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Phenibut is a Nootropic supplement first developed in the Soviet Union during the Cold War period in the 1960’s.
Consequently, much of the research regarding the supplement was kept behind closed doors and only shared with other countries in the network of Soviet influence.
It has only recently arrived on the market in the United States where it has quickly gained favor with health supplement users. It is most commonly used as a sleep aid, anti-anxiety supplement. and mood booster.
One of the hallmarks of the Phenibut experience is a sense of focused calm and a feeling of mental tranquility. Phenibut reviews and experience logs also frequently cite improved memory and associative reasoning skills, as well as enhanced focus and feelings of well-being.
Phenibut, which is also called Noofen and Fenibut, is a modified version of the natural substance called GABA. You may know GABA as one of the most important inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain. Phenibut is essentially a synthetic formulation of GABA designed with a slightly different chemical structure.
People use Phenibut for a wide range of conditions including post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, general anxiety disorder, and social anxiety. In Russia, Phenibut is actually sold as a psychotropic drug for the treatment of mood disorders. In the United States and most of Europe it is not regulated as a drug and is available without a prescription as a health supplement.
This article will discuss how this compound acts in the body, Phenibut experiences users have reported, as well as guidelines for safe usage.
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Before looking at typical Phenibut experiences, we will first explain how it works so you have an understanding of its mechanism of action in the body.
In basic terms, Phenibut is a modified version of GABA that is able to cross over the barrier separating the bloodstream from the brain (blood-barrier barrier) and enter into the central nervous system.
Naturally occurring GABA has only a very weak ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, which is critical for any type of Nootropic or cognitive enhancer. Any GABA in the body must be made within the brain to have an effect there.
Phenibut is structurally similar to GABA with one exception: the addition of a phenyl ring. This chemical addition is what allows Phenibut to cross over the blood-brain barrier. Once the supplement has entered into the central nervous system it is able to bind with GABA receptors. This serves to increase activity in GABA sites within the brain.
Since the GABA neurotransmitter is considered to be the chief inhibitory chemical within the human body, it has the effect of reducing the level of excitement within the brain. Most neurotransmitters affected by nootropics are excitatory, meaning that their release causes other neurons to fire.
When GABA is released, those active nerves or neurons are targeted and are regulated in such a way as to limit their firing rate. GABA and Phenibut basically off-set some of the stimulation that occurs in the brain so that only the most important signals get through.
This allows for a number of benefits including a reduction in stress and anxiety and the improved ability to relax. It is also thought that this substance functions to protect nerves and neurons within the brain.
In particular, this supplement is believed to protect these cells from damage caused by stress hormones. By the same token, this calming effect has also been shown to reduce the pressure on the ventricles of the heart.
- Powerful anxiolytic for stress reduction
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Phenibut Experience
Now that you understand how Phenibut works, it is quite straightforward to paint a picture of the common experience when using Phenibut.
Most users report experiences of being very relaxed after taking this Russian nootropic. User reviews have said that this can lead to them feeling more comfortable in social situations and having an increased feeling of well-being, possibly even extending into the category of mild euphoria.
Researchers attribute this effect to a possible interaction with Dopamine receptors in the brain, responsible for mood and pleasurable emotions.
Depending on how you stack Phenibut, the calming effect of this nootropic can have a few different characteristics. Some users will take it alongside the Racetams to curb anxious feelings while still being able to focus and concentrate on mental tasks.
In this light, Phenibut is described as shutting off the brain’s response to otherwise distracting stimuli so that you experience a centered and controlled calm. You may find it easier to pay attention to one task at a time and to completely immerse yourself in that single task.
Other users will take Phenibut to help them unwind and de-stress at the end of a long day. If you find yourself constantly experiencing tension or incessant thought loops that make it difficult to be in the moment, Phenibut may allow you to disengage and feel a kind of inner-peace.
It may have a sedative-like effect on you in larger dosages, which may make it easier to fall asleep and remain asleep through the night. A few users even reported that they experience improved sexual performance (usually seen with lower doses of the supplement).
Scientific research on Phenibut is mainly limited to the studies done in the 1960s in Russia. More current research is still needed to determine the full effects Phenibut may have. While 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.
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How to Take Phenibut
As far as the dosage of Phenibut is concerned, most users find their own ‘sweet spot’ somewhere in between 250 and 1,000 mg per day. You do not want to split this dosage up, but instead take it all at once.
An interesting thing about Phenibut is the relatively long half-life, at least compared to typical Nootropics. This means that a single administration should last a full day. Of course, exactly how long it remains effective in your system will depend on a large variety of factors including age and personal physiology.
Another thing that you should expect is that tolerance can develop with this supplement fairly quickly. To get around this, it is best to cycle Phenibut, using 2 weeks on and 2 weeks off schedule. You may even want to use it less frequently, taking it only as needed.
While it can be stacked together with other Nootropics, it should not be used in combination with alcohol or other depressants. In order to produce the benefits that Phenibut is known for, you may need to do a bit of experimenting and give the supplement time to fully activate in your system.
While the Phenibut experience of reduced stress levels and increased relaxation can be very positive for some people, others may find that supplements like Aniracetam or Sulbutiamine are more effective for their personal situation.
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- Samotrueva MA, Tiurenkov IN, TeplyÄ DL, Kuleshevskaia NR, Khlebtsova EV. [Immune-regulating effect of phenibut under lipopolysaccharide-induced immune stress conditions]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2010
- Ziablintseva EA. [The effect of GABA derivative phenibut on defensive conditioning and internal inhibition]. Zh Vyssh Nerv Deiat Im I P Pavlova. 2006
- Tiurenkov IN, Samotrueva MA, Kuleshevskaia NR, Berestovitskaia VM, Vasil'eva OS. [Comparative study of immunomodulating properties of phenibut and gammoxin]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2010
- Tarakanov IA, Tarasova NN, Belova EA, Safonov VA. [Effect of phenibut on the respiratory arrest caused by serotonin]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 2006
- SkibitskiÄ VV. [Effect of phenibut and eglonyl on frequency of tachyarrhythmia paroxysms and central hemodynamics in patients with neurocirculatory dystonia]. Vrach Delo. 1983
- Samokhvalov AV, Paton-Gay CL, Balchand K, Rehm J. Phenibut dependence. BMJ Case Rep. 2013
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
I am a combat veteran of the US Army National Guard. 11B was my MOS. I have PTSD and phenibut helped me tremendously. Amazing. I use Valium when not on phenibut. I just tell people hey these drugs keep.me sane. Get shot at 18… Doesnt seem irrational to think PTSD is going to manifest itself. I am an accountant. Even though I enjoy both applied and pure math…. My job pays well. Phenibut helps keep me level headed to do my job.