In Belarus, Phenibut is sold without a prescription. It is widely taken by students before exams, people going through a difficult period in their lives, and anyone who wants to quickly relieve anxiety or improve sleep. However, in many countries, Phenibut is prohibited. And it is indeed a serious threat. Psychiatrist Dr. Vladimir Pikirenya in his YouTube project thoroughly analyzed the mechanism of action of Phenibut and explained why these pills easily lead to drug addiction.
According to Vladimir Pikirenya, many people take Phenibut when they experience anxiety or find themselves in an extreme life situation. The drug is positioned as an adaptogen — a remedy that helps combat stress.
However, according to the psychiatrist, despite its popularity, the situation from the perspective of evidence-based medicine looks bleak.
"There are no good studies that prove it helps in any way, treats anything, or helps cope with stress in any way," the expert claims.
At the same time, unlike many other popular drugs, Phenibut actually affects GABA receptors (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in the brain. This is the same system that alcohol and heavy tranquilizers affect.
"It can cause addiction through a mechanism very similar to the effects of alcohol and benzodiazepines. In the same way that alcohol reduces anxiety in people, Phenibut can reduce it as well. But this absolutely does not mean that it is effective as a medicine and will help in the future," the doctor explains.
The drug simply relieves symptoms, "brakes" the nervous system, but does not solve the problem that caused the stress.
The expert's most serious warning concerns the risk of addiction. Since the mechanism of action of the drug is similar to alcohol and narcotic substances, it causes similar consequences.
"You can overdose on Phenibut, and you can become really addicted to Phenibut. And there are indeed already articles about this," Pikirenya warns.
Interestingly, the problem of Phenibut addiction has gone far beyond the former USSR, where it was invented. According to the psychiatrist, colleagues from Western countries have contacted him. There, Phenibut is not registered as a medicine and is often sold online or in sports stores as a regular dietary supplement (BAS) for relaxation or sleep improvement.
Therefore, Phenibut is not a harmless brain vitamin. It is a serious psychoactive substance that works on the same principle as alcohol. Its use without strict control and understanding of the risks can lead not to getting rid of stress, but to acquiring a new problem — addiction.
Comments
[Зрэдагавана]
P.S. Минздрав РБ ЗАПРЕТИЛ к ввозу (даже для онкобольных) транквилизаторы типа Ксанакса(это НЕ бензоадепин), который в соседней Польше продаётся без рецепта в любой аптеке); так что - помирайте граждане в муках, помня о своей прожитой несладкой жизни в Хрустальном Сасуте...