35th AM (2024) - Poster Session-Phenibut Withdrawals- A Systematic Review of an Online Supplement

Phenibut Withdrawals- A Systematic Review of an Online Supplement

Pdf Summary

This systematic review, conducted by authors from institutions including Kansas City University of Medicine, examines case reports on phenibut—a GABA-mimetic substance introduced in Russia during the 1960s for treating anxiety, depression, PTSD, and insomnia. Despite its therapeutic intentions, phenibut is not legally registered in Western countries but remains accessible online as a supplement. The review utilized PubMed case reports from January 2010 to October 2023 to understand the withdrawal and addiction characteristics associated with phenibut use.<br /><br />Out of 269 identified articles, 21 human case reports were analyzed, pointing to an average patient age of 32 years, predominantly involving males (83%). Reported average doses were 12 g/day, spanning 1.5 to 28.5 g/day. Withdrawal symptoms frequently included hallucinations, agitation, and suicidal ideation. Treatments often employed included baclofen and benzodiazepine taper. Most patients had histories of substance abuse (73%) and mental health issues like anxiety and depression (60%).<br /><br />Through this analysis, the study emphasizes the criticality of comprehensive patient history assessments, especially regarding supplements. It alerts healthcare providers to the deceptive marketing of harmful substances as benign supplements. The review stresses the potential medical impact of such substances not showing up in standard drug tests, posing diagnostic challenges in emergency settings. This work calls for increased education among healthcare professionals about phenibut's pharmacological effects and urges vigilance in recognizing and managing its abuse and withdrawal symptoms. It underscores the importance of being aware of supplements' availability and potential harms to avoid misdiagnoses.

Keywords

phenibut

GABA-mimetic

withdrawal

addiction

supplements

substance abuse

mental health

diagnostic challenges

healthcare education

emergency settings

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