GAD Stabilizer
Calm support for a mind that won’t switch off.*
Magnesium, glycine, L-theanine, zinc, and kava in one two-capsule serving, formulated by Courtney Hunt, MD.
If your body is tired but your brain is still running at 11 p.m., you’re not alone. GAD Stabilizer brings together five nutrients and botanicals chosen to support relaxation and restful sleep, at doses listed right on the label. It’s a different approach from taking GABA alone, and it was formulated by Dr. Courtney Hunt, MD, with women’s changing hormones in mind.*
Is GAD Stabilizer right for you?
GAD Stabilizer may be a fit if you:
- Feel wired at bedtime, with a mind that keeps racing after the lights go off
- Wake in the early morning hours and struggle to settle back down
- Notice your sleep and stress tolerance shift across your cycle, in perimenopause, or after menopause
- Carry everyday tension that never quite lets go
- Tried GABA and wanted something with more than one ingredient
Occasional sleeplessness and stress have many possible causes. If symptoms are new, severe, or ongoing, talk with your healthcare provider.*
Why not just take GABA?
GABA is the brain’s main calming messenger, so taking it as a supplement seems logical. But GABA doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier easily, and how much oral GABA reaches the brain is still debated.
GAD Stabilizer takes a different route. Instead of supplying GABA, it combines nutrients and botanicals studied for relaxation, restful sleep, and the response to occasional stress.* And because calm in women also involves progesterone, estrogen, and energy balance, Dr. Hunt designed it as steady nutritional support that doesn’t depend on where your hormones are this week.*
About the name: “GAD” refers to glutamic acid decarboxylase, the enzyme your body uses to make GABA from glutamate. The formula does not contain the enzyme itself.
Read Dr. Hunt’s full article: GABA vs. GAD Stabilizer →
What’s inside
Every dose is listed. There is no proprietary blend. Per two-capsule serving:
| Ingredient | Amount | Why it’s here |
|---|---|---|
| Kava kava root (Piper methysticum) | 150 mg | A traditional Pacific Island botanical used for relaxation (see safety notes below)* |
| L-glycine | 500 mg | An amino acid that supports restful sleep and the body’s natural nighttime drop in core temperature* |
| L-theanine | 300 mg | An amino acid found in tea, studied for relaxation without drowsiness and for the response to occasional stress* |
| Zinc (as zinc picolinate) | 10 mg | An essential mineral involved in normal enzyme and cellular function* |
| Magnesium (as magnesium orotate) | 35 mg | An essential mineral involved in normal nervous-system function and muscle relaxation* |
Other ingredients: vegetable cellulose, microcrystalline cellulose, ascorbyl palmitate, silicon dioxide.
How to use
Adults take two capsules once daily, 30 minutes before or after a meal. Do not take more than two capsules a day unless your healthcare practitioner advises it.
- For sleep: take your serving in the evening.
- For daytime stress: take your serving in the morning, if you know how it affects you.
Kava can cause drowsiness, so try your first doses in the evening, when you won’t need to drive.
Safety first: what to know about kava
Kava has been used for relaxation for centuries, and we want you to use it safely. Please read these notes before you start.
Do not use GAD Stabilizer if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have, or have had, liver problems
- Drink alcohol regularly, or plan to drink while taking it
Ask your healthcare provider first if you:
- Take any medication, including sedatives, sleep aids, or medications that affect the liver
- Take progesterone or hormone therapy, since both progesterone and kava act on GABA-A receptors and their effects can add together
- Are trying to conceive or have a medical condition
Official caution: The US FDA advises that a rare but severe liver injury may be associated with high-dose kava-containing dietary supplements. Stop use and see a doctor if you develop symptoms that may signal liver problems, such as abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, or yellowing of the eyes or skin. Excessive use, or use with products that cause drowsiness, may impair your ability to drive or operate heavy equipment.
A note from Dr. Hunt
“So many of my patients tell me the same thing: ‘I’m exhausted, but my brain won’t turn off.’ I formulated GAD Stabilizer to give them steady, nutritional support for relaxation and sleep, with ingredients and doses I’d be comfortable explaining to any patient.”
— Courtney Hunt, MD, founder of Genetic Protocol
Frequently asked questions
Is GABA or GAD Stabilizer better for sleep?
They work differently. A GABA supplement supplies the calming messenger itself, though how much reaches the brain is debated. GAD Stabilizer combines magnesium, zinc, glycine, L-theanine, and kava to support relaxation and restful sleep.*
Does GAD Stabilizer contain the GAD enzyme or GABA?
No. The name refers to the enzyme your body uses to make GABA. The formula contains no GAD enzyme and no GABA.
Can I take it with progesterone or hormone therapy?
Talk with your prescriber first. Progesterone and kava both act on GABA-A receptors, so their relaxing effects can add together.
Should I take it in the morning or at night?
For sleep support, take it in the evening. For daytime calm, you can take it in the morning once you know how it affects you. Take two capsules once a day, not both.
Will it make me drowsy?
It can, mainly because of the kava. Don’t drive or operate machinery until you know how it affects you, and don’t combine it with alcohol or other sedating products.
Who should not take kava?
Anyone who is pregnant or nursing, has liver problems, drinks alcohol regularly, or takes sedatives or medications that affect the liver should avoid it unless their physician advises otherwise.
How many servings are in a bottle?
There are 30 servings in the bottle.
Can men take GAD Stabilizer?
Yes. Adults of any sex can use it. Dr. Hunt’s formulation notes focus on women because hormones add another layer to sleep and stress.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Directions
Adults take two capsules in the morning OR evening 30 minutes before or after a meal. Do not exceed more than two capsules daily or discuss with your healthcare practitioner for further guidance. CAUTION: US FDA advises that a potential risk of a rare but severe liver injury may be associated with high-dose kava-containing dietary supplements. Ask a healthcare professional before use if you have or have had liver problems, frequently use alcoholic beverages, or are taking any medication. Stop using and see a doctor if you develop symptoms that may signal liver problems (e.g., abdominal pain, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting, dark urine, pale stools, yellow eyes, or skin). Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Not for use with alcoholic beverages. Excessive use or use with products that cause drowsiness may impair your ability to operate a vehicle or heavy equipment.
May benefit
Supports relaxation and a calm mood*, Supports restful sleep*, Helps your body respond to occasional stress*, Supports normal nervous-system function*
Ingredients
Magnesium (As Magnesium Orotate), Zinc (As Zinc Picolinate), L-Glycine, L-Theanine, Kava Kava Root
Vegetable Cellulose, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Silicon Dioxide