Phenibut is a nootropic that people use for anxiety, stress, depression, insomnia, and fatigue.
It can have highly anxiolytic effects, with a well-documented ability to contribute to feelings of well-being, relaxation, and calm.
A number of user reviews say that Phenibut effects are even better at dealing with anxiety than a number of commonly prescribed medications available.
In addition to this, Phenibut has a range of cognitive benefits related to improved focus, memory, intellect, and learning.
What are the specific effects and benefits of Phenibut and how should you take this supplement for the best results?



- Powerful anxiolytic for stress reduction
- Stimulates GABA receptors & supports sleep
- Neuroprotective & supports cognitive function
Phenibut Effects
Related Topics
- What is Phenibut?
- User Review
- Benefits and Uses
- Dosage Recommendations
- Effects & Mechanisms of Action
- Experience Reports
- Anti-Anxiety Effects
- Using Phenibut for Sleep
- How to Take
- Negative Side Effects
- Withdrawal Dangers
- Risks with Alcohol Combination
- Comparison to Picamilon
- Buying Phenibut Guide
- Using Bulk Powder
- Primaforce Phenibut Review
- SNS Phenibut XT Review
Phenibut was developed in the 1960’s by scientists at the Academy of Medical Sciences in Russia (then the USSR).
It is a prescription drug in Russia, however, in the United States it is considered to be an over the counter supplement and you do not need a prescription from your doctor to buy it.
Phenibut is a derivative of the neurotransmitter GABA, with an additional phenyl ring added to its chemical structure.
This small difference has an important effect: while GABA itself cannot cross over the blood brain barrier if ingested in supplement form, Phenibut can transport across this barrier.
Phenibut works by binding to GABA receptors and lowering levels of excitatory action in the brain. This means that theoretically Phenibut can interact directly with GABA receptors in the brain to cause a number of highly beneficial effects for anxiety and stress reductions.
GABA is considered to be the most prominent inhibitory neurotransmitter. In the brain GABA is used to balance out the effects of the excitatory chemicals that stimulate greater activity in the neurons. In most cases, the brain is able to achieve this balance on its own, but when you are overly stressed or suffering from anxiety, it is often the result of excessive firing in your neurons.
This over-stimulation of neurons can lead to the characteristic symptoms of general anxiety disorder such as feelings of uneasiness and nervousness, uncontrollable or obsessive thoughts, restlessness and difficulty concentrating.

- Powerful anxiolytic for stress reduction
- Improves sleep and may reduce insomnia
- Neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects
The “Phenibut high” occurs because this supplement helps to restore the balance in your brain activity by preventing some of the over-excitement in your brain. It causes the same effects as your natural GABA levels, thereby ensuring that your neurons only fire when they are supposed to.
Most users experience this Phenibut effect as a sensation of relaxation, peace or tranquility. Taking Phenibut may make it easier to fall asleep, help you focus more appropriately on important stimuli, and channel your energy into productive pursuits rather than negative thought loops.
Another effect of Phenibut is in partially stimulating Dopamine receptors in the brain. Dopamine is one of the chief mood neurotransmitters and it is associated with our pleasure centers in the brain.
Whenever you do something positive or enjoyable, your Dopamine neurons fire as part of the rewards system that we use to decide whether to stop doing something or do something again. Dopamine is also involved in executive functions related to inhibition control, concentration, and attention.
By boosting Dopamine activity, Phenibut may enhance the mood and even help you become more motivated and driven.
Phenibut Benefits
The most noteworthy potential benefit of Phenibut is that it may reduce anxious thoughts without diminishing cognitive function.
Most other anxiolytic compounds do not offer this same balance and inevitably result in some impairment of brain function. You may feel like you are processing information at a slower rate or find it difficult to focus.
Not so with Phenibut: several human experiments have found that mental performance is actually higher with this nootropic when stress and anxiety are alleviated. Studies have shown that some individuals have better memory function and improved cognitive processing after taking Phenibut.
Furthermore, as a powerful sleep aid, this supplement can help to improve your sleep quality so that you dream more and awake feeling refreshed and well-rested.
Research studies on Phenibut are mostly limited to those done in Russia in the 1960s and 1970s. More current research needs to be done to fully understand the effects Phenibut may have. Even though it is used as a prescription drug in Russia, at this time, the FDA has not approved Phenibut as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

- Most effective supplements to improve mood
- Optimize levels of dopamine, serotonin and GABA
- Protect against stress and anxiety
Phenibut Side Effects
Are there any negative side effects to worry about when taking Phenibut? In most users, when it is used properly, this supplement has not been seen to cause major negative side effects.
This means that you need to take the appropriate dosage (between 500 – 1500 mg) and stagger or cycle your dosages to avoid forming any sort of tolerance. In other words, you do not want to take this nootropic for multiple weeks at a time as it could eventually lead to a tolerance and ultimately withdrawal symptoms.
It is best to take Phenibut for only a few days at a time followed by a week of rest to ensure that no tolerance forms.
If you follow these steps, chances are that the drug will be very well tolerated by your system, but some people have observed a selection of mild negative side effects. One of the most frequently mentioned effects in Phenibut reviews is more vivid dreams and occasionally nightmares.
This is explained due to the increased in REM sleep that occurs when taking Phenibut. When you dream, the brain performs various tasks related to memory consolidation so while vivid dreams may sometimes be unpleasant, this may actually be a sign that Phenibut is working positively for you.
Other users have experienced drowsiness, gastrointestinal problems, nausea, numbness, or a so-called “hangover” of effects after they stop taking Phenibut. Most of these situations will only arise if you use too much of the compound or are taking it too frequently in high doses.
Ensure that you are using this nootropic as directed and you will most likely see more positive Phenibut effects and benefits than negative ones.
- Tiurenkov IN, Samotrueva MA, Kuleshevskaia NR, Berestovitskaia VM, Vasil'eva OS. [Comparative study of immunomodulating properties of phenibut and gammoxin]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2010
- Gracheva SV, Kovalev GV. [Effect of fenibut on cardiac hemodynamics in experimental hypertension from the aspect of age]. Farmakol Toksikol. 1986
- Volkov AE, Kuzam LN, Borsheva AA. [Effect of fenibut on the fetus and newborn infant after the treatment of gestoses]. Akush Ginekol (Mosk). 1989
- Zhezlova AV, Belolipetskaia VG, Blagodatskikh SV, Merkulova EV. [Bioequivalence of anvifen and phenibut]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2011
- Tarakanov IA, Tarasova NN, Belova EA, Safonov VA. [Effect of phenibut on the respiratory arrest caused by serotonin]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2006
- Kuchkarov UI, Ashurov ZSh, Sultanov ShKh. [Efficiency of noophen in heroin addiction]. Lik Sprava. 2009
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment