The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia

Sleep is an essential activity for the survival of mammals. Good sleep quality helps promote the performance of daily functions. In contrast, insufficient sleep reduces the efficiency of daily activities, causes various chronic diseases like Alzheimer's disease, and increases the risk of having...

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Main Authors: Peeraporn Varinthra, Shameemun Naseer Mohamed Nizarul Anwar, Shu-Ching Shih, Ingrid Y Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2024-01-01
Series:Tzu Chi Medical Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.tcmjmed.com/article.asp?issn=1016-3190;year=2024;volume=36;issue=2;spage=103;epage=109;aulast=Varinthra
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author Peeraporn Varinthra
Shameemun Naseer Mohamed Nizarul Anwar
Shu-Ching Shih
Ingrid Y Liu
author_facet Peeraporn Varinthra
Shameemun Naseer Mohamed Nizarul Anwar
Shu-Ching Shih
Ingrid Y Liu
author_sort Peeraporn Varinthra
collection DOAJ
description Sleep is an essential activity for the survival of mammals. Good sleep quality helps promote the performance of daily functions. In contrast, insufficient sleep reduces the efficiency of daily activities, causes various chronic diseases like Alzheimer's disease, and increases the risk of having accidents. The GABAergic system is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the central nervous system. It transits the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter via GABAA and GABAB receptors to counterbalance excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, noradrenaline, serotonin, acetylcholine, orexin, and dopamine, which release and increase arousal activities during sleep. Several studies emphasized that dysfunction of the GABAergic system is related to insomnia, the most prevalent sleep-related disorder. The GABAergic system comprises the GABA neurotransmitter, GABA receptors, GABA synthesis, and degradation. Many studies have demonstrated that GABA levels correlate with sleep quality, suggesting that modulating the GABAergic system may be a promising therapeutic approach for insomnia. In this article, we highlight the significance of sleep, the classification and pathology of insomnia, and the impact of the GABAergic system changes on sleep. In addition, we also review the medications that target the GABAergic systems for insomnia, including benzodiazepines (BZDs), non-BZDs, barbiturates, GABA supplements, and Chinese herbal medicines.
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spelling doaj-art-280ae241163f47f0a5fc2f94b3d1098b2025-08-20T03:18:01ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsTzu Chi Medical Journal1016-31902223-89562024-01-0136210310910.4103/tcmj.tcmj_243_23The role of the GABAergic system on insomniaPeeraporn VarinthraShameemun Naseer Mohamed Nizarul AnwarShu-Ching ShihIngrid Y LiuSleep is an essential activity for the survival of mammals. Good sleep quality helps promote the performance of daily functions. In contrast, insufficient sleep reduces the efficiency of daily activities, causes various chronic diseases like Alzheimer's disease, and increases the risk of having accidents. The GABAergic system is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter system in the central nervous system. It transits the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmitter via GABAA and GABAB receptors to counterbalance excitatory neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, noradrenaline, serotonin, acetylcholine, orexin, and dopamine, which release and increase arousal activities during sleep. Several studies emphasized that dysfunction of the GABAergic system is related to insomnia, the most prevalent sleep-related disorder. The GABAergic system comprises the GABA neurotransmitter, GABA receptors, GABA synthesis, and degradation. Many studies have demonstrated that GABA levels correlate with sleep quality, suggesting that modulating the GABAergic system may be a promising therapeutic approach for insomnia. In this article, we highlight the significance of sleep, the classification and pathology of insomnia, and the impact of the GABAergic system changes on sleep. In addition, we also review the medications that target the GABAergic systems for insomnia, including benzodiazepines (BZDs), non-BZDs, barbiturates, GABA supplements, and Chinese herbal medicines.http://www.tcmjmed.com/article.asp?issn=1016-3190;year=2024;volume=36;issue=2;spage=103;epage=109;aulast=Varinthrabenzodiazepineschinese herbal medicinegamma-aminobutyric acidinsomniasleep
spellingShingle Peeraporn Varinthra
Shameemun Naseer Mohamed Nizarul Anwar
Shu-Ching Shih
Ingrid Y Liu
The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia
Tzu Chi Medical Journal
benzodiazepines
chinese herbal medicine
gamma-aminobutyric acid
insomnia
sleep
title The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia
title_full The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia
title_fullStr The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia
title_full_unstemmed The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia
title_short The role of the GABAergic system on insomnia
title_sort role of the gabaergic system on insomnia
topic benzodiazepines
chinese herbal medicine
gamma-aminobutyric acid
insomnia
sleep
url http://www.tcmjmed.com/article.asp?issn=1016-3190;year=2024;volume=36;issue=2;spage=103;epage=109;aulast=Varinthra
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