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Phenibut is a central nervous system depressant with anxiolytic effects, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions. It is a controlled substance in several countries and banned in others. While it is not approved for clinical use in most parts of the world, it is sold as a nutritional supplement and easily accessible online. Phenibut has gained popularity for its ability to produce euphoria, anxiolysis, and increased sociability. However, its use also carries risks, including the potential for addiction, severe withdrawal symptoms, and overdose. High doses of phenibut can lead to overdose symptoms such as severe drowsiness, nausea, lowered blood pressure, and even death. Additionally, withdrawal from phenibut can result in anxiety, muscle spasms, insomnia, agitation, and psychosis. Given the potential risks associated with phenibut use, particularly at high doses, it is important to understand the dangers and seek medical advice before consuming this substance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Phenibut | A central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other indications. |
| Side Effects | Can include sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, euphoria, headaches, and more. |
| Overdose | Can lead to severe drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, lowered blood pressure, and even death. |
| Withdrawal | Symptoms include decreased appetite, nausea, muscle aches, fast heart rate, anxiety, agitation, trouble sleeping, seizures, and delirium. |
| Dependence | Phenibut use can lead to dependence, with tolerance building over time. |
| High Doses | Can cause blurred thinking, loss of motor coordination, deep sleep, and severe muscle spasms as a withdrawal symptom. |
| Addiction | There is evidence that phenibut can be addictive, with users reporting a need for higher doses over time. |
| Legality | Phenibut is legal to possess in some countries, but unregulated and potentially unsafe. |
| Treatment | Medications like Baclofen can help with detox and withdrawal from phenibut. |
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What You'll Learn
Phenibut's side effects
Phenibut (β-phenyl-aminobutyric acid) is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other indications. It is typically consumed orally as a powder mixed with water, tablets, or a liquid solution. While it is prescribed in Russia and some Eastern European countries, it is unregulated and not approved for use in the United States and most of Europe. Due to safety concerns, it is not approved as a dietary supplement in the US.
Phenibut is known to cause several side effects, including sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, euphoria, and headaches. More severe side effects, such as respiratory depression, coma, and death, have been associated with combining phenibut with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants like alcohol. The long-term effects of phenibut use are not well studied, but there is evidence of its potential for addiction and withdrawal symptoms, including decreased appetite, nausea, muscle aches, fast heart rate, anxiety, and delirium.
The potential side effects of phenibut are often unpredictable and dangerous, and can include psychosis, especially for those with pre-existing mental or behavioral health conditions. There have been reports of severe rebound anxiety, insomnia, aggression, irritability, agitation, visual and auditory hallucinations, and acute psychosis in recreational users taking high doses.
Additionally, phenibut abuse can lead to permanent personality changes, particularly in individuals with mental health conditions like PTSD. The feelings of euphoria associated with phenibut put individuals at high risk of forming an addiction. Furthermore, large doses can impact both mental and physical health, and there is a risk of overdose, which can cause severe drowsiness, nausea, lowered blood pressure, and renal impairment.
While therapeutic doses of phenibut are considered safe and well-tolerated, the quality of phenibut obtained online is questionable, and the contribution of alcohol or other drug abuse to phenibut dependence and intoxication is a concern.
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Withdrawal symptoms
The first week of phenibut withdrawal is particularly challenging, with symptoms such as hallucinations, delirium, and the risk of seizures. While these symptoms usually resolve towards the end of the week, other symptoms, such as heightened anxiety, stress, irritation, agitation, and significant emotional symptoms, including depression, depersonalization, and a strong fear or dread without any specific cause, can persist. Physical symptoms such as loss of appetite, muscle cramps, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, sweating, fever, chills, and tremors may also be present.
The psychological symptoms of phenibut withdrawal may seem more intense in the second week, as the physical symptoms begin to resolve. By the third week, insomnia may start to improve, and the psychological symptoms may gradually improve as well. However, it will still take time for an individual to feel normal again.
The pace of dosage reduction can impact the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Generally, the faster the dosage reduction, the more likely the person is to experience severe withdrawal symptoms. Tapering off phenibut under the supervision of a medical professional allows the brain to adjust to changes in neurotransmission gradually, reducing the intensity of withdrawal symptoms and helping the individual to eventually function normally without the substance.
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Addiction and overdose dangers
Phenibut (β-phenyl-aminobutyric acid) is a psychoactive substance developed in Russia in the 1960s. It is used to relieve tension, anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, stammering, and insomnia. It is also used to potentiate neuroleptics and antiparkinsonian drugs. While it is a controlled substance in some countries and banned in others, it is legal to possess and sell in the United States and most of Europe. However, it is not approved as a licensed drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is not used in clinical settings.
Phenibut use can quickly lead to drug dependence and addiction, with serious withdrawal symptoms occurring when attempting to stop using the drug. Tolerance to phenibut develops with repeated use, leading to dependence. Withdrawal symptoms may occur upon discontinuation, and can include severe rebound anxiety, insomnia, aggression, irritability, agitation, visual and auditory hallucinations, and acute psychosis. In some cases, individuals continue taking the substance to prevent the withdrawal symptoms from re-emerging.
The risk of addiction is low, but withdrawals and side effects can occur. Side effects of phenibut use can include sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, euphoria, and sometimes headache, among others. Overdose of phenibut can lead to marked central nervous system depression, including unconsciousness, coma, and death. Mixing phenibut with other drugs or alcohol greatly increases the risk of a potentially fatal overdose.
There is limited information on the pharmacokinetics of phenibut in recreational users taking high doses. However, in these individuals, the onset of action of phenibut has been reported to be 2 to 4 hours orally and 20 to 30 minutes rectally, with peak effects occurring 4 to 6 hours following oral ingestion. The total duration for the oral route has been reported to be 15 to 24 hours.
Treatment for phenibut dependence may consist of medications for detox, such as Baclofen, to ensure safety and minimize unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Polysubstance use treatment typically involves behavioral therapies to address the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors that led to polysubstance misuse.
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Mixing with other substances
Mixing phenibut with other substances can have serious health consequences. In the decade between 2009 and 2019, 40.2% of adults aged 18 or older who contacted poison control centres in the United States about phenibut had combined it with another substance.
Combining phenibut with other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as benzodiazepines, barbiturates, or alcohol, can lead to a serious risk of overdose. This is because the sedative effects of phenibut are intensified when combined with these substances, impairing cognitive functions and increasing the risk of accidents. In some cases, mixing phenibut with other substances has resulted in coma and death.
Additionally, phenibut has a high potential for overdose-related toxicity, and it can be challenging to know the exact contents of the substance. Mixing it with other drugs further increases the risk of a potentially fatal overdose.
If you or someone you know is struggling with polysubstance misuse involving phenibut, specialised treatment programs are available. These programs typically involve behavioural therapies to address the emotions, thoughts, and behaviours that led to polysubstance misuse. Medications such as Baclofen may also be used during detox to minimise unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
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Long-term health impacts
While there is limited information on the clinical pharmacokinetics of phenibut, it is known that it distributes widely throughout the body and crosses the blood-brain barrier. This means that phenibut can have a profound effect on an individual's quality of life, especially in someone already suffering from a mental health condition.
Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other indications. It is usually taken orally and may be given intravenously. Side effects of phenibut can include sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, headaches, allergic reactions, and sometimes euphoria, among others.
With prolonged use of phenibut, particularly at high doses, the liver and blood should be monitored due to the risk of fatty liver disease and eosinophilia. Tolerance to phenibut can easily develop with repeated use, leading to dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms may include severe rebound anxiety, insomnia, aggression, irritability, agitation, visual and auditory hallucinations, and acute psychosis. Evidence suggests that individuals who use phenibut in conjunction with other substances may experience more severe withdrawal symptoms.
There is a risk of phenibut overdose, which can produce marked central nervous system depression, including unconsciousness, trouble breathing, and even death. High doses of phenibut can also cause motor incoordination, loss of balance, and hangovers.
In summary, the long-term health impacts of high-dose phenibut use can include dependence, severe withdrawal symptoms, overdose, and adverse effects on the liver and blood. The risks are heightened when phenibut is combined with other substances.
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Frequently asked questions
Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other indications. It is typically consumed orally, generally as either a powder that is mixed with water, as tablets, or as a liquid solution.
Side effects of phenibut can include sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, euphoria, and sometimes headaches, among others. High doses of phenibut can cause trouble breathing, unconsciousness, and death.
Yes, phenibut is a central nervous system depressant, and withdrawal from the drug can cause muscle spasms, among other symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia, and agitation.
