- hypertensive crisis;
- tachycardia;
- migraine.
Aminoethanoic acid is essential for the prevention of stroke. For people involved in bodybuilding or heavy sports. Glycine has an effect on men's health, helping to strengthen vascular walls and increase tissue elasticity, thereby improving erection. The drug helps cope with alcohol or drug addiction.
Mechanism of action
Glycine has a positive effect on brain function and improves metabolic processes. This aminoacetic acid is a neurotransmitter and takes part in the transmission of impulses between brain neurons.
Chemical chain of Glycine
The drug is also able to relieve psycho-emotional stress, reduces irritability and aggressiveness. It regulates metabolism, prevents the release of adrenaline (stress hormone), and also helps the body get rid of free radicals and toxins that accumulate in the human body and destroy brain cells.
The medicine is often used for functional disorders of the central nervous system and is included in complex rehabilitation therapy after an ischemic stroke.
With regular use of the drug, the patient's mood improves, sleep normalizes, anxiety disappears and mental performance increases. All these factors allow a person to quickly adapt to new conditions and prevent the development of depression.
How does Glycine work for panic attacks?
Panic attacks always strike a person suddenly; it is simply impossible to prepare for them, but Glycine tablets can make them less pronounced and, over time, eliminate them altogether. Glycine has a positive effect because it relieves:
- excessive psycho-emotional stress if the day was too stressful;
- feelings of anxiety that a sick person feels on a physical level in the chest area;
- severe weakness – arms/legs “do not obey”, it is almost impossible to take a vertical position and start doing anything.
Stabilization of the nervous system is the basis for getting rid of a condition when fear comes suddenly, a person is bothered by nausea, dizziness, tremor of the upper extremities, lack of air, and a feeling of cardiac arrest.
What else is Glycine needed for?
Glycine can be prescribed as an independent remedy or as part of complex therapy for the treatment of such diseases and conditions:
- decreased mental performance;
- changes in the behavior of school-age children and adolescents;
- high psycho-emotional stress and stressful conditions;
- functional disorders of the central nervous system, accompanied by deterioration in mental activity, irritability, a tendency to aggression, depression during the day and insomnia at night;
- consequences of a traumatic brain injury or stroke;
- vascular diseases resulting from neurosis;
- conditions caused by the intoxicating effects of alcohol or other substances that have a detrimental effect on brain cells.
This medication is used as an adjuvant in the treatment of withdrawal symptoms and alcohol dependence. It helps improve brain activity, has a beneficial effect on the central and peripheral nervous system, relieves emotional stress and reduces mental stress.
Glycine can be used by children from a very early age, as well as during pregnancy and lactating women.
The medication is generally well tolerated by patients of all groups, there are practically no side effects, the only contraindication to taking Glycine is individual intolerance to the active component or excipients.
Is it possible to take Glycine at night?
As it became clear to the attentive reader, “Glycine”, when taken in the morning, has a stimulating effect on the nervous system. So why do many neurologists prescribe this drug to be taken just before bedtime? How much glycine to drink at night to avoid insomnia and problems falling asleep?
In fact, this special amino acid is designed in such a way that when taken “Glycine” at night it has a sedative effect, and when taken in the morning it has a stimulating effect. This property is due to the fact that the body, with a lack of glycine, goes astray from the natural phases of sleep and wakefulness. When the amino acid level becomes sufficient again, all phases of sleep and wakefulness return to normal.
Directions for use and dosage
Glycine tablets are sublingual and should be dissolved in the mouth until completely dissolved. For small children who cannot absorb the drug, you can crush the tablet into powder and apply it to the pacifier or the inner surface of the cheek.
Practically healthy adults and children with memory deterioration, depression, stressful situations, psycho-emotional stress and decreased mental activity, Glycine should be taken 0.1 g (equivalent to one tablet) two to three times a day for 14-30 days.
For insomnia and sleep disorders, it is recommended to take one tablet of this medicine 20 minutes before bedtime.
For the treatment of functional disorders of the central nervous system, accompanied by disturbances in night sleep, increased excitability and emotional lability, adults and children over three years of age are prescribed one tablet two to three times a day. The course of treatment is usually two weeks, but can be extended to 30 days.
Children under three years of age with such symptoms are prescribed half a tablet for 7-14 days.
Patients who have suffered an ischemic stroke should be given 1000 mg of glycine with a teaspoon of water during the first 3-6 hours after the onset of symptoms of the disease. The tablets can be placed under the patient's tongue, behind the cheek, or between the lower lip and gum.
The dosage should be used for another 1-5 days, and then, for a month, one tablet should be given daily once or twice a day.
When recovering from heavy drinking, treating withdrawal symptoms, disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system caused by alcohol, patients are prescribed one tablet two to three times a day for 14-30 days. On the recommendation of a doctor, the course can be repeated 3-6 times a year.
Use during pregnancy
During pregnancy, a woman’s psycho-emotional background is disrupted, as a result of which she becomes nervous, absent-minded and tearful. And since experiences have a negative impact on the development of the fetus, doctors often recommend taking neuroprotective drugs.
Glycine is a natural antidepressant, therefore it has no harmful effects on the mother’s body and is resolved during gestation.
The dosage of the drug during pregnancy is determined individually. Pregnant women are allowed to take 0.5-1 tablets three times a day. During lactation, drinking aminoacetic acid is not recommended, unless otherwise discussed with your doctor.
Glycine is prescribed in childhood. The indication for its use is the presence of deviant behavior in a child, in which he cannot adapt to society and build interpersonal relationships.
Interaction with other drugs and alcohol
Glycine is able to suppress the severity of side effects of antidepressants, antipsychotics, anticonvulsants and hypnotics.
Unlike most medications, this drug can be combined with alcohol.
The amino acid included in the medication reduces the negative effect of ethyl alcohol on the brain and central nervous system.
At the same time, the components of the medicine do not react with alcohol itself, which means they do not put additional stress on the liver and kidneys.
Side effects and overdose of Glycine
Side effects from Glycine are rare; the drug is easily digestible and well tolerated by more than 90% of patients of all ages. But in some cases, the body may still react negatively to taking this nootropic drug. Possible side effects of Glycine in adults are:
- An allergic reaction manifests itself in the form of skin rashes, accompanied by characteristic itching and hyperemia. In rare cases, swelling or angioedema may develop in different parts of the body.
- Significant reduction in blood pressure.
- When Glycine is combined with antipsychotics, the occurrence of convulsions, even full-blown seizures, is noted.
- Glycine in large doses can cause a feeling similar to euphoria. At the same time, there is a slowdown in reaction and psychomotor functions in general.
- Doctors do not exclude the possibility of developing anaphylactic shock, but in practice such reactions have not been recorded.
Diarrhea from Glycine and other negative reactions from the digestive system and gastrointestinal tract are practically excluded.
Many patients ask the question “what will happen if you eat a lot of Glycine?” In this case, an overdose of Glycine is possible, that is, poisoning the body with the drug. The symptoms of this pathological condition are unpredictable; the following symptoms may occur randomly:
- dizziness;
- prostration;
- coordination problems;
- difficulty swallowing;
- confusion;
- severe headaches;
- panic attacks;
- critical decrease in pressure, etc.
From the practice of doctors and patients
A lot of useful information about the properties of Glycine, features of use, effectiveness and safety of the drug can be gleaned from reviews of doctors and patients.
This remedy copes well with severe nervous stress in patients and helps normalize sleep. I often prescribe it to patients when they complain of memory loss and depression.
A pleasant bonus is that this medicine is produced in our country and is quite inexpensive. A student preparing for an exam and a pensioner who wants to normalize night sleep can afford it.
Therapist, Anisimov K.S.
I often use the sedative Glycine in my drug treatment practice. When removing an alcoholic from a drunken state and relieving withdrawal symptoms, his mental and physical state is subjected to great stress.
This drug helps the patient endure the procedures more easily, relieves him of anxiety and improves brain activity. Gradually, the patient’s psycho-emotional state normalizes and the desire to drink disappears. As part of complex therapy, this medicine is simply irreplaceable.
Narcologist, Voronin A.V.
I am a fifth-year student at a technical university and I don’t remember how many times I used this magical medicine. Sometimes, while preparing for exams and closing the session, your brain refuses to work, you experience nervous tension all the time, you cannot eat or sleep normally.
After several days of taking the medicine Glycine, all these symptoms disappear as if by hand. You feel calm and confident, your thinking process improves, and your exams always pass with a bang!
Marina, 21 years old
After moving to a new city, changing my place of residence and job, I experienced constant stress. Once I even had a nervous breakdown. Then the doctor prescribed me a course of glycine and assured me that in a few days the situation would improve significantly. And it really happened!
My mood improved, I had a desire to work, and I began to feel much freer in the new team. After that, I immediately got my husband and daughter hooked on these pills, and they were also completely delighted.
Tatyana, 38 years old
What is important to consider when taking
Glycine combines well with other drugs without affecting their effectiveness. But if doctors prescribe the simultaneous use of an amino acid with antidepressants or nootropics, then you must take a break between uses of 2-4 hours.
Glycine helps lower blood pressure, this must be taken into account during the therapeutic course - if there is a history of hypotension, then it will be necessary to periodically monitor blood pressure readings in order to prevent a critical situation.
Analogs
Analogues of Glycine include Glycine forte, Glycised, Glycide-Canon. They have one feature - they contain a very high concentration of amino acids, and Glycine forte contains vitamins B6 and B12. If the doctor recommends taking them specifically against panic attacks, then you will need to adjust the dosage and, possibly, reduce the duration of therapy.
We recommend reading about how to choose a glycine analogue. From the article you will learn about natural sources of glycine, similar drugs, tablets similar to Glycine in the active substance. And here is more information about whether it is worth taking Glycine for VSD.
Glycine for panic attacks will only be effective if it is taken in courses at regular intervals. It should not be the only drug in treatment; complex therapy is needed, including the use of medications from the nootropic category.
Why glycine is useful: 7 main advantages of the drug
Since gamma-aminobutyric acid is a substance independently produced by the human nervous system and involved in protein synthesis, its external use is also beneficial and does not cause harm to health.
Now let’s tell you more about the benefits of glycine.
#1 Helps prevent aging
Gamma-aminobutyric acid is a component of glutathione [Verified Source], a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which are at the root of many diseases.
Without enough glycine, the body produces less glutathione, which can negatively affect how the body deals with oxidative processes in cells and thus age more quickly.
With age, glutathione levels decrease, so consuming gamma-aminobutyric acid in tablet form is very useful for older people.
#2 Strengthens muscles
Glycine is also involved in the formation of creatine, a substance that gives muscles energy. Therefore, many bodybuilding athletes take special creatine supplements to increase muscle strength and mass.
Recent research [Verified Source] has found that creatine can also strengthen bones, improve brain function, and alleviate Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.
Creatine is produced in sufficient quantities in a healthy human body, but if you take glycine, its production increases and the muscles receive additional energy.
No. 3 Increases skin elasticity and strengthens bones, ligaments and cartilage
Collagen also contains large amounts of gamma-aminobutyric acid. Collagen is considered the most abundant protein in the human body. It is the main element that makes up fascia, cartilage, ligaments, tendons and bones. In addition, collagen is responsible for the strength and elasticity of the skin. When its amount in the body decreases, the cells in which it was located shrink, which leads to the appearance of wrinkles and sagging bones, tendons, and ligaments.
Therefore, if you drink glycine in tablet form, the process of collagen synthesis will not stop, but its amount will decrease.
№4 Glycine for sleep
Lately, more and more people are experiencing problems with night sleep, namely, they take a long time to fall asleep, wake up in the middle of the night and feel sleepy in the morning. Gamma-aminobutyric acid can help get rid of these problems.
The substance in question has a calming effect on the nervous system, as a result of which a person begins to feel internal balance and stops reacting negatively to various irritating factors. If you take one tablet of 100 mg of glycine 20 minutes before bedtime, the process of falling asleep will be quick and the quality of your sleep will be high.
In an experiment [Verified Source] conducted with people who had insomnia, it was found that taking 3 g of glycine before bed reduced the time it took to fall asleep. In addition, the quality of sleep improves and daytime sleepiness does not occur.
Thus, gamma-aminobutyric acid is a safe alternative to sleeping pills.
No. 5 Glycine for hangover
Too much alcohol negatively affects the functioning of various human organs and systems, especially the liver and central nervous system, and also leads to a hangover.
Scientific research has shown that glycine reduces the harmful effects [Verified Source] of alcoholic beverages on the liver, thereby preventing its intoxication and inflammation. It reduces blood alcohol concentration by stimulating the metabolism of alcohol in the blood rather than in the liver, which prevents the development of cirrhosis.
Moreover, glycine is used to treat hangover syndrome. So, after a person drinks an alcoholic drink, it enters the bloodstream, is transported to the liver and is converted there into acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that affects the general condition of the body. When glycine interacts with acetaldehyde, the latter turns into acetylglycine, which, on the contrary, is beneficial for humans and is involved in the synthesis of hormones, enzymes and proteins.
It is interesting that glycine is used in narcology as a means of detoxification and as a prophylaxis against delirium tremens.
#6 Helps prevent cardiovascular diseases
Taking glycine prevents clogging of blood vessels and narrowing of arteries, thus reducing the risk of atherosclerosis. In addition, gamma-aminobutyric acid is used in the complex treatment of ischemic stroke, as it improves blood supply to the brain.
The mechanism of action of the drug Glycine is also associated with the release of the active substance nitric oxide produced in the joints [Verified source], which is responsible for relaxing the smooth muscles of the walls of blood vessels, which leads to an increase in blood flow and a decrease in blood pressure. As a result, blood circulates uninterruptedly and is delivered to all organs, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
No. 7 Glycine for memory, improving mental abilities and psycho-emotional state
Glycine is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and plays an important role in the processing of motor and sensory information. In addition, it improves cerebral circulation. All this helps improve mental abilities and can also lift your mood.
As stated in the instructions for the drug, it normalizes and activates the processes of protective inhibition in the central nervous system, as a result of which an overexcited person calms down. Gamma-aminobutyric acid can be taken in stressful situations.
In order for glycine to have all of the above effects, it must be drunk according to the instructions and the rules specified in it.
