What is Phenibut?
Phenbiut was developed in the 1960s, specifically in 1963 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Phenibut is a neuropsychotropic. It is used as an anti-anxiety medication and is known to improve cognitive function- it has anxiolytic and nootropic effects. Phenibut is a central nervous system depressant. Medical News Today defines Nootropics as, “Nootropics, or “smart drugs,” are a class of substances that can boost brain performance. They are sometimes called cognition enhancers or memory enhancing substances. Prescription nootropics are medications that have stimulant effects. They can counteract the symptoms of medical conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), narcolepsy, or Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Phenibut used for?
Phenibut is used to help treat depression, insomnia, anxiety, tics & stuttering, PTSD. It can also be used for alcohol withdrawal. It comes in a tablet form or a solution that is used for infusions. The milligram dosages are 250mg & 500mg in tablet form and 10mg/mL for the solution. The brand names of Phenibut are listed as Fenibut, Noofen and Anvifen. Phenibut is not illegal in the United States, however it is not a licensed drug that is used in the States nor has the FDA approved this medication. It is banned from use in some parts of Europe as well. The medication is used in Russia, Belarus, Latvia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. In Australia, Phenibut is considered a controlled substance and is illegal to possess
Is Phenibut Addictive?
Phenibut is highly addictive due to the feelings it produces such as- sedation, euphoria and anxiety relief. Side effects of Phenibut from those who use high dosages of the medication include but are not limited to, disorientation, lack of balance, lack of motor skills, overdose, risk of fatty liver disease and eosinophilia.
Side Effects of Phenibut
It takes about 2 hours for the effects of Phenibut to kick in after consumption. The effects last for 2-5 hours. Some of the side effects that Phenibut produces are feelings of sleepiness, nausea, sedation, irritability, agitation, headache and dizziness. Overdose symptoms of Phenibut are low blood pressure, liver degeneration, kidney failure, nausea, vomiting and fatty liver degeneration. When an Phenibut overdose occurs there are a few different treatment options medical staff use to reverse the overdose such as induction of vomiting, activated charcoal and gastric lavage. In more severe cases, overdose off of Phenibut can result in seizures and/or death.
Phenibut Withdrawal
When someone who abuses high doses of phenibut and tries to stop abruptly, they will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop using it. People who stop using it go into severe phenibut withdrawal, they will experience some uncomfortable symptoms, such as insomnia, severe anxiety, audio and visual hallucinations, psychosis, irritability and anger. Baclofen is used for the treatment of withdrawal symptoms. The severity of the withdrawal depends on how much the individual was using, how long they were using for and if there are any other underlying medical conditions. The withdrawal can last from 12-24 weeks, or even longer depending on how much and how long Phenibut was used in high doses for. The withdrawal can cause “brain fog” which can last up to 6 months. Tapering is a could method of medical detox because it eases the withdrawal symptoms than just stopping “cold turkey.” It gives the brain a chance to heal slowly.
Although those withdrawal symptoms sound very uncomfortable, there’s treatment such as medical detoxification that helps assist and comfort some of those uncomfortable symptoms making it easier for you to get off the drug. Also, remember that these feelings are temporary and it will pass gives hope and motivation. If you go to a Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation Facility- there will not only be the medical detox but individual therapy, group therapy, and learning new coping skills. Medically assisted detox is an effective method through the use of non-addictive medications that are used temporarily which ease the withdrawal symptoms.
Article source: beginningstreatment.com
