Kavinace by Neuroscience is no longer available as a supplement. April 10th, 2019, the FDA issued a letter to several nutraceutical companies to discontinue supplements containing 4-amino-3phenylbutyric acid. The FDA has determined that 4-amino-3phenylbutyric acid, also commonly referred to as Phenibut is not a dietary supplement. We published a previous Kavinace article shortly after the FDA letters were sent out.
As of the letter dated April 10th, the companies had 15 days to comply. This left people that had taken Kavinace safely for years in a bit of a quandary. Kavinace is, I mean, was a dietary supplement that many people took to help with staying asleep. It contained 950mg of a combination of taurine and 4-amino-3-phenyl butyric acid HCL per capsule.
Most people did well on one to two capsules taken at night before bed. It wasn’t a sleep medication, like Ambien or Unisom but did help to raise GABA to help with staying asleep at night. I used this myself and with patients to stay asleep at night.
Commonly in perimenopause and menopause, women have trouble staying asleep. Often they fall asleep easily but will wake up in the middle of the night for hours. And by the time they are able to fall back to sleep, it is time to wake up for the day. Kavinace was very helpful because it contained 4-amino-3-phenyl butyric acid, which is a precursor to GABA. Meaning it is easily digested and can cross the blood-brain barrier to help convert to GABA and stimulate GABA receptors to stay asleep.
One of the reasons that sleep is so important is terrible sleep can make you gain weight. People, especially women, will gain weight easily if they do not sleep well at night. Sleep is necessary for so many health reasons, it is also responsible in part for your metabolism. It really goes back to our adrenal glands.
The adrenals secrete cortisol in a diurnal fashion. Meaning that cortisol is released highest in the morning and stays up through the day and drops at night so that you can sleep well. Commonly, (especially in hormone imbalance, perimenopause, and menopause) you will see cortisol rise in the middle of the night. That causes us to wake up in the middle of the night for no reason.
Other than it is aggravating to be awake for hours in the middle of the night and tired during the day, the elevation of cortisol at night can negatively affect metabolism. Often we tell patients, forget waking up early to go to the gym. Just get that extra hour of sleep. One of the first things that we work on with patients is sleep. Sleeping properly is great for the waistline.
Well you might be asking, Kavinace is no longer available, what do I do now? There are many options available to replace Kavinace and sleep well. Back when I first found Kavinace years ago, all we had available to us was GABA. GABA is a huge molecule that is not easily absorbed through digestion, so it was a waste to take. Now we have available, PharmaGABA, which can be absorbed through the digestive tract.
PharmaGABA is a great alternative to Kavinace. You can take it as capsules at night or chewable tablets. If you are a tough sleeper, and still wake in the middle of the night, you can chew up 1-2 more tablets to help you fall back asleep and stay asleep, without feeling groggy in the morning.
Another important thing to consider when it comes to sleep is balancing the neurotransmitters. While Kavinace was a precursor to GABA, it is also important to balance dopamine and serotonin. Balancing Serotonin, Dopamine, and GABA is important for restful sleep. Often we will use products that contain 5HTP, which is a precursor to Serotonin and Mucuna pruriens standardized to 10-40% of L-Dopa which converts to dopamine.
When combining Mucuna pruriens and 5HTP with PharmaGABA can really help balance the neurohormones for healthy sleep. When people think of natural supplements for sleep, they think melatonin. Actually, melatonin can help you fall asleep, but it is not great to stay asleep.
Other ways to help with staying asleep through the night is glycine. Glycine is an amino acid that can help with feeling wound up and slow down the mind-racing. It usually comes as a powder which you mix up with water. I often like to recommend to patients to drink part of the glycine water before bed. If they wake up in the middle of the night, then finish the rest of the glycine water to fall back asleep easily without waking up groggy.
Also, phosphorylated serine is helpful for reducing cortisol levels at night to stay asleep. It doesn’t help you fall asleep, but it can help you stay asleep. Phosphorylated serine is, so it is more easily absorbed if taken with food that might have healthy fats in it.
Other options that you already know to help with sleep are no caffeine after 3pm. Also exercising, especially cardio exercise in the evening can raise your cortisol, causing trouble sleeping later that night.
Remember I talked about elevated levels of cortisol in the middle of the night causing waking? Well, that can come from low blood sugar. Let’s say you eat dinner at 6pm and nothing thereafter and go to bed at 10pm. By the time 2am comes, you have not eaten for 8 hours. Your blood sugar can drop. This causes cortisol to rise and stimulates the liver to do gluconeogenesis, which is a process to make blood sugar, even though you didn’t eat anything. This rise in cortisol from the low blood sugar makes you wake up in the middle of the night.
A good option, that I promise will not make you gain weight, is to have a bedtime snack. A small snack of protein and fat before bed is a great way to balance blood sugar to help you stay asleep at night.
We understand that you might have tried this and everything else and still have trouble staying asleep. This usually occurs in perimenopause and other hormonal imbalances. This is why we created the Perimenopause Masterclass.
If you are between the ages of your late ’30s to late ’40s and not only have trouble sleeping, but period issues, weight gain, moodiness, hair and skin issues, then this course might of interest to you.
At this point we have to say, the disclaimer …this is not meant for medical advice, please ask your doctor and if your doctor doesn’t know, get a new doctor, and this information is intended for educational purposes only, etc. But I understand that you might have more questions, please reach out anytime to [email protected]
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Discover the common and unfamiliar symptoms that you might be experiencing. Get access to cases of real women with hormonal conditions.
Protecting your `heart health` is crucial, especially during `menopause`, when risks can increase. In this `women’s health` episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki share essential `health tips` and insights into how `hormones` impact cardiovascular well-being. Learn about important lab tests and supplements to safeguard your heart. You’ll learn: ● Why heart disease in women is often a “silent” problem until it’s serious ● The difference between general “heart disease” and atherosclerosis ● Coronary calcium scores: what they are, what the numbers mean, and when to consider one ● Why total cholesterol alone is useless (and often scary for no reason) ● The key markers that matter more: ○ Triglycerides ○ HDL ○ Triglyceride HDL ratio (and why 1.5 is a powerful insulin-resistance clue) ○ ApoB ○ Lp(a) ○ hs-CRP (cardio CRP) ○ Blood pressure & insulin resistance ● How estrogen decline in perimenopause & menopause affects cholesterol, visceral fat, inflammation, and heart risk ● How rhythmic dosing and thoughtfully prescribed HRT can support metabolic and cardiovascular health ● Visceral fat vs “roly poly” fat: why where you store fat matters more than the scale ● Foundational supplements for heart protection (education only, not personal medical advice): ○ Omega3s (EPA/DHA) ○ Vitamin D 2 ○ CoQ10 ○ Curcumin/turmeric ○ Magnesium Red yeast rice, bergamot, berberine & more metabolic support ○ Nitric oxide support (beet root, citrulline, etc.) If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Can You Do Rhythmic Dosing After a Hysterectomy? Short answer: Yes, but there are some other factors to take into consideration to make sure someone is a good candidate. In this episode, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki explain how rhythmic dosing works without a uterus, why it can be an excellent option after total hysterectomy (with oophorectomy) or surgical menopause, and when a simpler static approach might be better. We cover candidates, myths (like “no uterus = no progesterone”), brain and bone benefits, and how to personalize dosing for real-life outcomes—sleep, mood, cognition, libido, and long-term bone strength. What you’ll learn ● Rhythmic dosing 101 (mimicking a 26–28-day cycle) ● Hysterectomy types: uterus-only vs. total (with ovary removal) ● Why rhythmic dosing can still help—even without a period ● Customizing estrogen + progesterone to symptoms and goals ● Brain fog & sleep: why declining estradiol hits cognition ● Bone density protection in the first 5–7 years post-menopause ● Endometriosis & fibroids: nuance, not one-size-fits-all ● When rhythmic dosing may not be ideal (e.g., 60 and off HRT for many years) If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Confused by your DEXA scan results? Not sure if your T-score is “normal,” “osteopenia,” or “osteoporosis”or what to actually do about it? In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki walk through three real viewer examples to show You exactly how to interpret bone density scores in your 50s and beyond. You’ll learn: ● How to read your DEXA scan: T-score vs Z-score in plain English ● The cutoffs: ○ 0 to -0.9 → normal bone density ○ -1.0 to -2.4 → osteopenia ○ ≤ -2.5 → osteoporosis ● Why two women in their early 50s can have completely different bone density ● What a T-score of -3.7 or -3.8 really means—and whether it’s reversible ● How surgical menopause, long-term steroids, vitamin D deficiency, RA, and genetics impact bone health ● Why your 50s are really about protecting your 70s (fracture risk, independence, and longevity) ● How weight loss, GLP-1 meds, and low muscle mass affect bones ● Practical foundations to protect and improve bone density: ○ Smart movement: walking, weighted vests, strength & resistance training ○ Protein targets & why bone = “calcified protein” ○ Stress, cortisol & steroid impact on bone loss ○ Vitamin D + K2, food-based calcium & targeted bone support formulas ○ Where HRT—and rhythmic dosing—fit into a long-term bone strategy If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Many women confuse cycling static HRT with rhythmic dosing, but they’re not the same thing. In this episode, Dr. Valorie Davidson and Dr. Robert Maki from Progress Your Health break down the difference between the two, why it matters for your safety, and how to do hormone therapy the right way. In this video, you’ll learn: ● What “rhythmic dosing” actually means ● Why cycling your static HRT is not rhythmic dosing ● How improper dosing can impact mood, energy, and breast tenderness ● The risks of trying to adjust hormones on your own ● Why rhythmic dosing must follow the body’s natural ovarian rhythm ● How men and women can use synchronized rhythmic dosing safely If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
In Part 2, we go symptom-by-symptom so you can sleep through the night again. Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki cover night sweats, frequent urination, heart palpitations, muscle cramps, headaches, itchy skin, vivid dreams, and when to suspect sleep apnea (under-recognized in women). You’ll hear practical tactics—electrolytes, targeted magnesium types, phosphatidylserine timing, glycine, L-theanine, and smart melatonin use—plus when HRT helps and how to pair data (CGM, wearables) with your sleep plan. You’ll also discover practical, science-backed fixes like: 💧 Smart electrolyte balance & targeted magnesium types 🧠 Phosphatidylserine timing for cortisol control 😴 Glycine, L-theanine, and optimal melatonin use 💊 When HRT makes sense—and how to pair it with CGM or wearable sleep data What you’ll learn ● What nighttime urination signals (estrogen & ADH, electrolytes, cortisol) ● Palpitations in midlife: estrogen link, when to see cardiology, calming strategies ● Cramps/headaches/itchy skin—common causes & quick fixes ● How/when to test for sleep apnea at home (and why it’s missed in women) ● Fine-tuning supplements & dosing; when HRT is the lever Still not sure what’s really causing your sleepless nights? Find out if you’re in the In-Between stage of perimenopause and menopause. If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
Why midlife wrecks your sleep—and how to fix it naturally. In Part 1, Dr. Valorie and Dr. Maki unpack the hormone triad behind women’s insomnia: shifting estrogen/progesterone, cortisol dysregulation, and blood sugar/insulin resistance. You’ll learn the difference between trouble falling vs. staying asleep, how low progesterone affects GABA (hello 2–3 a.m. wake-ups), and the daily habits that reset your circadian rhythm. What you’ll learn ● The hormone triad driving midlife sleep loss ● “Vampire / Zombie / Ghoul” sleep patterns—what they mean ● Why blood sugar swings trigger nighttime cortisol spikes ● Morning fixes that help nights: protein breakfast, light exposure, movement, temperature ● Starter supplements & how to think about them: magnesium (glycinate, L-threonate), L-theanine, glycine, phosphatidylserine, melatonin If you have a question, please visit our website and click Ask the Doctor a question. Join the Progress Your Hormones Community Stay Connected Instagram: @drvalorie TikTok: @drvaloried Disclaimer: All content in this blog, including text, images, audio, video, or other formats, was created for informational purposes only. This video, website, and blog aim to promote consumer/public understanding and general knowledge of various health topics. This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this website. If your healthcare provider is not interested in discussing your health concerns regarding this topic, then it is time to find a new doctor.
