Phenibut Stats & Data
NCC(CC(=O)[O-])c1ccccc1.[H+]DAFOCGYVTAOKAJ-UHFFFAOYSA-NReceptor Profile
Receptor Actions
History & Culture
1960s–1974
Phenibut was synthesized during the 1960s at the Department of Organic Chemistry at the Al Gertsen Leningrad Pedagogical Institute under the supervision of Professor V. V. Perekalin. Following its development, the compound was researched for potential applications in treating various conditions including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, insomnia, and general weakness or asthenia. Early research indicated that while phenibut shared certain properties with traditional sedatives, it produced less impairment and fewer "narcotic-like" effects in animal studies. The compound was initially introduced under the brand name Citrocard during the late 1960s to early 1970s. On December 18, 1974, phenibut was officially added to the State Drug Register under Order No. 1126 by the USSR's Ministry of Public Health, establishing it as an approved neuropsychotropic medication.
1975–present
Phenibut gained notable recognition for its inclusion in Soviet space program protocols. According to Neumyvakin (1978), the substance was available to Russian cosmonauts during the Soyuz-19 mission in 1975. The compound has since been cited as a mandated component of cosmonaut medical kits, though the precise extent of its utilization throughout the broader Soviet and Russian space programs remains unclear.
2000s–present
While phenibut has maintained continuous pharmaceutical availability in Russia since its initial release, the substance has seen minimal expansion into medical settings beyond Russian borders and remains unapproved for clinical use in most other countries. However, beginning in the 2000s and accelerating through the 2010s, phenibut became widely accessible internationally through the nutritional supplement industry, marketed and sold without prescription in many regions where it lacks pharmaceutical approval.
Subjective Effect Notes
In comparison to other commonly used GABAgenic depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines, this compound is significantly longer lasting, more euphoric and more recreational.
Duration Timeline
BluelightCommunity Effects
TripSitTolerance & Pharmacokinetics
drugs.wikiTolerance Decay
Cross-Tolerances
Demographics
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reports Over Time
Effect Analysis
Erowid + BluelightEffects aggregated from 145 experience reports (120 Erowid + 25 Bluelight)
Effect Sentiment Distribution
Confidence Distribution
Positive Effects 33
Adverse Effects 53
Dosage Distribution
Dose distribution from experience reports
Real-World Dose Distribution
62K DosesFrom 188 individual dose entries
Oral (n=155)
Insufflated (n=6)
Common Combinations
Most co-occurring substances in experience reports
Form / Preparation
Most common forms and preparations reported
Body-Weight Dosing
Dose relative to body weight from reports with weight data
Redose Patterns
Redosing behavior across 74 reports
Legal Status
| Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Schedule 9 | Classified as a prohibited substance as of February 1st, 2018. Possession, importation, supply, and manufacture are illegal. |
| Canada | Uncontrolled | Not a controlled substance under Canadian law. Legal to possess without license or prescription. |
| Germany | Potentially NpSG | May be controlled under the Neue-psychoaktive-Stoffe-Gesetz (New Psychoactive Substances Act) as of July 18, 2019. Whether this legislation applies to phenibut remains legally unclear. |
| Italy | Schedule 1 | Classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Possession, production, and distribution are prohibited. |
| Latvia | Prescription medication | Available as an unscheduled prescription drug marketed under the brand name 'Noofen.' Also sold as 'Cognifen' in combination with ipidacrine for cognitive impairment associated with vascular disorders. |
| Russia | Approved pharmaceutical | Added to the State Drug Register in 1974 under Order No. 1126 by the USSR Ministry of Public Health. Remains available as a neuropsychotropic medication for conditions including anxiety, depression, PTSD, insomnia, and vestibular disorders. |
| Switzerland | Not controlled | Not listed under Buchstabe A, B, C, or D of controlled substances legislation. Generally considered legal to possess. |
| United Kingdom | Not specifically controlled | Not a controlled substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. However, production, supply, or importation may potentially be prohibited under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016, which applies blanket restrictions on psychoactive substances with exemptions for alcohol, nicotine, and medicinal products. |
| United States | Federally uncontrolled | Not a federally scheduled substance. Legal to possess without license or prescription. Sales, distribution, and labeling are regulated by FDA rules when sold for human consumption. Note that Alabama classified phenibut as a Schedule II controlled substance at the state level as of November 21st, 2021. |
References
Data Sources
Cited References
- Dambrova et al. 2008 - Comparative pharmacological activity of optical isomers of phenibut
- DrugBank: Phenibut
- Lapin 2001 - Phenibut: A Tranquilizer and Nootropic Drug
- Substance Search: Phenibut
- TripSit: Drug Combinations
- WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence - Phenibut Critical Review
- TripSit Factsheet: Phenibut