• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

FHE Health - Addiction & Mental Health Care HomepageFHE Health - Addiction & Mental Health Care

Drug, Alcohol and Mental Health Treatment

MENUMENU
  • About
        • About FHE Rehab
          • About Us
          • Our Staff
          • Locations We Serve
          • Testimonials
        • Our Campus
          • Gallery
          • Our Videos
        • Our Expertise
          • Accreditations
          • Educational Affiliates
          • Education Scholarship
        • Careers at FHE Health
          • Careers
  • Addiction
        • Treatment Programs
          • Treatment Program Overview
          • Alcohol Addiction
          • Drug Addiction Treatment
          • Behavioral Addiction
        • Levels of Care
          • Continuum of Care
          • Addiction Detox
          • Inpatient Addiction Treatment
          • Outpatient Addiction Treatment
          • Sober Living
        • What We Treat
          • Alcoholism
          • Amphetamines
          • Benzodiazepines
          • Cocaine
          • Crack-Cocaine
          • Crystal Meth
          • Heroin
          • Opiates
          • Sedatives
  • Mental Health
        • Mental Health Rehab
          • Mental Health Care
          • Onsite Psychiatric Care
          • Dual Diagnosis
        • Levels of Care
          • Residential Mental Health Care
          • Outpatient Mental Health Care
        • What We Treat
          • ADD & ADHD
          • Anxiety
          • Bipolar Disorder
          • Depression
          • Eating Disorders
          • OCD
          • Personality Disorders
          • PTSD
          • Schizophrenia
          • Substance Abuse Disorder
          • Trauma
  • Programs
        • FHE Programs
          • Specialty Program Overview
          • Restore (Mental Health)
          • Empower! (Women's Program)
          • Shatterproof (First Responders)
          • Thrive (Behavioral Health)
          • Compass (Working Professionals)
          • Sober Skills
          • Gambling
        • Support Programs
          • Family
          • Alumni
        • Therapies
          • Acupuncture
          • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
          • DBT
          • EMDR
          • Group Therapy
          • Massage
          • Trauma
        • Medical Care
          • Medical Integration
          • Ketamine Infusion
          • IV Vitamin
          • Fitness & Nutrition
          • Medication-Assisted Treatment
          • Medication Management
        • NeuroRehab Services
          • Neuro Rehabilitation
          • NeuroFeedback Training
          • Brain Stimulation Therapy
          • EEG Brain Mapping
  • Resources
        • FHE Guides
          • Understanding Drug Abuse
          • Signs of Addiction
          • The Disease of Addiction
          • Confronting Addiction
          • Staging an Intervention
          • Do Rehab Programs Work?
          • Seeking Help for Addiction
          • Keeping Your Job in Rehab
          • Withdrawal Timelines
          • Life After Rehab
          • Example Day in Rehab
        • Learning Center
          • Help for You
          • Help For Loved Ones
          • Help For Alcoholism
          • Help With Substance Abuse
          • Behavioral & Mental Health
          • Life in Recovery
          • Rehab Explained
          • Addiction Statistics
          • View All Articles
        • The Experience Blog
          • Addiction News
          • Alumni
          • Community Events
          • Expert Opinions
          • FHE Commentary
          • FHE News
          • Treatment Legislation
          • View All Articles
  • Admissions
        • Insurance
          • Blue Cross Insurance
          • Cigna Insurance
          • UnitedHealth Insurance
          • Humana Insurance
          • TRICARE Insurance
        • Admissions
          • Will Insurance Cover Treatment?
          • Self-Pay Rehab
        • FAQ
        • Contact Admissions
  • Contact

Call for Immediate Help: (844) 299-0618

September 24, 2019 By Kristina Robb-Dover

Drug Profile: Phenibut

Drug Profile - Phenibut

Sold under brand names “Noofen” and “Fenibut,” Phenibut is a medication prescribed by physicians in Russia, Latvia and Ukraine to treat insomnia, depression and anxiety disorders. Phenibut is not available or approved for medical use in the U.S. or European Union countries. However, Phenibut can be purchased online without a doctor’s prescription. It is currently advertised as a “nutritional supplement” although the U.S. FDA states Phenibut does not meet its definition as a dietary ingredient.

History of Phenibut

Originally created in the Soviet Union during the 1960s, Phenibut is currently prescribed in Russia and Ukraine to treat alcoholism, PTSD, Meniere’s disease, tics, and stuttering. In Russia, patients are sometimes given Phenibut prior to surgery to reduce anxiety. A central nervous system depressant taken orally in capsule form or as a powder, Phenibut exerts stimulant or sedative effects depending on the amount taken. Low doses tend to stimulate the body while higher doses provide anxiolytic effects.

Legal Status of Phenibut

Phenibut Drug ProfilePhenibut is not approved for use or sale in the U.S. and EU because of its addictive qualities. Reports of people suffering physical addiction to Phenibut within days of taking the drug are widespread. Tolerance builds quickly to Phenibut, which forces users to need more of the drug to feel its sedative effects.

Hungary and Australia have deemed Phenibut a controlled substance. In Australia, Phenibut is listed as a “schedule 9” drug because of health concerns regarding its addictive qualities and potential for severe withdrawal symptoms or overdose. Hungary has added Phenibut and other similar substances to its standardized list of banned psychoactive substances.

According to Dr. Abby Campbell, several hundred research papers about Phenibut have been published, but most articles are in Russian and deal with animal studies and the effects of Phenibut on rats, mice and cats. In other words, no studies have been done concerning Phenibut’s long-term effects on humans. The severe lack of information about the possibility Phenibut could induce serious harm on humans is why the FDA has not approved Phenibut for medical use in the U.S.

How Does Phenibut Affect the Brain?

Phenibut is a full agonist (stimulator) of brain receptors involved in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) regulation. Found only in the central nervous system, these receptors are also responsible for the sedative, euphoric effects of alcohol, barbiturates and benzodiazepines.

In low doses, Phenibut increases dopamine levels in the brain. This leads to increased alertness, concentration and focus. Phenibut and Adderall exert similar cognitive effects that benefit college students cramming for exams or have heavy course schedules.

Although scant information is available regarding the pharmacokinetics of Phenibut, scientists do know that Phenibut is easily absorbed by the body and rapidly crosses the blood-brain barrier. Onset of Phenibut’s physical and psychological effects is typically within two to four hours of taking oral Phenibut. Duration of a Phenibut “high” has been reported to last as long as 24 hours.

Side Effects of Phenibut

Phenibut Abuse - can it be abused?In addition to euphoria and sedation, Phenibut can also cause:

  • Nausea
  • Sleepiness/disorientation
  • Agitation
  • Irritability
  • Headache
  • Dizziness
  • Skin rash/hives/allergic reactions
  • Loss of coordination/balance

“Coming down” from a Phenibut high has been described as being similar to waking up with a hangover from drinking too much alcohol. This is due to the fact that Phenibut affects the central nervous system the same way alcohol reduces CNS activity.

Phenibut withdrawal symptoms mimic withdrawal symptoms of barbiturates and benzodiazepines:

  • Rebound anxiety
  • Severe depression
  • Insomnia
  • Agitation
  • Anger/irritability
  • Visual/auditory hallucinations
  • Flu-like symptoms

Signs of a Phenibut Overdose

Since Phenibut is advertised online as a “dietary” or “nutritional” supplement, overdosing on Phenibut is a real concern, especially among people who do not know the addictive qualities of Phenibut. Taking too much Phenibut could cause vomiting, extreme drowsiness/unconsciousness, low blood pressure, delirium, seizures, kidney and liver impairment and abnormally high white blood cell counts.

No clinical antidote exists for a Phenibut overdose. Managing an overdose involves doctors giving victims activated charcoal and performing a gastric lavage (stomach pump). Symptom-based support is also provided, such as anti-seizure medication if applicable. No deaths have been reported by U.S. emergency rooms or hospitals associated with a Phenibut overdose.

Contraindications for Phenibut

Although the FDA has not approved Phenibut as a medicinally safe substance, some published reports state that Phenibut should not be taken by women who are breastfeeding or pregnant, should not be given to children, may cause liver and kidney failure if abused and could promote development of gastrointestinal tract ulcers or lesions.

Phenibut and Weed

While no peer-reviewed articles are available examining how marijuana influences the effects of Phenibut, anecdotal reports claim that mixing phenibut and weed is like taking a mild stimulant that energizes the body and mind without the unpleasant side effects of stimulant use–rapid heart beat, nervousness, sweating and racing thoughts. However, it is never safe to combine addictive substances due to the higher risk of overdose and adverse reactions.

Recreational Use of Phenibut

Phenibut FactsPhenibut is gaining in popularity as a recreational drug in the U.S. due to its ability to induce euphoria, increase sociability and suppress anxiety. Available for purchase over the Internet, Phenibut is advertised as “Phenibut HCL Powder” or “Phenibut capusles, a “nootropic” compound that is relatively inexpensive.

Phenibut FAA (free amino acid) is the same as Phenibut HCL but claims to be less acidic and not as grainy in texture as Phenibut HCL. Phenibut FAA dissolves slowly in liquids, such as tea or coffee, and is said to take longer to exert its psychoactive effects than Phenibut HCL.

A report describing a user who snorted Phenibut powder says the user suffered swollen nostrils and extreme pain following inhalation of the powder. There have also been unsubstantiated reports of users inserting Phenibut capsules into their rectum.

Treatment for Phenibut Addiction

A Phenibut addiction is a real addiction to a psychoactive substance that has the potential to significantly disrupt a person’s life and cause long-term psychological and physical harm. Treating a Phenibut addiction requires medical detoxification, intensive counseling and other evidence-based protocols used in treating people with a heroin, cocaine or pain pill addiction.

If you or someone you know is abusing Phenibut or struggling to overcome their addiction to Phenibut, call FHE Health today to speak to a caring counselor who can provide you with further information about how to get help.

Filed Under: Addiction News

More Questions about Treatment?

More Questions about Treatment?

We offer 100% confidential and individualized treatment

Contact Us

About Kristina Robb-Dover

Kristina Robb-Dover is a content manager and writer with extensive editing and writing experience... read more

Primary Sidebar

The Experience Blog

  • Addiction News
  • Alumni
  • Community Events
  • Expert Columns
  • FHE Commentary
  • FHE News
  • Treatment Legislation
  • All Articles

Our Facilities

Take a look at our state of the art treatment center.

View Our Gallery

Learning Center

  • Help for You
  • Help For Loved Ones
  • Help For Alcoholism
  • Help With Substance Abuse
  • Behavioral & Mental Health
  • Life in Recovery
  • Rehab Explained
  • All Articles

Footer

FHE Health

© 2019 FHE Health

505 Federal Hwy #2,
Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441
1-844-299-0618
youtube facebook instagram
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
A+ BBB and Top Places to Work - Sun Sentinel

Call: (844) 299-0618

Chat Now