Quality rest is important for maintaining your mental and physical health. Many people around the world take sleep supplements to help promote better rest, but some prescribed sleep aids can cause drowsiness the morning after.

A solution might have been found in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). It is an amino acid naturally found in the body and promotes a calming effect. GABA is often taken as a dietary supplement, but it might be a good alternative sleep aid to melatonin. Since GABA affects the early sleep stages, it leaves you feeling more awake in the morning.

GABA is naturally found in the brain and even in some foods like tomatoes and soybeans. As an inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA reduces a nerve cell’s ability to send and receive chemical messages throughout the central nervous system. It calms your nervous system down, helping you not become overly anxious, afraid or stressed. GABA is sold as a dietary supplement in many countries and its effects may also benefit those who struggle to fall asleep.

GABA is available in non-prescription supplement form. Manufacturers sell natural GABA in pills and capsules at a range of prices, claiming their products can help reduce stress and help you to feel calm and relaxed. It can be sold alone or blended with other substances like melatonin, which promotes sleep.

There’s no solid research showing GABA helps improve the quality of sleep and slow-wave sleep, but the study’s results showed it may promote sleepiness as it affects early sleep stages. Another benefit is that it won’t leave you feeling drowsy the following morning like other over-the-counter medications or prescription sleep medications. 

As you should with any new supplement, consult your doctor before taking GABA. Especially when taken in combination with other medications or prescriptions.