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Related Experiment Video

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Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Vapor Exposure Paired with Two-Bottle Choice to Model Alcohol Use Disorder

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Phenibut dependence.

Andriy V Samokhvalov¹, C Lindsay Paton-Gay, Kam Balchand

¹Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

BMJ Case Reports

|February 9, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Phenibut, a GABA agonist, can cause dependence and withdrawal symptoms when used for anxiety. A 9-week treatment substituting phenibut with baclofen successfully managed withdrawal and dependence.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Psychiatry
Pharmacology

Background:

Phenibut, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist, is used as an anxiolytic in Russia but is available as a supplement in Western countries.
It is increasingly used for self-medication of anxiety, insomnia, and alcohol cravings.

Observation:

A patient self-medicating with phenibut developed tolerance and significant withdrawal symptoms within 3-4 hours of last use.
The patient experienced functional impairment at work and home due to phenibut dependence.

Findings:

A 9-week treatment protocol gradually substituted phenibut with baclofen, a GABA agonist with similar properties.
This substitution and subsequent tapering of baclofen successfully managed the patient's phenibut dependence and withdrawal.

Implications:

This case highlights the potential for phenibut dependence and the challenges in managing withdrawal.
Baclofen can be an effective substitute for phenibut, facilitating a gradual taper and treatment of dependence.