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Phenibut’s INSANE Benefits (and Brutally Awful Side Effects)

Phenibut is commonly used as a nootropic, an anti-anxiety medication, and sleep aid.

Phenibut has a somewhat checkered past. The drug was developed by the USSR in the 1960’s as a trial experiment on psychiatric patients.

Tested at the Soviet Union at the Academy of Medical Sciences USSR and the I. M. Herzen Leningrad Pedagogical Institute USSR, the drug was primarily targeted at younger patients and soon was administered as a strong anti-anxiety treatment.

The drug became further institutionalized by the Soviet scientific community, becoming an integral part of a cosmonaut’s medical kit as a treatment for stress during the Apollo-Soyuz space missions.

It is still used today in Russia. It does not have common use in the United States.

Phenibut claims to ease anxieties and improve psychological states. It finds use as an anxiolytic. It is also given to patients before and after surgery. In Russia, doctors have found many different uses for the treatment.

Video: Phenibut Explained

First time Phenibut user? Start with this quick and easy to understand video about Phenibut.

It’ll quickly cover the basics and how this powerful nootropic relieves anxiety while still giving a slight dopamine boost.

Thanks to Chris from GLL for making the video. His YouTube channel is full of helpful self-development tips, so check that out.

What Does Phenibut Do?

Phenibut is a neuropsychotropic drug. A study by Lapin said that it imitates gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This keeps GABA receptors busy.

This is effective as the this keeps the brain less excitable. It then stimulates receptors for dopamine. This enhances positive mood.

The most controversial feature of Phenibut is in its depressive function. It blocks beta-phenethylamine.

It works as a depressant to the central nervous system. Along with other issues, this quality may contribute to the drug’s dependence.

In Russia, Phenibut is a common treatment for anxiety. It is also used as a sleep aid. It has a calming effect on users.

Phenibut is often given to patients before and after surgeries. It is also believed to improve cognition. Its processes are said to help the brain focus and concentrate.

Phenibut As Medication

Russia has used Phenibut as medication for decades, and is used today both as a medication and off-label use for a variety of conditions:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Tension
  • Fears and phobias
  • Insomnia
  • Depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder
  • Stuttering
  • Sleep trouble caused by neurosis

The United States does not readily use Phenibut as a medication. It has not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Thus, it is unregulated and considered a supplement. Plenty of online retailers offer Phenibut in both capsules and powder forms.

Phenibut as a Nootropic

Recreational users often take Phenibut to feel good, euphoric and outgoing. It’s great for sex too. Great to listening to music. It is used to calm stress and it helps staying composed.

Some evidence points to an increase in mental capacity. Some users claim the supplement aided in problem solving and creativity. Without much formal testing, however, it is difficult to say for sure.

There are other nootropics with fewer risks. Modafinil has a reputation of enhancing cognitive functions, giving a boost of energy and increases focus. In the United States, users need a prescription to take it.

Modafinil does have a prodrug called Adrafinil that is available as a legal supplement. Adrafinil becomes Modafinil after metabolizing. The biggest difference is that Adrafinil use comes with a risk of liver damage.

The Effectiveness of Phenibut

It takes only a few minutes to experiences a sense of total calm after taking Phenibut.

Depending on its purpose, it can be taken at different times. For the general relief of anxiety, it is taken during the day. To remedy sleep issues, it is taken a couple of hours before going to bed.

Phenibut causes relaxation. It even has sedative properties. This explains its use before and after surgeries.

When taken at night at lower doses people gradually feel a sense of sleepiness. This is why some people use Phenibut to relax them and take it an hour or two before sleep.

Phenibut -> GABA -> Lower Anxiety

Phenibut works because it readily crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to GABA receptors in the brain.

In fact, Phenibut is just a modified version of the naturally occurring GABA neurotransmitter; their chemical structures are virtually identical except for an additional phenyl side group in Phenibut.

Once it interacts with the central nervous system, it is able to help lower levels of over-excitement within the brain. More specifically, it decreases some of the sensitivity of your neurons to the neurochemical messages sent between areas of the brain.

By making sure that only the most important messages get through and blocking extraneous information, you can prevent the anxiety-inducing effects of over-stimulation.

Phenibut doesn’t just work on GABA receptors: it has the added benefit of partially binding Dopamine receptors.

An equally (if not much more) powerful neurotransmitter in the brain, Dopamine is responsible for controlling functions like mood and movement and regulating our pleasure/pain cycle. Dopamine is intimately connected with our sense of pleasure and the reward system in our brain.

It also has a function in the brain systems that control attention and focus. As the levels of this brain chemical are increased when taking Phenibut dosages, this can lead to improved mood and even more motivation.

Phenibut Dosage

Everyone’s always asking me how much they should take.

Here’s my answer…

Everyone’s phenibut experience is unique, but in general, men should take about 2 – 2.5 grams and women 1 – 1.2 grams of Phenibut in a day.

More information on dosage is here: What Are The Best Doses of Phenibut.

Positive Effects: The Benefits of Using Phenibut

First time users often pose the question, “what does phenibut feel like?”

Before I dive in, it should be noted that I only take pure phenibut crystals, which I buy here.

Sensations on Phenibut – How Does it Feel?

The effects of phenibut simultaneously combine mild-to-moderate sedation with mild-to-moderate stimulation, allowing one to feel physically relaxed and mentally focused at the same time.

This increases sociability, lowering stress and inhibition levels, without impairing judgment.

While some people have compared the primary effects of phenibut to that of a light dose of GHB or MDMA, it’s really just an effective anti-anxiety, antidepressant medication, with few side-effects and remarkable health benefits.

Phenibut gives some users the sensation of mild euphoria, tantamount to a mild “high”. As such, it can be abused if not used correctly. Yet, the euphoric phenibut high is not intense, and taking more of it doesn’t intensify the high.

After consuming a dose of phenibut–usually between 250 milligrams and 1000 milligrams — how long it takes to feel the effects varies considerably from person to person.

Personally, I’ve found that phenibut works most consistently when taken on an empty stomach, and I feel its effects in around 15 or 20 minutes.

However, it takes longer for most people to feel the effects.

Mant people really feel all the effects kicking in in around 1 or 2 hours after oral ingestion, and then the primary effects usually last for around 4 or 5 hours, although pleasant lingering effects can last for another 24 hours.

While you won’t ever truly know until you’ve tasted the pudding, the following descriptions come pretty close:

  • The best description of a good Phenibut experience is “extreme calmness”
  • A moderate to drastic reduction in anxiety – general and social
  • A moderate to drastic increase in pro social behavior and the desire to be social
  • A moderate to pronounced “sense of well-being”
  • A slight to moderate euphoria; high levels of euphoria can be achieved sometimes
  • Music sounds amazing, somewhat like MDMA

The list goes on…

  • Slight to drastic increase in alertness, this is also due to stimulants
  • Moderate increase in cognitive processes (you think faster)
  • Dilated pupils from taking 3000mg+ in a 24/hr period
  • Slightly improved memory retention
  • Increased sexual performance (low doses)
  • Unlike benzodiazepines, Phenibut enhances instead of killing your motivation

The Dark Side of Phenibut: Negative Side Effects

Build-up and Tolerance

Building up tolerance against phenibut or one of its many effects is quite common, but this build up does not correlate with increases or decrease in phenibut’s nootropic effects.

In other words, more is not necessarily better; re-dosing will only worsen the hangover and provide little to no cognitive benefit.

The first signs of tolerance may be seen within as little as five days. For this reason, it is commonly used for one to two week periods, or dosage is increased by 25-30% after two weeks.

This makes phenibut ideal for short periods of stress or anxiety, but not ideal for chronic use. It is possible that taking only one dose daily may partially reduce the development of tolerance.

Consider this case – an individual taking phenibut in order to get rid of insomnia might see momentary relief of the surface layer symptoms, then after a week of using the product the same problem would occur again.

An ideal time course for phenibut should be no more than a few months.

Taking phenibut for longer periods of time, even as prescribed, increases the likelihood that you’ll encounter nasty withdrawal symptoms. Inevitably the crash will come though, and it can be brutal.

Phenibut is not meant to help you in long term and so it cannot be used as a replacement for making the necessary lifestyle changes that would alleviate social anxiety.

Make use of other anxiolytics whenever possible. I recommend the following herbs:

Of those five, theanine and Ashwaganda seem to work the best. I always keep them on hand if I plan to use phenibut. Here is a good list of supplements that can help with anxiety and stress: Essential Anxiety Supplements That Are Worth Trying.

Addiction

Three things you need to know about Phenibut addiction:

  1. Anecdotal evidence suggests that phenibut is habit-forming and requires more a higher dose over time given the body’s ability to build a quick tolerance to the drug
  2. Although when taken in moderation, phenibut can reduce anxiety. If abused, side effects multiple to include agitation, irritability, fatigue and nausea.
  3. There are several recovery options including tapering, medication and the stress reducing activities like exercise and mindfulness.

Changes In Dream Patterns

One of the more interesting side effects that have been reported by users is a change in their normal dream patterns.

This may be caused by the increase in REM sleep associated with taking Phenibut. In many cases, this means that they begin to remember their dreams and they seem to be more vivid.

Sadly, this can be both good and bad. There have been users reporting that they experience nightmares on a daily basis when using Phenibut. On the other hand, some people find that their dreams are actually better and become more pleasant.

Most people also report that they sleep much more soundly and wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to tackle their day.

Numbness

Although very uncommon, a number of other users have indicated that after taking Phenibut (usually a few hours later) they feel a pain in their limbs. Others might experience only a mild numbness.

This feeling is described as coming from ‘deep’ inside their bones and feels a bit strange and even unnatural. In some cases this does go away, but the general remedy for this is usually either reducing the dosage or taking a break from this nootropic.

Drowsiness

Phenibut can make people drowsy or excessively fatigued, especially when taking it at certain times of day.

You may feel like you are moving in slow motion or that all of your thoughts are taking a longer time to be processed. This is usually the result of an excessive dose.

The best way to overcome this is to monitor how much is being taken and pay attention to the specific effects it has on your body. The right dosage for someone else may in fact be too much for you.

Does not play well with epilepsy medications

If you’re taking epilepsy medications like carbamazepine (a prescription anti-depressant for bipolar disorder), oxcarbazepine (a mood stabilizer), or other MAO inhibitors that affect the GABA pathway, I recommend avoiding phenibut (or baclofen), as they may have drug-drug interactions.

This drowsy effect can be very potent in cases of overdose.

Although having anti-anxiety properties, Phenibut is generally not recommended for long term treatment of General Anxiety Disorder. One of the side effects of Phenibut is a withdrawal or “hangover” effect following cessation of use due to GABA receptor down regulation and tolerance.

Though the source of the hangover is unclear, studies are finding that phenibut could alter the properties and functions of some epilepsy and sleep medications.

What happens during Phenibut withdrawal

During Phenibut withdrawal, excess glutamate floating around the brain causes people to get really bad anxiety, insomnia, and even depressive symptoms.

The depressive symptoms are also in part due to a down-regulation of dopamine receptors (remember that phenibut is a mild stimulant).

These symptoms are not normal. They usually occur in people who have used phenibut for prolonged periods of time in small doses: i.e. consecutive days …sometimes for years.

Most users begin by using phenibut at random times. Because of its steep tolerance ramp and dose-dependent intensity of symptoms, this sporadic dosing schedule leads to irritability and disturbed sleep.

Trying to fall asleep after the sleepless night

In this weakened state, the temptation to use phenibut every day is very high and many users begin the downward cycle of daily use.

If you’ve been in this situation, then you’re well-acquainted with phenibut’s hellish side effects (when used improperly).

To break the habit, many individuals make serious attempts at cold turkey cessation. Cold turkey successes are rare but not impossible.

For the majority however, they only through your GABA receptor rejuvenation cycle further out of whack, intensifying anxiety. There is a solution in the middle ground.

Beating the anxiety of Phenibut Withdrawal: a Method That Works

The key ingredient: slow your taper.

Many people don’t feel the effects of withdrawal until 24 hours after abrupt cessation of phenibut.

The withdrawal becomes progressively worse and maxes out at 72-96 hours but you’ll still have a rocky road ahead of you for a few weeks in terms of emotional flatness, dysphoria, some anxiety and definitely disturbed sleep. Of course these symptoms will vary from person to person.

Some may experience only one or two symptoms and some people will experience all of them. Decrease your dose by 100 to 300 milligrams every 1-3 days, depending on how you feel.

Usually (not always, but usually), the most dramatic withdrawal symptoms (even while tapering) don’t hit until the 72-hour mark.

For this reason, try maintaining the same dose (eg., gram per day divided in 250mg doses) for three days and then drop another 200 milligrams or so.

All the while, take healthy servings of magnesium bis-glycinate, L-theanine, Ashwagandha and a variety of others to manage anxiety.

Experiment with low-dose NMDA antagonists to ease the withdrawal as well. Eventually, you will get off of it naturally with only fragmented sleep for about 2 weeks after discontinuation.

If you still need help, consider soothing audio tapes like this one to soothe your mind:

A word of caution

This method of slow tapering is not always comfortable.

You could very easily take Klonopin or Baclofen to come off phenibut, but honestly it’s going to be healthier in the long run to tackle it with the same vigor that led you into the black hole of withdrawal.

If you have access to a short acting benzo (eg, Xanax) to get you through the initial 10 days, then use it at low doses and as infrequently as possible. But just be careful and don’t overdo it with benzos. YMMV.

If you’re still reading, then chances are you’ve read some of the horror stories about phenibut dependence.

Think about all the pain that others have had to go through, and learn from their mistakes. Phenibut is a substance that should be treated with respect, the same way you would treat a benzodiazepine.

It is an amazing compound and I do believe it has some therapeutic uses – when used responsibly.

That ‘line’ between use/abuse will be different for people but I hope that these tips help shed some more light on proper ways to use Phenibut.

According to an article published in the Boston Globe in 2015, Phenibut is one of the most common drugs that land 23,000 people in the emergency room each year after taking unregulated supplements.

Phenibut isn’t so much an “addiction” in that users in withdrawal have no desire to stay on; the body is dependent on it and the positive effects people get from reasonable doses have diminishing returns.

In higher doses, it acts as a stimulant and disturbs sleep – even more of a reason to try and get off the drug.

Compare phenibut to drinking: with alcohol, you can develop a tolerance but you inevitably you hit a wall from drunken behavior or unconsciousness.

With phenibut, the same thing doesn’t really occur.

Once dependent, high doses will not give you the initial effects you felt before like motivation, pro-social behavior, and wonderful sleep.

On the contrary, it will break sleep up. And terribly so.

Handle with care

A final note — while the Phenibut comedown can be intense if the drug is misused, phenibut is largely harmless. It is relatively non-toxic and it is not carcinogenic.

If you’d like a more in-depth look at the science of phenibut, check out some of the recent research being done in the US and elsewhere (link to research).


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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 53 comments
Phenibut Dosage & Side Effects - Peak Nootropics - October 21, 2015

[…] Org. Chem., 1987, 52 (22), pp. 5025–5026. [Effect of the GABA derivative phenibut on learning]. The Negative-Side-Effects of Phenibut [Phenibut yielded withdrawal symptoms and psychosis. Drugs for cosmonauts–now marketed as […]

Reply
    John - March 11, 2017

    Fat Pharma was quick to stop this. You’ll be seeing this distributed by your favorite smiling Giant Eagle pharmacist soon.

    There is a special place in Hell for these people.

    Reply
    Scott - March 23, 2017

    Phenibut is a way for drug addicts to purchase natural supliments and get the euphoric feeling they got when they where using. I just lost a sibling due to his withdrawals from phenibut. His hangovers and insomnia pushed him to end his life. This supliment is the reason he decided to end his life. This should not be on the shelves at our health food stores. Please note that if a loved one uses this there are severe side effects from over use and this should be considered a addictive drug.

    Reply
      Cindy - April 25, 2018

      My 36 year old son killed himself 1 week ago because of Phenibut withdrawal. He was hearing loud music over and over, even calling the police to complain about the music at 1:15 am. There was no music—he was having auditory hallucinations. At 3:00 my neighbor heard the shot. My happy, successful son, father to a beautiful 5 year old boy, blew his brains out in my back yard. I had to find him that way, lying in the snow at 7:30 in the morning. I am angry he died this way, but more than that I want others to know the danger of this DRUG!!!
      Devastated Mom

      Reply
        Dan - May 2, 2018

        This is awful. Words fall short of expressing my sorrow for your loss.

        Reply
          Alex Lilo - October 16, 2018

          Hi Dan! Thank you for the article. I am from a country that used to be part of the Soviet Union which developed the drug. This is an amazing substance still available in the world where other substances which i won’t mention here have been banned. Phenibut saves a huge number of lives daily when taken within recommended dosages and it is quite safe, unlike most drugs you can buy from a drug store. I was just now looking for information on dosing for certain conditions and was appalled to see so many posts where people share their experiences of taking 5 to 20 grams daily. Such dosages are abusive and there can be all kinds of consequences. Here, we usually take it in the form of 250mg pills 1-3 times a day for 2 weeks to several months. When people think of something safe, they often think of vitamins. however, if one abuses fat soluble vitamins, they risk their lives. Take a lot of vitamin A and … you might not live to see tomorrow. This is where Phenibut is so much safer than some vitamins. Something i’d like to say to young people who might read this: don’t abuse drugs. don’t take drugs for recreational purposes. do sports, spend more time with your sex partner, set a goal for your life, get busy, get a life. don’t experiment with drugs. many of them are safe to start but we tend to want more… it is much safer not to even start with “safe”. Another downside, of substance abuse is that some cheap, safe (when not abused) and highly effective drugs are banned. Because of drug abuse, millions of people today are deprived of access to many effective substances that could save their lives. Don’t go into drugs unless you have a health problem. You may end up killing yourself and your case report may affect so many more lives in the long run.

          Reply
          Ssnorm - April 17, 2021

          Well said. A good question to ask oneself – about anything: “What is too much?”

          Reply
        Hugo Aislestay - September 6, 2018

        Your story has more holes in it than imported swiss cheese. If any part is true, he clearly had other issues that probably go back to his childhood. I wonder who might be to blame for those hmmmmm?

        Reply
          Miles T - December 24, 2018

          I’m a Phenibut user and love it but your comment angers me.

          1. Why would any one make up a story of that caliber to bash Phenibut? What benefit do they get out of it?
          2. How can you make the assumption that issues stem from childhood? You have no basis to go off of before making accusations
          3. And even IF the issues were somehow related to childhood, blaming the mother in a condescending way doesn’t do any good.

          God forbid you have any children one day and someone blame any catastrophic event on you, you rotten piece of sh*t. I hope you burn in hell.

          Reply
          Dave - October 2, 2019

          Don’t know how dangerous it is, but people DO commit suicide all the time, its a major cause of death in the world. If this person was having hallucinations, its possible he actually had an undiagnosed psychiatric disorder (schizophrenia/bipolor etc). While certain drugs do aggravate psychiatric disorders, it is not necessarily the real cause of the problems, nor does it mean the same thing would happen to people without such a mental health problem. If phenibut was very dangerous, it would probably be banned by now. That said, no one should be taking it for more than one day in a row, and no one should be taking more than a gram at a time – I am guessing anyone that had serious problems wasn’t following those suggestions.

          Reply
          NormN - September 10, 2019

          You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Hmmmmm indeed.

          Reply
    Gearldine - January 18, 2021

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    Reply
Peak Nootropics Phenibut - January 9, 2016

I personally think the recommended dosages are pretty high. Sure, these dosages will have better effects but positive effects can usually seen at 500mg. There is a less apparent effect but the anxiolytic effect. Also, in the smaller dosages, there will be a smaller chance of abuse as this substance can be addictive and cause tolerance when abused.

Also another note – avoid mixing it with alcohol or any other depressant. Also be advised, the effects can take 2-4 hours before effects are noticed. This are certainly things beginners should keep in mind. The time for it to “hit” me is usually 3-4 hours but everyone has different metabolisms.

Reply
Dominique Astrophysic - March 13, 2016

I have noticed a biphasic action to phenibut. Who knows, it might be because the parent drug affects one set of receptor systems, then a metabolite affects another one.

For the first two hours I get a distinctly ‘benzo feeling’ which, to me, isn’t all that pleasant. At least it isn’t what I’m looking for. Slowed reactions, muscle relaxation, slight dizziness and, yes, a ‘benzo taste in my head’. The latter is something I get after high doses of a benzodiazepine.

Around the 4th hour the ‘benzo feeling’ is gone, replaced by a noticeably “brightened mood” with a surge of energy. And during this phase I’ve lost all fear of approaching people and, in fact, I suddenly feel like talking to everybody. This is no doubt dopamine at play. But it always takes about 4 hours before this feeling kicks in.

It seems to me, with all my years of experience with things, like the initial phase affects the GABA receptors and then, around the 4 hour mark, a strong dopaminergic effect comes into play.

One really positive thing I’ve noticed is, the next day I wake up feeling very optimistic. Before I started using phenibut, I’d always wake up extremely depressed. That deep dark depression has totally left me since I’ve started using phenibut daily.

What I don’t like about phenibut is that it makes me way too emotional. Almost to the point of outright paranoia. It seems, since I’ve started phenibut, that every little thing hurts my feelings and everybody out there is trying to hurt my feelings. Sometimes my emotional reaction to these things flares into rage. And I’ve always prided myself on being a cool headed guy. Before phenibut I could let certain little things roll right off of me. So it’s a definite mix of good and bad.

Reply
    Damian - September 19, 2017

    EVERY SINGLE WORD U WROTE ALSO RELATE TO ME

    Reply
KratomHappy - April 15, 2016

Great article I learned new ways to use my phenibut

Reply
Jose - June 14, 2016

This is a miracle drug for my GAD and depression, wish it could be transformed in a approved medication as chronic treatment for me.

Way better than Escitalopram, tought this med worked for me once it cames with a big price in my sexuality..

I use Phenibut once a week, 2g, sometimes 3..and every time i change from anxious and depressed to a new person, but unfortunately in about 2,3 days i’m back to GAD and/or depression..i just don’t want AD’S…but

I HATE Big Pharma…

Reply
    Dan - June 14, 2016

    I feel you Jose… Phenibut really can work wonders when used appropriately.

    Regarding sexuality, that’s interesting. I’ve gotten a fair number of comments and emails from readers on this issue. Some guys say that it helps them last forever, but other guys say that THAT is the problem — they can’t finish.

    I hesitate to think that Phenibut is directly causing the issue though — sexuality and anxiety are closely linked, so that may be the reason so many people are affected in bed.

    Either way, thanks for sharing and best of luck.

    Dan

    Reply
Nootropics & Circadian Rhythms - December 6, 2016

[…] Phenibut has some serious drawbacks; they go so far as to call the drug’s side effects “brutally awful.” Quick tolerance to this nootropic is not uncommon and the withdrawal symptoms are fierce. They […]

Reply
tomn - December 22, 2016

What you say is very misleading. Phenibut is not a safe supplement . It cause a terrible withdrawal and the darkest depression you have even experienced. Stay away..

Reply
    MK_NW - January 17, 2017

    Exactly this. It took me 2 years to fully get over the anxiety and depression caused by withdrawal. I wish I had talked to my naturopath before I took it – she was adamantly opposed to its use as a supplement for just that reason. She helped me deal with the worst part of the initial withdrawal. I understand that it might not happen to everyone, but I tell everyone to stay away. Why take the chance. I wouldn’t wish that hell on anyone.

    Reply
      Hammy Po - September 6, 2018

      Because you are an addict and can’t use a substance responsibly. Blame the person, not the substance. Look into the mirror to see who is at fault.

      Reply
Michelle - February 5, 2017

Epileptics: Use With Caution (please reply if your experience differs)!

I’d like to leave a comment on my experience. Yesterday I took phenibut for the first time in years. My husband enjoys it about once a week.

Anyhow I had a strange and serious comedown. I have epilepsy (grand mal seizures and occasionally tonic clonic for “flavor”). The good news is I get an “aura” and can usually medicate with clonazepam to prevent seizures.

I got a strong aura upon comedown which occurred a short 8 hours after ingesting this supplement. My pupils were uneven and large. I had an overall “something is very wrong” feeling including brain zaps. Took a “k-pin” aka clonazepam and it didn’t work. Had to take a second. That’s not a good thing to do but I am allowed per doctor’s instructions to take 1-2 if needed.

I wonder if it interacts with amitriptyline or even clonazepam. Did the benzo somehow make the comedown worse? Did all of this happen simply because I am epileptic and have some brain damage from seizures? I don’t know.

I do know epilepsy is common. This is anecdotal and for that I apologize. As a rule I leave comments on forums and blogs when anything seems to help or harm my brain when it comes to auras and seizures. If anyone read this far, thank you.

Reply
Ken - February 5, 2017

I’ve been using Phenibut occasionally for about 3 years now. At most I’ll take between 500 and 1000 mg per dose, no more than twice a week.

Although I have at times felt a little down a couple of days afterwards, I’ve never had any symptoms I would call brutal; however, I don’t take it every week, and only 1 or 2 times a week when I do. I’m not the type to abuse any substance, I’ve done Cocaine, smoked pot, and I used to drink alcohol, but I’ve never had a “problem” with any substance the way some people do.

I’ve talked to people who did have “a problem” with one or more of the substances I mentioned. I’ve seen people abuse substances, and it confounds me. I think maybe it’s a psychological thing that causes some people to over-use substances like Phenibut, while others have no problem with it.

Personally, I enjoy the effects, but avoid taking it too often, because doing so causes it to not work as well, which is the opposite of why I take it to begin with. I intentionally avoid taking it for a while so that I’ll get a better “buzz” when I do take it, it’s just more enjoyable that way. Maybe I’m more disciplined. I don’t think substance abuse is directly connected to psychological trauma as means of coping. I’ve had plenty of trauma in my life, but I have zero substance dependence as a result, so I’m convinced that substance abuse is more a lack of discipline than a coping mechanism, although a dependent person might tell you otherwise.

As far as substances and side effects go, Phenibut is not the worse you can do, although I’m sure it would make you feel pretty fucked up if you take it too much, it’s not as bad as other substances like Meth or Heroine. Those are things that can literally destroy a person, but I think it’s the same lack of discipline that leads to abuse of any substance, and that same lack of discipline leads to bullshit excuses from people as to why they abuse substances, but I digress.

Like me, some people have the discipline to limit their use of substances. If you’re someone who lacks that discipline, you should avoid taking anything that has the potential to become a problem, but I’ve seen enough people abuse substances to know you’re going to do it anyway, but I still like to run my mouth sometimes.

Reply
    Emmit R Blackmon - March 28, 2017

    Thanks for reminding us that there’s a tool in every box. 🙂

    Reply
Mike - February 19, 2017

I use phenibut once every other week or maybe 3x a month but take 5-6 grams throughout the day. I use it when I know I have a lot of work to do and I get stressed out. Phenibut is a miracle supplement. The effects last into the next day and I am so calm,focused, and energized all at the same time. I have really bad anxiety and take Xanax daily but don’t take the Xanax when I take phenibut. I’ve been through benzo withdrawal which is hell so I am not taking any chances with phenibut, hence why I only take it a couple times a month. I heard phenibut withdrawal is similar to benzo withdrawal so BE VERY CAREFUL WITH HOW MUCH AND OFTEN YOU TAKE IT! I don’t want anyone to experience that type of withdrawal because it seriously is a nightmare that doesn’t last days or weeks…but could be months or even years depending on how much and how long you take it.

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James - February 20, 2017

OK so I have been taking phenibut HCl for about a week now it feels great. Pulled me out of some type of fog and killed any type of worries I had. But I am having a very unwanted side effect. When I feel so good I haven’t wanted to sleep when I do finally sleep I wake up yelling and clinching With a horribly weird and unwelcome feeling. They sent a 500 hundred Milligram scoop I misread it and somehow though it was 250 . So I have been taking 4000 to 5000 milligrams a day for a week now. Is this the problem and is this a terrible over dose if someone can reply soon or recommend what I should do I would appreciate it. Thanks

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    Dan - February 20, 2017

    James, you’re fine man… people have taken wayyy more phenibut and been okay.

    Regarding your “feel good so I don’t sleep” effect, it’s not uncommon to get that on large does of phenibut (nor on large doses of benzos like Xanax).

    Stay the course for a few days (good diet, exercise, sunlight/outdoors, meditation, etc), and you’ll be back to a regular sleep schedule soon.

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Joey Joseph - February 26, 2017

Phenibut is plenty euphoric, at least at the dosage I take. I take 1000 mg. at a time and, later once the tolerance sets it, I go up to a max of 2000 mg./dose. But 1500 mg. is the ‘safe spot’ really, and it’s the best dose for euphoria while not being truly intoxicated. (Note: at 2000 mg. & above phenibut is too powerful and will cause some pretty serious amnesia, i.e., ‘black outs’.)

The euphoria comes in the form of a ‘dopamine rush’ and it occurs about 2 hours after I ingest, no sooner than that. When this phase kicks in suddenly I feel, literally, like SUPERMAN. No fears of anything or anybody and yes, music sounds fantastic. And I’ll suddenly lose all fear of talking to people; I turn into Mr. Conversationalist. That’s great when you’re usually Super-Shy and afraid to talk to pretty girls. Phenibut turns that all around. But like I said, it takes a solid 2 hours of time before that phase kicks in.

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    Dan - February 26, 2017

    Yep, you nailed it Mr. Conversationalist. Funny though that “superman” effect for me is just… like I can finally be my normal self.

    Have you tried stacking with anything? I find that small doses of aniracetam stack nicely with phenibut and prolong the pro-social effects. It’s also nice to combine with just a TAD of alcohol (like one light beer) and/or a bit of caffeine (100mg or less… like the amount in a cup of mild green tea).

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      Ran - July 31, 2018

      That’s right, stacking Phenibut is highly advisable, especially in the long-term.
      I absolutely agree about stacking it with green tea, coffee, a bit of beer.
      Also can be stacked with piracetam, NATL, 5-HTP, Memantine, Iboga root microdose, Pregabiline, SEMAX, Selank.
      I haven’t tried to stack it with aniracetam yet, should definitely try this combination.

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Danny - March 22, 2017

So I’ve been using phenibut for about 5 weeks now, about 3000mg/day. I started using it to help with opiate withdrawal, which it really did help! Combined with Kratom the opiate withdrawal was relatively painless. Now I am sure that I should have followed the common advice not to use for more than three days in a row, etc. At first I could not believe the incredible effect the phenibut had on my overall state of mind. Productive, social, positive, etc. It’s still working but obviously not as intensely. The only unpleasant side effect I’m having is this weird ‘buzzing’ in my head, focused around my temples. It can happen at any time of day but seems to be mostly at night when trying to get to sleep. It actually keeps me up. It’s not a pain, just a weird buzzing, pressure sensation. I haven’t read of anyone having this reaction but I’m sure I’m not alone. I’m thinking that if I do a relatively quick taper and stop the daily phenibut use I should be OK. So just wondering what people’s thoughts are about this side effect I’m having and what kind of withdrawal experience I have to look forward to after a month of daily phenibut use. Thanks.

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    Dan - March 22, 2017

    Haven’t heard of the “buzzing”, but definitely sleep inhibition during comedown is common. Same as you would get after taking above-average amounts of Xanax or other benzos — your mind is constantly racing around bedtime. Meditation usually helps me there.

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    NormN - September 10, 2019

    This buzzing sound maybe the “unstruck” sound of Nada spoken of in some East Indian scriptures. It’s a sound you can hear all the time and can be used in formal meditation. It is held in high regard. Most people don’t hear it.

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Scott - March 23, 2017

Phenibut is a drug that should be illegal. My sibling just had sever sleep disorder and depression from his withdrawals. The withdrawals made him delotional and ultimately choose to end his life. This product in the hands of a individual that is in recovery is not something that should be available to people at our health food stores

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    Scottstop - March 23, 2017

    Just because you know someone who wasn’t able to use it properly doesn’t mean it needs to be illegal scott. Let’s not let someone ruin it for the rest of us please?

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      Scott - March 24, 2017

      Spoken like a drug addict. Look at the side affects from other people’s posts. This is a addictive drug with horrible withdrawals. This needs to be re-evaluated by the FDA. Thank you for the comment of stop it Scott. I will make it my mission to make other people aware of the harmful side effects it has on people. Someday I hope you will be buying this on the street to get high. Not on store shelves

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        Rob - April 26, 2017

        Scott, the same thing can be said about alcohol. Alcohol abuse has drove many people to the end and it is still readily available to society. I’m sorry you lost someone close to you but it seems farfetched to be calling someone a drug addict just because they’re promoting responsible use of something you have a personal vendetta against.

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Improve Sleep Health with Nootropics - April 5, 2017

[…] of the biggest Phenibut benefits is its ability to cross the blood brain barrier, which means that it will have an immediate effect […]

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jim - June 6, 2017

my reading comprehension is pretty good.

Yet I just don’t understand this statement.

“Taking phenibut for longer periods of time, even as prescribed, increases the resistance to withdrawal. Inevitably the crash will come though, and it can be brutal.”

If that is true, i’m taking a shitload of it so there’s no withdrawal.

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    Dan - June 7, 2017

    I like to think I’m a fairly good reader (and writer) myself, and indeed I could not make sense of that phrase, no matter how many times I tried. Thanks for pointing it out, Jim. Perhaps I should lay off the phenibut for a few weeks. 🙂

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Michael Marshall - August 28, 2017

Im not going to lie. I messed up. Been taking this for a few months everyday not knowing about the withdraws. Now i terrified to stop. I didnt know it was in these pills i was taking until i stopped for a couple days. I dont sleep. I feel so down. I have done alot of drugs in my day and hands down these are the worst withdraws i have ever had. I dont know what to do.

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nanoo - September 3, 2017

Aw, this was an incredibly good post, and resonated with my own experience taking phenibut.

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Tommy - September 26, 2017

Dan is right…i too get that buzzing sound. I didn’t know how to explain it, but ‘buzzing sound’ is literally perfect.

I tend to take like 4500 grams twice a week, usually Friday and Saturday, sometimes i take half that dose on Sunday.

I noticed i was losing Weight which got me very excited bc i was overweight. I agree with most of the other posters…. hard to sleep when not on it for a few days, by the 3rd or 4th day i start to want to take it again. Hours 3-4 are the high spot when it is best kicking in. Music sounds great.

One side effect i have is constipation. I haven’t am seen people post about that.
did anyone post about it?

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Zed - October 3, 2017

What about F-Phenibut (Fluorophenibut)? Is it really a several-fold more potent regular Phenibut, and similar to Baclofen?

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VJ - October 5, 2017

I took not more than 150mg of Phenibut for the first time last weekend just to try it, and I had a negative experience. Within the first 15-30 minutes after taking it, I had rapid heart beat, nervousness, and feelings like I was going to get a panic attack, which were NOT fun at all! It came in waves, where i felt these negative symptoms for a (long) minute or two, then I felt okay, then I felt bad in a cyclical way. Finally, they stopped. Not sure how relaxed I was after going through that hell. I just felt blah for the rest of the day after that. I did not, nor will I ever, take any more. I had a bit of dizziness when I woke up the next morning, which is probably the hangover symptoms I’ve read about. It was mild and went away quickly. Nothing as bad as a real hangover.
Does anyone know why I had those negative side effects upon initial ingestion? I am not on any other medications at all.

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Dave - March 13, 2018

Been taking 250- 600mg of f-phenibut for a week now. I suffer from chronic primary obsessive compulsive disorder that causes bad social anxiety. I dont know about the regular phenibut but f-phenibut doesn’t seem to do much to decrease my OCD or social anxiety even when I combine it with Valium and lorazepam. At high doses it gives me a feeling similar to mdma and music is more enjoyable but I wouldn’t recommend f-phenibut for anxiety or depression. Be careful as it’s seems to be a very habit forming drug

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mattm - July 4, 2018

Just a quick note to say the phenibut has been scheduled in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (somewhat similar to the US’s FDA ) in what is becoming an all too regular knee jerk reaction to occasional reports of idiotic misuse. It’s a shame because taken seriously phenibut has several noble uses, and has become an important tool in my kit, and in the array used by some friends doing bioscience research. The bigger shame is the politicisation of an erstwhile trustworthy regulatory body that made decisions based on first band scientific research, but now seeks to protect people from things that could help them.

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IHeartPhenibut - September 12, 2018

Phenibut FAA

I’ve been taking 4.5 grams/day in divided doses, usually 2.5 grams early a.m. on empty stomach with coffee and then 1gram early afternoon. Awesome effects! Super talkative with complete strangers and very good anxiety relief. Sex is fucking awesome! Very intense with never ending, multiple orgasms. Lol. Extremely euphoric! Couple annoying side effects – brain farts and very emotional. Words seem to slip my mind, like I have a hard time thinking of certain nouns in my sentences. Weird. And the littlest things my boyfriend says hurts my feelings. Annoys the shit outta him. Oh and a not-so-nice nod once I sit still for too long…bf thought I took Xanax the other night.

Now yesterday— different story! Upped my dose to 5.5 grams in 2 divided doses. NOT A GOOD IDEA! Still euphoric and sexually aroused, but very negative side effects! Would definitely classify as overdose.
I guess it started as what they’re calling brain zaps later in the day. It was like I could hear my brain misfiring. Very weird. My skin actually hurts on my legs. When I squat down, it feels like it’s gonna rip open. This may be just dry skin as a result of not being properly hydrated, not sure. My limbs were tingly, almost numb. Feels like pins and needles in my hands and feet. Then around 4 this
morning came the worst of it…woke up feeling very dizzy and breathing difficultly. Felt like I had to remind myself to breathe. It was pretty scary. Ended up sleeping in my recliner because I kept gasping for air when I laid flat. That progressed into rapid heartbeat and severely lightheaded. Then… major anxiety attack. I was afraid I was gonna have to go to the hospital and sheepishly tell them I overdosed on a noortropic 😏 Still feeling these symptoms as of 12pm today after last dosing yesterday afternoon, though not as severe, but alarming nonetheless. I obviously didn’t redose this morning, but these effects won’t stop me from taking it again-just at a lower dose next time. Lol

Please reply to this comment if you’ve ever experienced these symptoms… or if you think I’m going fuk’n nuts. I would love to hear any thoughts about this. I’m gonna nap now since I’m nodding off writing this very long comment.

I apologize for any grammatical errors or typos that may be present.

If you got this far, thanks for reading this in it’s entirety.

Lovingly,
Fellow Phenibut lover ❤️

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    William - September 8, 2019

    There’s no doubt about the reduction in anxiety and the social ramifications. I’m more emotional (in a good way), love everyone, am quicker in thought and word and absolutely more outgoing. I’ve taken it before sex (1200 mg) and had the most mind-blowing sensations. It’s always good, but this borders on euphoric other-worldliness! However, even at this dose, I tend to have central sleep apnea and wake up a lot feeling like my respiration has shut down and, as mentioned, feel like I have to remind myself to breathe. I only use it very occasionally, but think if/when I do, I’ll stick with even lower dosages of 300-600 mg.

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Nicole - November 24, 2018

Phenibut is totally safe and nontoxic if you take a low dose (1-2 g) and don’t do it more than once every couple weeks. If you take too much, combine it with benzos or alcohol, or get addicted, that’s on you. Stop trying to blame an inanimate substance for people’s irresponsible actions and take some personal responsibility instead of trying to get it banned for all of us who know how to use it safely. Why don’t we just ban alcohol or antidepressants, seeing as countless people kill themselves while under the influence of those things DAILY.

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