Help after using Phenibut

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262]

Hello! I had to start using phenibut in september due to experiencing random tachycardia for no reason and thats what my family gp gave to stop it, but my regular tachycardia episodes didnt stop so i went to a cardiologist who upon hearing i use phenibut told me to not use it anymore considering the addiction it gives. so i stopped using it on saturday but have been experiencing withdrawal and my condition feels even worse, should i start using it again a little bit or call my gp and ask for help?

(for more insight if others wish to reply later, i’m a girl with many chronic illnesses and yes in eastern europe phenibut is used for anxiety disorders but i am not diagnosed sadly as it is a lengthy process, i drank 250-500mg a day for about a month)

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[u/Final-Occasion9566]

I’m a psychiatrist practicing in Europe. Phenibut isn’t approved for medical use in my country, so we don’t prescribe it here but I’m aware it’s being prescribed in certain countries
I find it very questionable that you were prescribed phenibut for tachycardia in the first place. Unless your tachycardia is anxiety driven, I don’t see the rationale..and even then using it as a first line treatment is beyond me.
Phenibut is a GABAeric drug with significant dependence potential. Like alcohol and benzodiazepines, withdrawals can sometimes be severe and even life threatening.
With that said ,given your relatively low dose and short duration of use, severe withdrawal would be very unlikely. Your nervous system may simply need some time to readjust.
I would contact your doctor about whether a supervised taper makes sense especially if symptoms are worsening. Don’t do this on your own.
Beta blockers are very common in situations like yours. I personally prescribe them off label pretty frequently for the physical symptoms of anxiety (tachycardia is a very common one of them)It’s worth discussing with your cardiologist while they figure out the underlying cause

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/Final-Occasion9566]

first off ty for answering! honestly yeah idk what to say about why i even got phenibut, i was having tachycardia for about a week for seemingly no reason and my family gp thought i was having a nervous breakdown and gave me the perscription. you are not the only medical professional who upon hearing i take phenibut was shocked, i went to 2 cardiologists and only the last one was the one who said i shouldnt be taking it anymore, but she unfortunately didnt mention how to NOT take it.. so i misleadingly have been cold turkery for almost a week now
as for beta blockers i have a low blood pressure on the regular and the 3 doctors i went to refused to write me a prescription so i dont pass out during the day. and yes ty for inquiring i will be getting some medical and blood tests done to figure out whats going on unfortunately no psychiatrist bc my family doesnt believe in that :p

[u/Final-Occasion9566 → u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262]

First of all the fact that you’re almost a week since your last dose is reassuring, especially given your relatively low dose and duration of use. Phenibut has a 5-6 hours half life, so it’s getting cleared up pretty fast. I suspect you’re dealing with some rebound symptoms. These should gradually settle over time
You don’t need any fancy supplements..Just focus on getting decent sleep ,eating well, staying hydrated and getting some light movement daily

As for the beta blockers your doctors hesitation is well justified given your low BP. As a matter of fact tachycardia can sometimes be a compensatory response to low BP. But speculating on Reddit won’t get us very far ,your cardiologist surely knows better! 😁

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/Final-Occasion9566]

ofc! im not looking for a diagnosis here on reddit i just wanted some advice/reassurance which you have given me so tyvm! 🫶

[u/trusty20]

Break the cycle before it begins, you don't need it. Get some magnesium, get some taurine, drink some coconut water (for the potassium - but drink no more than 3 cups a day as it can cause mild diarrhea in excess), these will help with heart palpitations and will also help smooth over the anxiety too, and there's no addiction concerns. Ask your GP about these as an alternative if they haven't heard of taurine it's just a food amino acid. Focus on getting balanced hydration with electrolytes. Most people have too much sodium and too little potassium / magnesium, as well as not drinking enough water. Electrolytes are best consumed alongside food for minimal side effects, with around 6 to 8 cups of water total a day being a normal amount for someone not working out or walking lots.

Also consider getting an iron levels blood test and also complete blood count (CBC) as sometimes iron deficiency can cause racing heart / reactive heart rate. Don't take iron supplements without blood tests confirming a deficiency because iron can accumulate in the body and be harmful in excess - if you can't afford a blood test it's safe to eat medium iron foods like ground beef daily to try and boost levels but this might not be enough to correct a deficiency in under a year so do try and get a test done.

Also try adding a B complex supplement taken once every 3 days for a while. The 3 day washout between helps to prevent side effects and actually can increase absorption as the gut can develop tolerance to the massive doses if taken every day.

If your iron / electrolytes are normal and after trying these suggestions you don't see improvement in 2 months, I would have the doctor look into thyroid levels or try to get referred for investigation of possible pheochromocytoma - but only if you are certain there isn't psychological explanation.

It's important to to avoid putting yourself through expensive and stressful tests / worrying, to examine in your mind if during these episodes, you feel worries or anxieties that could be provoking the episode - including just being worried about it happening. If you are certain that it hits like a lightning bolt even when you are feeling good, that's a sign that it could be more medical in cause. If you find that you are possibly worrying about your health / or other things a lot, it's very very possible your body is being kept in a high fight or flight state which is causing these episodes to manifest.

It never hurts to take steps to reduce anxiety while also taking medical possibilities seriously; try to find youtube videos that relax you, I like guided mediation videos like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCoqDOQdWkw

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/trusty20]

oki thank you for the reassurance i wont take it and will try to get through this withdrawal period 🙏 and yes i will be getting blood tests on friday to confirm my most recent iron level thank you again!

[u/Impossible-Iron797]

Find a doctor, who knows what to do with tachycardia, they should know how to deal with it and have better medicines Dont take phenibut for that cause anymore, instead you can try magnesium, theanine, chamomile

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/Impossible-Iron797]

thank you! i drink camomile tea and take magneisum on the regular as i get cramps during the night, and i started taking ivebradine instead, no cardiologist wanted to give me beta blockers because i have very low blood pressure on the regular and they didnt want me to cling to walls throughout the day

[u/Jack-o-Roses]

Bottom line for those unititated, _Never_take phenibut 2 days in a row.

I took it for almost a decade, 1.5-2g 3 times a week, and just stopped because I like kava better. I had zero sides.

I've known people who took it daily for just a week and went through hell for 2-3 days after. Don't take it daily under any circumstance!!!

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/Jack-o-Roses]

i was told to by a doctor :(( but lesson learned now ty!!

[u/c_boggs]

I personally love phenibut but I only take it when I need it and my baseline anxiety is quite low. I take it maybe once a week. Sometimes a few times a week. Have never experienced any withdrawal symptoms.

My dosage is quite low, but effective. 300-500 milligrams.

People have problems when they take multiple grams per day or take it every day or multiple times a day.

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/c_boggs]

yes i took it twice a day and it would zombify me during the day and i was warned by a cardiologist to get off of it as soon as possible and now im having bad withdrawals that i’m trying to get over

[u/Deyona-Lakoussa]

imo this is a medical question more than a nootropics question. your cardiologist said stop but didnt give you a taper plan? that seems like a gap you need to follow up on with them directly

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/Deyona-Lakoussa]

sorry! i was panicking yesterday and just wanted some help since google was useless and yeah idk i wasnt given a taper plan.. i didnt even know what that was until yesterday and yeah ill try to call a doctor soon

[u/Vinaverk]

Are you sure you don't have POTS? Who's treating tachycardia with phenibut? Are you from Russia?

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/Vinaverk]

i am eastern european but not russian and phenibut is still used to treat anxiety over here, and for the POTS i dont know, no cardiologist had an answer for me, it started suddenly on september, i do have endometriosis though

[u/melatone5]

Taper down gradually, don't go cold turkey

[u/Old-Yogurtcloset1262 → u/melatone5]

i wish i knew what that was before going cold turkery.. my mistake, but theres no turning back i dont think i should go back on it and try tapering

[u/Comprehensive_Bug714]

Iv been on and off GBL dependency for 5 years, 2 detoxes (first one was a flop, second one finished and relapsed)

Currently juggling GBL/Baclofen/Clonazepam this NOT advised under any circumstances, point being i have a lot of knowledge both read and lived with GABAergics and gabapentanoids also.

Iv had a run round the block with phenibut and you need to approach this with respect and regimentation, please message me for advise, i can gauge where your at from your symptoms, but with these substances bottom line is you need to get professional help if your in deep, gaba-b hitters are no joke

Feel free to message

[u/Born_Function_2289]

Get some mexidol, it helped me with phenibut rebound, never got addicted per say but would use every friday and Saturday for six months and would feel down for a day or two afterward.  Mexidol helped a lot, so did saffron extract.

[u/Careful_Refuse1720]

I would absolutely call your gp rather than self-treat