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Phenibut and Aniracetam are typically described as the two best nootropics for anxiety and mood enhancement.
Both have been studied for their effects on anxiousness, emotional state, depression and focus. While they both exhibit anxiolytic mechanisms of action, they work in very different ways.
When deciding which is better between Aniracetam and Phenibut, there is limited research data available to examine. Most of the information we have available about the comparative effects comes from user reviews and testimonials.
In general, phenibut is considered to have a more potent and consistent effect on reducing anxiety. Aniracetam does alleviate nervousness, social anxiety and stress in some people, but in others it can make it worse.
However, phenibut also has a greater risk of side effects including withdrawal symptoms. Aniracetam does not cause withdrawal and produces a nootropic effect on memory and focus in addition to curbing anxiousness.
These two nootropics may also be stacked together or cycled to minimize the risk of developing a tolerance and experiencing signs of withdrawal. Neither Aniracetam nor Phenibut is approved in the US by the FDA for the treatment of anxiety.
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Mood- Heightens focus & motivation
- Supports memory formation & recall
- Shown to enhance mood & reduce anxiety
Aniracetam Overview
Related Topics
- What is Aniracetam?
- User Reviews
- Effects and Benefits
- Aniracetam for Anxiety
- Dosage Suggestions
- Using Aniracetam Powder
- Best Way to Take
- Side Effects
- Aniracetam for Sale
- Buyer's Guide
- Is Aniracetam Legal?
- Stacking with Piracetam
- Stacking with Choline
- Comparison to Piracetam
- Comparison to Oxiracetam
- Comparison to Pramiracetam
- Comparison to Noopept
Aniracetam is a Racetam nootropic drug that was initially developed by Hoffmann-La Roche to treat memory dysfunction and cognitive impairment.
It affects cognitive function primarily by enhancing cholinergic neurotransmission and by binding to AMPA receptors in the brain. Both of these actions are believed to enhance processes related to learning and memory.
Results from research studies showed that it also produces a positive effect on mood in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease, Senile Dementia, Cerebral Ischemia (Stroke) and in other forms of degenerative brain conditions.
In Japan, it was previous prescribed to treat anxiety disorders in patients following a stroke. However, the effects of Aniracetam on anxiety are not well-studied in humans with General Anxiety Disorder.
Reviews posted by users on web forums like Reddit and Longecity show that some individuals do experience an anti-anxiety effect from taking this nootropic. It also has been found to exhibit anxiolytic actions when studied in rats and mice.
In particular, the metabolites of this smart drug are believed to increase levels of serotonin and dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. Both of these neurotransmitters are involved in mood regulation and are identified as therapeutic targets in the treatment of anxiety.
Some users report that Aniracetam has a mood boosting effect and makes them feel generally more positive, less stressed and more sociable. Some describe a euphoric feeling when they take this nootropic agent.
Others note that Aniracetam has limited effects on their anxiety and can worsen symptoms in some cases. Some individuals report experiencing panic attacks after taking a dosage. Others note that they become jittery, more restless, less focused and more easily aggravated.
Some individuals have described an emotional blunting effect when they take this racetam. This may be described as an “I don’t care” attitude to other people or circumstances. In some users, it is reported to lower inhibitions and may it easier for them to talk to new people or give presentations in a large group.
While the anxiolytic effects of Aniracetam are not consistent in user experience logs, this nootropic does have a better safety profile than Phenibut. It will not result in tolerance developing, harmful withdrawal symptoms or the need for a detox period.
Aniracetam is not physically addictive and users can stop taking it without experiencing negative effects following discontinuation or needing to gradually lower the dosage.
- Improves memory and learning
- Heightens focus and motivation
- Enhances mood and reduces anxiety & stress
Phenibut Overview
Phenibut (Beta-Phenyl-?-aminobutyric acid, Noofen) is an anxiolytic drug that is used in Russian and certain other European countries as a prescription medication for anxiety, depression, PTSD and insomnia.
It has a central nervous system depressant effect, but does not produce as much of a sedative effect compared to benzodiazepine drugs. It is purported to reduce anxiety while still maintaining cognitive function.
Phenibut was famously developed in Russia and given to Soviet cosmonauts to relieve anxiety without impairing their mental faculties. The nootropic effects of appear to occur only at low dosages.
It is an analogue for the brain’s chief inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid). When GABA binds to receptors on a neuron, it makes the neuron less likely to fire in response to an excitatory neurotransmitter.
The role of GABA is to prevent over-stimulation of neurons in the brain and to calm the over-excited mind. This is an important function both for reducing anxious thoughts, but also for maintaining the ability to concentrate without distraction.
Phenibut has the chemical structure of gamma-aminobutyric acid with a phenyl ring attached at the beta position. This modification is important because it means that phenibut can pass through the blood-brain barrier while GABA cannot.
One of the reasons that some researchers think oral GABA supplements are ineffective for reducing anxiety is due to the fact that this neurotransmitter cannot cross through the blood-brain barrier in its normal form. That means it cannot directly bind to neuroreceptors in the brain.
Phenibut can cross through this barrier and bind to GABA-b receptors, which is a special sub-class of receptors for this neurotransmitter. This is what produces the anxiolytic response when you take this nootropic drug.
Phenibut also enhances dopaminergic activity in the brain, which is why many users report that this nootropic lifts their mood in addition to preventing feelings of anxiety. This mechanism may also be involved in the purported cognitive enhancement properties.
Some users report that this is the most effective nootropic they have taken with positive effects on mood and ability to focus.
In animal research studies, it does demonstrate some nootropic effects, such as the ability to reduce retrograde amnesia caused by electric shock in rats. It was found to be just as effective as Piracetam in one rodent trial on a passive avoidance test. [2]
It has also been studied for its neuroprotective effects. The authors of a study published in 2006 reported, “Phenibut and (to a lower extent) piracetam reduced a neuralgic deficiency, amnesia, and the degree of cerebral circulation drop, and improved the spontaneous movement and research activity deteriorated by brain ischemia.” [3]
Phenibut is widely used as a clinical medication in Russia, the Ukraine and Latvia for a number of therapeutic indications including alcohol withdrawal symptoms, tics and stuttering, social anxiety and for White Coat Syndrome (temporary anxiety while undergoing medical procedures).
While it is generally well tolerated when used under medical supervision, it poses a high risk of abuse and can cause dangerous side effects at high dosages.
Users can experience excessive sedation, tolerance, hallucinations, temporary psychosis, nausea, vomiting, low blood pressure, kidney and liver problems, lethargy tonic-clonic seizures unconsciousness or delirium.
Some users can develop a dependence to phenibut and it can cause withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it suddenly without tapering down the dosage. These effects appear to be stronger in some people than others.
Comparison
Aniracetam is generally regarded as safer than using Phenibut and less likely to result in serious adverse effects. However, it is also widely considered to be less effective for alleviating anxiety.
Aniracetam may be favored as a nootropic suitable for regular use. If you experience mild stress and anxiousness or primarily want to address social anxiety, this nootropic may be the better option.
Phenibut is better suited to short-term or infrequent use. While it appears effective for calming the mind, its usefulness as a nootropic or cognitive enhancer has not been well studied in humans.
Below, we have collected a selection of user reviews comparing Aniracetam vs. Phenibut based on their own experiences. Note that your experiences with these nootropic may be different.
Phenibut produces decent anxiety relief. It has a long duration of effect, but a short half-life. Phenibut also has good mood lifting properties. It gives me a motivational kick in the ass. Judgment and motor skills are still intact….
In terms of addictiveness, aniracetam isn’t known to have any physically addictive properties. Given how weak its effects are (or nonexistent in my case), it’s unlikely that you’d get even psychological addiction.
Phenibut is physically addictive. However, it is not strong enough for me personally to develop a strong psychological pull. I have had no problem taking it once a week or less often for almost two years now….
Aniracetam has no withdrawal. Phenibut produces withdrawal (mainly affective symptoms) if you dose daily, and has a very sharp tolerance curve.” – Anonymous [1]
Aniracetam, as far as I know, has little to no side effects in most people and should be fine taken daily, though its anxiolytic effects are likely to be far less pronounced for most people than benzos or phenibut.” – voyaging [1]
both seem equally addictive to me. …I somehow avoid doing really stupid things even on large doses of benzos, but both it and phenibut have made me say things I shouldn’t rarely.
aniracetam has almost no anti-anxiety effect in comparison. it can make anxiety worse in some situations even. but it is a much nicer experience than either of the others, imo. beautifully vision & sound enhancing which build up more over time. and a feeling of being present/in the moment. no withdrawal/tolerance/addiction..” – nachos420 [1]
Aniracetam sometimes make me a bit calmer and kind of tired. Sometimes it does nothing. I’ve never noticed many cognitive benefits. It’s nothing like the other two.” – ultimo_burrito [1]
With aniracetam I sometimes feel a light effect similar to phenibut. Not so much less anxiety but a positive mood that makes my anxiety more manageable. It also seems to improve my cognition and this helps to address thoughts or behaviors that would usually build up or lead to stress and anxiety….
If you’re just looking for stress relief, aniracetam is decent. L-theanine, ashwagandha and bacopa are worth trying, too. Phenibut is more of a once-in-a-while thing.” – killword-noot [1]
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Effects of Aniracetam on Phenibut Withdrawal
When you stop taking GABAergic drugs, there is a risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This is believed to be caused by tolerance developing at GABA receptor sites in the brain.
Long-term exposure to GABA agonists can result in these receptors being down-regulated such that they do not respond as strongly to the same dosage of the agonizing agent.
When you then discontinue using GABAergic drugs, the result is that the brain has now adapted to elevated levels of GABA receptor stimulation. This can cause withdrawal symptoms such as heightened anxiety, sleep disorders and a worsening of the symptoms that the drugs were originally used to address.
Withdrawal duration and symptoms are purported to be less in Phenibut compared to other common GABAergic drugs, including the Benzodiazepine medications as well as heavy alcohol consumption.
However, some users do experience particularly strong signs of withdrawal when they stop taking this smart drug after a long duration or use or if it is used at a high dosage.
Tolerance and withdrawal can be prevented or minimized by reserving this nootropic for occasional use, taking low dosages or by gradually using lower dosages until use is discontinued.
Use of aniracetam has been proposed as one way to ameliorate side effects of withdrawal. However, it has not been studied for its effects on GABA agonist withdrawal and the mechanisms by which it affects GABA receptors are not well understood
There have been anecdotal reports suggesting that it may reduce some of the anxiousness observed in people who take phenibut. It has been used with other anxiolytic supplements like kava kava extract for this purpose.
Another option Is Baclofen which is a prescription drug that functions similarly to phenibut. It is used as a treatment for GHB withdrawal. Use of Baclofen for treating withdrawal symptoms should only be conducted under medical supervision as it is possible to develop a tolerance to this drug as well.
Comparison to Picamilon
How does Aniracetam compare to Picamilon – a nootropic drug that has some similar mechanisms of action to Phenibut?
Picamilon (nicotinoyl-GABA) is another GABAergic smart drug that was developed in Russia and used to treat anxiety and stress.
It is a synthetic combination of a GABA molecule and a niacin molecule. This combination makes it possible to penetrate the blood-brain barrier which GABA cannot do well on its own.
After crossing over the blood-brain barrier, this molecule is hydrolyzed or broken up into its two components, niacin and GABA. The GABA component is believed to bind to GABA receptors in the nervous system and exhibit an anxiolytic effect.
Niacin (Nicotinic Acid) is a form of Vitamin B3 along with nicotinamide. It functions as a vasodilator, resulting in the widening or dilation of blood vessels in the brain.
When blood vessels are opened wider, it can increase circulation of blood, oxygen and other nutrients to the brain. This is a mechanism seen with other nootropic agents purported to promote brain cell health, alertness and energy levels.
Because Picamilon seems to exhibit both a calming and an energizing effect, it is perceived as promoting a relaxed state of mind without any accompanying fatigue or drowsiness.
There has been relatively little human research on Picamilon and it is not widely used outside of Russia and Japan. Almost all of the published research on this nootropic is in Russian.
It was previous sold in the United States as an ingredient in dietary supplements, but has since been withdrawn from the market after the FDA ruled that it is an adulterant and does not fit the definition of a dietary ingredient for use in a supplement.
There have not been any comparative studies on Aniracetam vs. Picamilon for effectiveness in addressing anxiety symptoms. Based on user reviews, Aniracetam is generally describe as having more of a mood-lifting effect while Picamilon may promote a balanced, focused state of mind.
Some users report taking these two nootropic drugs together to enhance the potential anxiolytic effects. One user reported that taking Picamilon helps to promote clear-headedness while Aniracetam “helps take the edge off” of anxious thoughts.
However, because Picamilon is no longer easy to buy in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia or most other markets, its use has largely fallen out of favor in the nootropic community.
If you want to achieve the benefits of Picamilon for reducing anxiety without resorting to taking Phenibut, consider looking into natural supplements that stimulate GABA receptors in the brain.
Combining Aniracetam with L-Theanine, Valerian Root, Lemon Balm or Phosphatidylserine may enhance the anti-anxiety effects of this nootropic supplement without the risk of developing withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it.
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- Phenibut vs Aniracetam vs Benzodiapezines. Reddit.
- Lapin I. Phenibut (beta-phenyl-GABA): a tranquilizer and nootropic drug. CNS Drug Rev. 2001 Winter;7(4):471-81.
- Tiurenkov IN, et al. [Comparative evaluation of the neuroprotective activity of phenibut and piracetam under experimental cerebral ischemia conditions in rats]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2006 May-Jun.
Article last updated on: July 17th, 2018 by Nootriment