RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Phenibut dependence
JF BMJ Case Reports
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP bcr2012008381
DO 10.1136/bcr-2012-008381
VO 2013
A1 Samokhvalov, Andriy V
A1 Paton-Gay, C Lindsay
A1 Balchand, Kam
A1 Rehm, Jürgen
YR 2013
UL http://casereports.bmj.com/content/2013/bcr-2012-008381.abstract
AB 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.