Phenibut

What is Phenibut? 

Phenibut - the full name is "β-phenyl-γ-aminobutyric acid" - is a chemical compound derived from the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). GABA regulates the excitability of neurons in the human brain. By docking with certain receptors, the transmitter stimulates the "resting nerve" parasympathetic nervous system - with the result that states of excitement such as anxiety or anger subside. Instead, a feeling of contentment spreads. However, GABA has only a short half-life and cannot penetrate the blood-brain barrier, which is why the exogenous administration of GABA as a supplement is only partially effective. Phenibut is different: the substance has a half-life of over five hours, and once it has entered the bloodstream, it also penetrates the blood-brain barrier. Phenibut then has a mood-lifting or (depending on the dose) euphoric effect, increases frustration tolerance and drives away anxiety and self-doubt. 

Phenibut preparations are available in international trade in various forms: in capsule or powder form for oral intake and in spray form for nasal intake. The dosage forms as capsules and as powder are the most common. 

The effect of Phenibut 

Phenibut has a whole range of effects on a psychological and on a physical level. The most important are these: 

Psychological phenibut effect. 

• Phenibut has anxiolytic (= anxiety-relieving) effects. The substance was and is used in Russia for the treatment of anxiety and depression. 
• Since phenibut also stimulates the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine (which in turn stimulates the release of happiness hormones), the administration of phenibut causes a mood elevation, which is accompanied by increased motivation, confidence and good mood. 

Physical Phenibut Effects 

• Phenibut has a neuroprotective effect - meaning that the substance improves intracellular energy supply. For bodybuilders, this means they can train harder and longer under Phenibut's influence.
• Phenibut also has an anti-hypoxic effect, so the muscles cope better with a lack of oxygen. This is also beneficial to exercise intensity.
• A 2008 study also shows that GABA-like substances like phenibut stimulate the release of growth hormone (HGH). (In weightlifters studied, GABA supplementation increased HGH secretion by up to 375%, see Michael E. Powers [2008]: "Growth hormone isoform responses to GABA ingestion at rest and after exercise"). 

Drug, psycho-drug - or sports supplement? 

In order to be able to classify Phenibut correctly, one must first know by whom and for what purpose the substance was developed in the first place. 

Phenibut's origins lie in St. Petersburg, Russia: in 1963, a Soviet researcher, attempting to produce a drug to calm down children with behavioral problems, synthesized 3-phenyl-4-aminobutyric acid for the first time. He named the substance "phenigamma." The calming and at the same time mood-enhancing effect was enormous; in addition, consumption was accompanied by a certain concentration-enhancing effect. 

In the course of the Soviet efforts to surpass the USA in its space flight successes, Phenigamma then found its way into the Soviet cosmonaut program in the early 1970s under the name "Phenibut". From the 2000s onwards, more and more studies on the effects of Phenibut in connection with the treatment of mental illnesses took place worldwide. Among other things, a therapeutic use in post-traumatic stress disorder, in depression, in anxiety disorders and in insomnia was investigated. Then, in 2014, dietary supplements containing the active ingredient phenibut appeared on the market for the first time. They were sold either as "smart drugs" to improve mental performance or as workout boosters. 

Legal status - is Phenibut legal? 

The legal status of Phenibut is inconsistent in Europe. In the former Eastern Bloc countries of Russia, Latvia, and Kazakhstan, and in Ukraine, Phenibut preparations are legally available in pharmacies. Within the EU, phenibut is not banned, but it is not approved for human use - preparations containing phenibut may therefore only be traded for experimental purposes. In Germany in particular, however, the situation is complicated: On the one hand, phenibut does not fall under the BtMG here, but it may be covered by the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG, Annex No. 2). Depending on the legal interpretation, trade and acquisition would thus be prohibited in Germany - or not. A reference case law is not yet available (as of May 2022). 

Nevertheless, the use of phenibut is not considered doping in the sense of WADA. Police drug screenings also do not test for phenibut.

Side effects 

Phenibut has virtually no harmful side effects, with one serious exception: it is potentially addictive. Addiction, in turn, is not a health drama, but it can become a real problem psychologically. Once the brain has become accustomed to high doses of phenibut, the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine eventually makes it dependent on phenibut stimulation. In plain language: without phenibut, the addicted brain hardly releases any dopamine. The result is a persistent low mood, which can develop into depression. If you then begin a withdrawal as a sufferer or affected person, you have to proceed very carefully - because the abrupt stop of the phenibut supply can make permanently psychotic if the addiction is present. (This is especially true if extremely high doses have been consumed regularly before). Thus, withdrawal must happen gradually. Even then, withdrawal is no walk in the park: extreme mood swings, memory problems, inability to concentrate, and even physical nausea can occur. The withdrawal symptoms are not dissimilar to the withdrawal symptoms of alcohol addiction. 

Intake and dosage 

Phenibut is effective at dosages of 250 mg per day and above. Due to the comparatively long half-life, the effect also lasts quite long (up to 6 hours). Those who have no experience with Phenibut should start with 250 mg once a day. Depending on the purpose of phenibut consumption, taking higher doses can also be useful. 

1. Sleep aid
   For users who want to use Phenibut to shorten the time it takes to fall asleep or to improve the quality of their sleep (many consumers report that they are more refreshed after Phenibut sleep than after normal sleep), 250 mg taken 1-2 hours before bedtime is sufficient. 
2. Workout booster 
   Those who want to push their workouts with Phenibut (Phenibut motivates and raises energy levels during workouts), take 250-500 mg one hour before exercise. 
3. General mood enhancement, increase of mental performance
   Those who want to use Phenibut as a "smart drug" to have a better mood and better ability to concentrate during the day can take a larger dose several times a day. Dosages up to 2,000 mg/day are generally tolerated without problems; even at 3,000 mg, no mental problems occur. Phenibut is therefore considered a relatively "safe" psychoactive substance (see Pharmacopsychiatry [2020]: "Safety and Tolerability of the Anxiolytic and Nootropic Phenibut: A Systematic Review of Clinical Studies and Case Reports"). 

However, dosages above 3,000 mg are neither necessary nor useful; they only increase the risk of addiction. User reports circulating on the Internet speak of 20 g per day - such absurdly high amounts are a direct consequence of phenibut addiction (and a correspondingly greatly increased effect tolerance). Anyone who permanently consumes more than 3 g per day is already addicted. 

CAUTION: Simultaneous consumption of phenibut and GABA (as a supplement) can increase the phenibut effect and thus lead to addiction even at lower phenibut doses. The same applies to the parallel use of Phenibut and brain boosters or training boosters that force a GABA release. In general, it is not advisable to consume other psychoactive substances in addition to Phenibut.

Capsules, powder or spray? 

Most users use Phenibut powder - simply because it is cheaper than all other dosage forms. It doesn't matter how you consume the powder: you can take it straight and wash it down with a drink, or you can stir it directly into a drink and enjoy the cocktail. Disadvantage of the powder form: the powder has a sour taste, which is always somehow noticeable. Therefore, taking it with water is not a pleasure, it is better to take it with a fruit juice drink. 

Taking capsules is without any problems. The capsules are always without taste and can be taken anytime and anywhere with or without liquid. However, they are proportionally more expensive than powder. 

When using Phenibut nasal spray, the nasal mucous membranes are badly strained, which is noticeable by a strong burning sensation in the nose. On the other hand, the absorption rate for nasal consumption is better than for oral consumption, so that significantly lower doses can be used. 100 mg has the same effect when administered nasally as 250 mg when administered orally. 

Buying Phenibut - what do you have to consider? 

If you want to buy Phenibut, it is not so easy to find a source - because many supplement stores shy away from public sales due to the legal situation in the EU. If Phenibut is offered for order somewhere, buyers often have to make a declaration at the time of purchase, which must state that and how they intend to conduct research with the respective product (because Phenibut may not be sold for use on humans within the EU). 

Once you have tracked down a source, and you decide to buy a capsule product, you should make sure that the dosage of each capsule is as low as possible. If the capsules are dosed too high, a Phenibut beginner will not be able to start with a small daily dose. Some manufacturers also offer different dosage variants for their Phenibut preparations (for beginners on the one hand and for experienced users on the other). For example, Phenibut from Revange Nutrition is available as a 500 mg capsule product and as a 900 mg capsule product.