{"id":27229,"date":"2019-11-06T11:17:09","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T19:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/?p=27229"},"modified":"2021-11-03T02:12:09","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T09:12:09","slug":"phenibut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/selfhacked.com\/blog\/phenibut\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Phenibut Uses + Side Effects, Dosage & Natural Alternatives"},"content":{"rendered":"

Phenibut is a GABA<\/a>-acting psychotropic drug with anti-anxiety<\/a> and nootropic effects. In Russia, it\u2019s used for PTSD, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, depression<\/a>, and alcoholism. In the US, phenibut is classified as a supplement. But it\u2019s also used recreationally and can cause addiction. Read more below to learn about its effects, side effects, and natural alternatives.<\/p>\n

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Disclaimer<\/i><\/b>: By writing this post, we are not recommending this drug. Some of our readers requested that we commission a post on it, and we are simply providing information that is available in the scientific and clinical literature. Please discuss your medications with your doctor.<\/i><\/p>\n

We also included a section about natural alternatives, as there are a variety of natural, potentially safe ways to boost GABA and achieve similar effects without the health risks<\/i><\/b>.<\/i><\/p>\n

What Is Phenibut?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Phenibut (beta-phenyl-GABA) is a synthetic drug similar to the calming neurotransmitter GABA<\/b>. It boosts GABA activity in the brain and stimulates<\/b> dopamine<\/b><\/a> and<\/b> serotonin<\/b><\/a> neurotransmission<\/b> [R<\/a>, R<\/a>, R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

By boosting GABA, serotonin, and dopamine – three crucial neurotransmitters in the brain – this drug can have profound effects on cognition, mood, and energy levels [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Phenibut was developed in Russia in the 1960s and has since been clinically used to relieve tension, fear, anxiety, posttraumatic stress<\/a> disorder, depression, and insomnia. It\u2019s also used to enhance intellectual function in various mental disorders. All of these approved uses are limited to Russia [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

It\u2019s often used recreationally to ease social anxiety and induce euphoria, which earned it the nickname \u201cthe happy drug\u201d<\/b> across online forums. Many people self-medicate with phenibut to ease fear and anxiety, boost cognition and positive feelings, and even to enhance physical endurance and libido. Students and entrepreneurs use it as a nootropic and call it \u201cthe smart pill\u201d.<\/p>\n

Is Phenibut Legal?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

Phenibut is technically legal but it is not approved by the FDA for clinical use In the United States<\/b>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s classified and sold as a nutritional supplement. But it is not \u201cnutritional\u201d but a synthetic designer drug that can cause side effects, dependency, withdrawal, and overdose. Its sale and use remain an unregulated, grey area. It is sold online under various brand names, such as Noofen, Anvifen, and Fenibut [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Citrocard is a very similar analog of Phenibut (phenibut citrate), although not identical [R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Phenibut Dosage and Duration of Effect<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

A \u201cPhenibut Warning\u201d was officially issued in 2013 following near-fatal overdoses in upstate New York. It mentions the availability of phenibut HCL, a cheap, white, sour-tasting powder soluble in water or alcohol. According to this report, people typically take 0.5 – 4 g, it begins to act in 60 – 90 minutes, and lasts for 4 – 10 hours.<\/p>\n

The actual dosage in most clinical studies varied between 500mg – 1g\/day.<\/p>\n

What Makes Phenibut Psychoactive?<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n

By chemically modifying GABA (adding a phenyl ring), Russian scientists made Phenibut as a drug that can easily penetrate the blood-brain barrier <\/b>[R<\/a>].<\/p>\n

Phenibut achieves its psychoactive effects by [R<\/a>]:<\/p>\n