Alcohol

Withdrawal: GABA

If you suddenly stop drinking alcohol, you can experience withdrawal symptoms, such as insomnia, jitteriness, sweating, anxiety and depression.

This is because:

• The structure of the GABA receptors has changed, making the calming action of GABA less effective than previously.
• GABA now only binds very briefly in the absence of alcohol. Fewer inhibitory messages are relayed, and the nervous system becomes overstimulated.