Phenibut, a GABAB Agonist, Detected in a Fatality

Phenibut, a GABAB agonist structurally similar to baclofen, is not approved for medical use in the United States, but is available through internet suppliers for recreational use. Calls to poison control centers for phenibut have increased over the last five years, and there are many case reports of severe acute intoxications and withdrawals requiring hospitalization. This case report describes the autopsy and toxicology findings of a 26-year-old male found dead at home with phenibut containers on scene. Autopsy findings and routine toxicology testing were generally unremarkable. Scene findings prompted the validation of a qualitative liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method that confirmed the presence of phenibut in blood and urine.