title: Phenibut dependence.
abstract: Phenibut is a γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) agonist designed and used as an anxiolytic in Russia. In Western countries, phenibut is not a registered medication but is available through online stores as a supplement. We present a case of a patient who used phenibut to self-medicate anxiety, insomnia and cravings for alcohol. While phenibut was helpful initially, the patient developed dependence including tolerance, significant withdrawal symptoms within 3-4 h of last use and failure to fulfil his roles at work and at home. He finally sought medical assistance in our addictions clinic. We have gradually, over the course of 9 weeks, substituted phenibut with baclofen, which has similar pharmacological properties, and then successfully tapered the patient off baclofen. This required approximately 10 mg of baclofen for each gram of phenibut.
authors: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: Andriy V
authors: AV
authors: Samokhvalov
authors: C Lindsay
authors: CL
authors: Paton-Gay
authors: Kam
authors: K
authors: Balchand
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Rehm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008297:Male; D012426:Russia; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001418:Baclofen; C008842:4-amino-3-phenylbutyric acid
references: CNS Drug Rev. 2001 Winter;7(4):471-81
references: 11830761
references: Forensic Sci Int. 2011 Mar 20;206(1-3):92-7
references: 20650576
references: Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2008 Feb;46(2):146-52
references: 18259963
references: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1984 Apr 14;288(6424):1135-40
references: 6143582
references: J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Oct;30(5):648-9
references: 20841974
references: BMJ. 2010 Nov 12;341:c6491
references: 21075820