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There is a lot of conflicting information out there about the possibility of negative side effects when using the nootropic supplement Phenibut.
Phenibut does have an exceptionally active pharmacological profile. It is used as a stress reliever, mood booster, sleeping pill, and even as a cognitive enhancer with studies demonstrating significant positive benefits for memory performance and anxiety levels.
Is Phenibut safe or should it be avoided in favor of other nootropics that may be a bit weaker? There are few Phenibut side effects documented in the research on this supplement, but several user reports posted online indicate that some people have experienced mild unwanted effects.
How does this supplement work, what is the risk of Phenibut side effects, and how can you prevent these negative reactions from occurring?
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Sleep & Insomnia- Powerful anxiolytic for stress reduction
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How Phenibut Works
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The primary way that this supplement works is by crossing over the blood-brain barrier and attaching itself, or binding, to GABA receptors in the brain.
In fact, Phenibut is just a modified version of the naturally occurring GABA neurotransmitter. The chemical structures of GABA and Phenibut are virtually identical, except for a phenyl ring present in Phenibut that is not seen in GABA.
The addition of this phenyl ring allows Phenibut to cross over the blood-brain barrier, something which GABA cannot do to any great extent. Any GABA in the body must be produced within the brain for it to have an effect there.
Once Phenibut interacts with the central nervous system, it is able to help lower levels of over-excitement within the brain just like GABA does. The scientific understanding of how it works is to decrease 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 also works by attaching itself to Dopamine receptors. As another powerful neurotransmitter within the human brain, Dopamine is thought to be responsible for controlling functions like mood and movement. 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.
- Powerful anxiolytic for stress reduction
- Improves sleep and may reduce insomnia
- Neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects
Phenibut Benefits
The main user reported benefits of this supplement are a reduction in overall stress and anxiety levels. Some people also use Phenibut for depression. These effects may naturally lead to an improved sense of well-being, tranquility, and peace.
Phenibut has been used for insomnia and other minor sleep disorders that can prevent you from getting restful sleep. Users have also said it may improve lucid dreaming and help you wake up with less fatigue the next morning.
There are also a number of Nootropic benefits associated with Phenibut. These include boosting concentration, memory and cognitive processing.
Phenibut Side Effects
As with any new supplements, it is recommended to speak with your doctor before beginning use. An appropriate dosage will depend on many factors including age, physiology, and the purpose for taking a supplement. Your doctor will be able to determine the best dosage for your personal needs, and determine if there may be any negative interactions with other supplements or medications.
An appropriate dosage will help to minimize the chance of side effects for most users. However, personal sensitivities are different for everyone, and you may still experience side effects. It is recommended that you decrease your dosage or cease usage depending on the severity of your side effects and speak with your doctor.
Some of the reported Phenibut side effects include:
Changes In Dream Patterns: One of the more interesting side effects that has been reported by users is a change in normal dream patterns. This may be caused by the increase in REM sleep associated with taking Phenibut.
In many cases, this means that users begin to remember more of 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 & Pain: 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 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.
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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.
Tolerance Build-Up: The main side effect of Phenibut to be concerned about is the risk of a build-up of tolerance and potentially even withdrawal. A number of users report that dosages become less effective over time and they feel the need to increase how much they take to continue to experience the benefits.
Some say that taking high dosages can make it difficult to experience benefits from low doses, even following a several months break between administrations.
This can happen with many drugs that affect GABA receptors in the brain so it is very important to track how much is being taking and what effects it is having.
Noticing any type of significant or regular decline in the effects should be taken as a sign that tolerance is building. It can also help to use this nootropic supplement in a cycle, with a few days on and then a few days off. This helps to clean out and rebalance your receptors so they do not adjust to the presence of the supplement in your system.
This irregular dosage schedule may also curb any potential Phenibut side effects related to withdrawal when you stop taking it.
Hangover Effect: Some users report experiencing a hangover effect the day after they take this nootropic agent. In some cases, the hangover can occur on the following day, reflecting the long duration of effect for this nootropic agent.
It is not clear why some people experience this effect and others do not. Differences in how the chemical is metabolized and in neuron receptor sensitivity may play a role as well as the presence of other drugs or substances used.
Many people report no hangover when taking Phenibut. Others say that the hangover effects are so severe that they necessitate discontinuation of use.
Below are some comments from individuals who describe their experience with this side effect:
However I found that the following two days I felt a little ‘off’, like a drug hangover, not very social, more tired. Normally I never feel that way. It’s a shame because I didn’t feel much from the phenibut but did get a ‘hangover.'” – CptCarlos [3]
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- Phenibut is amazing. Reddit.
- Reddit.
- Phenibut is the most amazing drug ever. Reddit.
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- Riago LK, Nurk AM, Korneev AIa, Allikmets LKh. [Fenibut binding with bicuculline-insensitive GABA receptors in the rat brain]. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1982
- Sapegin ID, Beketov AI. [The effect of pikamilon and fenibut on the blood supply of the brain at rest and under gravitational exposures]. Eksp Klin Farmakol. 1993
- Talalaenko AN, Pankrat'ev DV, Goncharenko NV. Neurochemical characteristics of the ventromedial hypothalamus in mediating the antiaversive effects of anxiolytics in different models of anxiety. Neurosci Behav Physiol. 2003
- Makarov VI, Tiurenkov IN, Klauchek SV, NalivaÄko IO. [Effect of phenibut, obsidan and their combination on the human functional state in hyperthermia]. Fiziol Cheloveka. 1998
- Kovalev GI, Prikhozhan AV, RaevskiÄ KS. [Presynaptic component in the mechanism of fenibut action]. Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1982
Article last updated on: March 13th, 2018 by Nootriment
3 Comments
I get extreme body numbness after just two consecutive days of dosing phenibut. I tried to overcome the tingles/numbness by taking more, but it just made it worse. My legs, arms, scalp and mouth/lips are the worst, but its a whole body experience. Are my GABA receptors fried, or what?
I’ve been taking Phenibut for a couple months now, but I haven’t noticed any unusual or out of the ordinary side effects at all. I also don’t take a lot. The powder comes with a tiny spoon and I only take one of those tiny spoons twice a day. In the morning and then again in the afternoon after lunch. Maybe if I was taking a lot more, then I’d notice extreme side effects.
I have taken 2 teaspoons and that is too much! Extreme drowsiness, dropping everything, falling down, very vivid dreams, hallucinations, body trembling, I don’t recommend taking this in this quantity.