Does Phenibut Really Increase Human Growth Hormone?
Bathing suit season is just around the corner.
It is literally just a couple months before we need to be able to squeeze into a swimsuit and look good doing it.
You may have been preparing for the past few months, only to see minimal results when you look in the mirror or at the numbers on the tape measure.
Even worse, you may have sustained an injury at the gym while trying to get your body back into shape.
If this sounds all too familiar, then perhaps you can benefit from the combination of phenibut and human growth hormone to help get your body where you want it to be.
Few research studies have analyzed the effects of phenibut in detail, and there is no record of any studies looking at its effects on GH or HGH levels.
If we take a deeper look at phenibut’s effects on the body, we can see if there is any substance to this claim.
What is Phenibut?
Phenibut (ß-phenyl-GABA) is a derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, differing only by the addition of a phenyl ring – assumedly accounting for the compounds capability to cross the blood brain barrier while GABA cannot.
Phenibut is actually a drug that was created in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. It is a derivative of a naturally-occurring chemical in the brain which helps to promote relaxation and relieves stress.
It has been used to treat different types of anxiety disorders, promote healthy sleep, and treat some cases of PTSD.
Does Phenibut Actually Boost HGH Levels?
Recently, phenibut has been used to promote HGH production in weight lifters and bodybuilders. Many experts would say there is little to no research to document whether or not this is true.
Phenibut can actually help boost HGH levels in weightlifters and bodybuilders, the chemical makeup and way it works on brain receptors crossing the blood/brain barrier suggests that HGH levels ARE increased when phenibut is taken 30 minutes prior to a workout and before bed at night.
A recent study concluded that phenibut does, in fact, help boost HGH production when taken at the proper dosage and taken correctly.
The summary of the study suggests that Phenibut has a chemical makeup almost identical to GABA, which is responsible for promoting relaxation and stimulating the pituitary gland to create HGH.
Thus, Phenibut is considered a safe and reliable way to help boost HGH levels.
Furthermore, GABA, phenibut, and the muscle relaxant baclofen are closely related compounds. A study performed in 1996 demonstrated an interaction between baclofen and HGH levels:
A comparison of 10-mg and 20-mg doses in healthy men: the 10-mg dose [of baclofen] showed no significant GH response over time, whereas the 20-mg dose showed a significant GH response over time.
Taken from a different study, a part dedicated to differences in HGH responses between manic and healthy patients to baclofen treatment.
A link in the GABA-B receptor
Both baclofen and phenibut are known to be GABAb receptor agonists, baclofen being the more potent of the two.
Interestingly, a study performed in 1998 observed divalproex sodium (a mixture of sodium valproate and valproic acid) inhibit growth hormone responses induced by 20 mg baclofen administration:
Divalpreox sodium attenuates growth hormone response to baclofen in healthy human males: The results showed that the plasma GH response to baclofen was singificantly attenuated by the divalproex sodium treatment and that the degree of attentuation was positively correlated with the blood levels of valproic acid.
This study suggests that the HGH response to administration of 20mg baclofen is due to hypothalamic GABAb receptor agonist activity – which both phenibut and baclofen have in common.
Aside from the similarities in structure and action between phenibut and baclofen, it’s worth noting that oral administration of GABA has indeed been observed to enhance HGH release – both at rest and subsequent to exercise:
Growth hormone isoform responses to GABA ingestion at rest and after exercise (abstract): At rest, GABA ingestion elevated both irGH and ifGH compared with placebo. Specifically, peak concentrations of both hormones were elevated by about 400%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was elevated by about 375%.
Therefore, the rationale for phenibut acting as an hGH secretagogue is primarily derived from its action at hypothalamic GABAb receptors – similar to baclofen, which has been observed to increase secretion of growth hormone in humans.
What are the main reasons for using Phenibut to increase HGH levels?
Phenibut is known to have a lot of positive benefits and very few negative ones. First and foremost, it helps to promote relaxation and sleep, which is a must for recovery and cell regrowth and regeneration. E
Even better, when muscles are sore, achy, and strained after a particularly grueling workout, Phenibut helps promote relaxation so that the muscles can better recover and repair.
HGH has been promoted for decades as being responsible for looking and feeling younger, more refreshed, and more vibrant.
People with elevated levels of HGH are able to better regulate body temperature, promote healthy sleep, are more energetic, experience elevated moods, and are overall in better physical and mental shape than those with lower levels of HGH.
As we age, our HGH levels naturally begin to decrease. This can be seen easily in our slowing metabolisms, our lack of energy, and our changing bodies.
The combination of Phenibut and HGH can help anybody dramatically–particularly bodybuilders–as it can promote faster, stronger, leaner muscle growth while promoting sounder sleep, better mood, and more energy.
Most users of Phenibut are able to increase their HGH levels naturally in two ways–the Phenibut will work to stimulate the pituitary gland to help boost HGH production, and the increased energy to put into workouts will also help boost HGH levels naturally.
Phenibut and increased HGH levels also is known to help relieve stress, and promote relaxation which is an essential part of bodybuilding and weightlifting.
Bodybuilding.com devotes and entire forum to the use of Phenibut to help increase HGH levels. Most of the contributors agree that Phenibut has contributed greatly to their overall performance in the weight room, helping them get the results they have always wanted while helping to improve sleep and mood at the same time.
It’s a win-win.
What Kinds and How Much Phenibut Can I Take?
Most bodybuilders recommend 500 mg 30-60 minutes prior to working out and another 500 mg prior to bed. Some recommend taking the pre-workout dose with a stimulant such as caffeine to help improve the quality of your workout because it will begin to relax you.
Most bodybuilders also recommend cycling the Phenibut for 2 week periods so that the body does not begin to build a tolerance to it. Some recommend 3 days on, 2 days off, and others will recommend using it two weeks straight then two weeks off.
You may need to experiment a little to find the dose that works best for you, but be careful to follow directions on the bottle exactly. There are a variety of different brands of Phenibut, and among the most popular as recommended by bodybuilders and weight lifters is Primaforce or MRM Relax-All.
HGH is found in abundance in children and adolescent bodies. However, as we age, the levels of HGH in the body begin to decrease as the pituitary gland produces less and less of this hormone.
It has been credited by some medical professionals as being the solution to fight the process of aging.
Thus, for decades, many researchers have been looking for ways to help boost HGH levels naturally in people to help give them the edge in building muscle, burning fat, and keeping the mind sharp all while boosting mood and relieving stress.
In recent years, phenibut has been used to help boost HGH levels naturally, with great success. Because it’s difficult in the US and Canada to find legal testosterone online, phenibut offers bodybuilders a nice workaround.
Many bodybuilders and weight lifters swear by phenibut as being a natural solution to helping to boost HGH levels while promoting a better mood, relieving stress, and helping promote better, sounder sleep.
Bodybuilder forums tout the benefits of phenibut and human growth hormone and the amazing results they have achieved from using it.
Leading to gains?
The issue of whether or not these interactions actually translate to functional enhancements of muscular growth as a result of prolonged usage generating sustained enhancements of HGH release is a significant issue to consider.
Look, if you really want to boost HGH levels it’s going to take a serious commitment to diet and exercise. I recommend an intermittent fasting program like Lean Gains, and regular exercises, including yoga and meditation.
Lately, I’ve gotten swept up in the mixed martial arts craze and have started training BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu). It’s not ideal for packing on muscle, but the mental benefits are incredible, as is my endurance. It’s been a few years but I feel like a next level human after learning BJJ.
It won’t get you there overnight, but with the right martial arts gear and consistent dedication to the process, you’ll get that tone look (without the need for HGH supplements).
Is the potential for side effects worth the risk?
Experienced bodybuilders warn against using phenibut to boost testosterone as part of a cycle. While phenibut may lower cortisol levels in the short term (and thus expedite muscle recovery), it may not worth the potential for dependence or mental fatigue down the line.
We would like to echo this warning from the Drugs-Forum:
I feel obligated to warn about this when sending anyone off looking for sports supplements.
One thing you have to realize with supplements is almost every forum dedicated to them and every article describing them are sensationalized garbage. The forums are full of people who are trying to sell their own product or a product they are paid to promote.
That said, the healthiest way to increase HGH is by eating lots of fresh vegetables, healthy meats, and lifting heavy s**t. 😉
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