Phenibut – what is it and how does it work?

Phenibut (phenibut, beta-phenyl-GABA) is an antidepressant used to treat a wide variety of conditions. Among other things, it works well for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and even depression or alcoholism. We look at how phenibut works, whether it’s worth taking it, and whether its abuse can carry side effects.
What is a phenibut supplement?
Phenibut is a gamma-aminobutyric acid derivative with a phenyl ring. Primarily, this supplement has anti-anxiety and sedative effects. Among other things, its function is to increase resistance to stress. It puts the body in a state comparable to what we feel after alcohol. All because the agent has an affinity for the brain metabotropic receptor GABA(B).
Of course, unlike alcohol, it does not harm our health, nor does it set us back in the training process. Of course, phenibut is also not a psychoactive substance, so we can sit behind the wheel of a car or other vehicle after taking this compound. Phenibut is a drug that provides us with pleasant relaxation, similar to what we experience after having one drink. What’s more, among the health benefits is improved cognitive function.
The compound was first invented in 1963 in Soviet Russia. The agent was developed by Soviet scientist Perekalin, who synthesized 3-phenyl-4-aminobutyric acid. At the time, the mixture was intended to help treat mental disorders in children.
However, phenibut was most prevalent among astronauts, who were supposed to improve their functioning in space thanks to it. Eventually, the systematically studied compound helped treat depression, insomnia, nervous disorders, alcoholism, or PTSD.
Types of phenibut:
There are several types of phenibut, although the most popular is Phenibut HCl. In total, we distinguish between:
– Phenibut HCl – comes in the form of hydrochloride.
– Phenibut FAA (free amino acid) – Phenibut in free form. This compound is better absorbed in smaller doses.
– F-phenibut (fluoro-phenibut) – phenibut up to 10 times more potent than phenibut HCl.
How does phenibut work?
The benefits of phenibut are best described with separate consideration of nootropic, anti-anxiety, and anti-stress effects.
Nootropic effect – improves intellectual functions, improving motivation, memory, and concentration, increasing the ability to learn (including attention, analysis, memory, reaction speed). At the same time, it reduces fatigue and increases physical endurance. However, it is certainly not a typical nootropic.
– Anti-anxiety effects – eliminates anxiety in part or whole. It also relieves nervous tension and even improves the quality of sleep.
Anti-stress effects reduce levels of stress hormones (called corticosteroids), so it has an anti-stress effect.
Thus, the use of phenibut has many health benefits. We can increase stress resistance and anxiety levels, put the body in a relaxed state, improve sleep quality, or increase motivation.
Increased motivation is one factor we need to look at when it comes to athletes taking phenibut. Besides, phenibut increases the production of growth hormone, which accelerates the regeneration of the body.

Therefore, by all means, phenibut is also used by physically active people. Of course, phenibut can also be found in the offer of the supplement store Cross The Limits. We offer phenibut as a supplement in the form of powder and capsules.
After all, phenibut can heart strengthen the immune system, help with the respiratory system, and even prevent alcohol addiction. So we can see that taking phenibut carries many health benefits for our body. Of course, we reach for it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and do not abuse phenibut.
How to dose phenibut?
If we want to supplement phenibut, the dosage should be according to what the manufacturer specifies. The dosage should be as low as possible, and taking phenibut itself should be as infrequent as possible. It is assumed that we should take phenibut in single doses of 200-250 mg. If we do not feel the drug’s effectiveness, we can increase the amount two times to 500 mg. This dose should be sufficient for everyone if we have not used psychoactive drugs before.
Then it can be doses of 1000 or 1500 mg or even multiples. People who use phenibut too often will also reach for these doses. If such doses are exceeded, this is concerning.
Since the body can quickly tolerate such compounds, it is not recommended to reach for Phenibut regularly. We should take it a maximum of 5 times a week. However, it is advisable to follow the rule “the less, the better.” Of course, everything depends on our body’s predisposition. Still, it is much safer to use phenibut 2 or 3 times a week, for example, on a Friday night when we do not want to enjoy an alcoholic drink.
As athletes, phenibut can be taken before and after training. By increasing the production of growth hormone, the body can recover, which is crucial for correct training goals.
What potential side effects does phenibut have?
Like any supplement or drug, phenibut has potential side effects. Some of the unwanted symptoms include headaches, nausea, confusion, and depression. Sedation, excessive drowsiness, and fatigue should also be pointed out.
If we overdose on phenibut, we can experience delirium and reduced consciousness, although more often, it is a lowering of body temperature, drowsiness, and muscle relaxation. Thus, it is essential not to become dependent on this compound and reach for it relatively infrequently. We should also not increase the dosage of the supplement but take a break in supplementation so that the nervous system has time to regenerate.
With larger and frequent doses, withdrawal of the supplement is also a potential side effect. We then become irritable, have anxiety and dizziness, and experience fatigue. Other adverse effects include insomnia, heart palpitations, and hallucinations. We also often lack appetite.
In addition, pregnant and breastfeeding women and people suffering from stomach ulcers or liver failure should refrain from phenibut supplementation.
Without a doubt, phenibut is an exciting remedy that has many health benefits, including improving resistance to stress and putting the body in a relaxed state. It also helps athletes. It significantly enhances concentration levels and increases motivation, including in the gym. Also, it accelerates the production of growth hormones, so it positively affects the body’s ability to regenerate.