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Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, developed in Russia to help cosmonauts deal with anxiety. In Australia, it is a Schedule 9 prohibited substance, which means that its possession, use, sale or manufacture is banned. The ban was instituted in 2018 after seven high school students in Queensland were hospitalised after overdosing on the drug. Despite the ban, Phenibut is still available for purchase online from international retailers, and the drug is not illegal in several other countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for Ban | Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, and is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and for a variety of other indications. It is often used as a form of self-medication for social anxiety. |
| Date of Ban | 2018 |
| Availability | Phenibut was easily available online and could be bought in bulk from Australian websites selling fitness supplements. |
| Legality | Phenibut is a Schedule 9 prohibited substance in Australia, which means that its possession, use, sale or manufacture is banned in the country. |
| Medical Uses | It is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and for a variety of other indications, including the treatment of asthenia, depression, alcoholism, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, stuttering, tics, vestibular disorders, Ménière's disease, dizziness, for the prevention of motion sickness, and for the prevention of anxiety before or after surgical procedures or painful diagnostic tests. |
| Side Effects | Side effects of phenibut can include sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, euphoria, and sometimes headache, among others. Overdose of phenibut can produce marked central nervous system depression including unconsciousness. |
| Addiction | Phenibut has been known to cause addiction, dependence, and withdrawal. |
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What You'll Learn
Phenibut is a central nervous system depressant
Phenibut is structurally related to the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and is a GABA analogue. It acts as a GABAB receptor agonist, similar to baclofen and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). At low concentrations, phenibut mildly increases dopamine levels in the brain, providing stimulatory effects in addition to anxiolysis.
Phenibut has been associated with cases of poisoning, misuse, and harm in Australia. It is often marketed on the internet as a dietary supplement to treat anxiety and sleep disorders, but there is evidence that it is predominantly used as a recreational drug. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has officially listed Phenibut as a Schedule 9 prohibited substance, meaning that its possession, use, sale, or manufacture is banned in Australia.
Despite the ban, Phenibut remains widely available for purchase online from international websites, and individuals have been able to buy the drug and have it delivered to Australia. This has raised concerns about the effectiveness of current drug enforcement practices in addressing the online drug market.
The decision to ban Phenibut in Australia was influenced by the substance's potential for abuse, dependence, and overdose. Withdrawal symptoms have also been reported when discontinuing phenibut use. Overall, the risks associated with Phenibut use were deemed to substantially outweigh the perceived benefits.
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It's easily available online
Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects and is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions. It is a controlled substance in Australia and was officially listed as a prohibited substance by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in 2018, meaning that its possession, use, sale, or manufacture is banned in the country.
Despite the ban, Phenibut is still easily available online from international websites, particularly through the surface web. The surface web refers to all the content accessible through popular search engines like Google, where people can easily find web stores willing to ship the product to Australia after an electronic funds transfer. The servers for many of these retail web stores are often located in countries where Phenibut is entirely legal, such as Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Latvia. This makes it challenging for Australian law enforcement to control the import and distribution of the drug within the country.
The ease of access to Phenibut online is a significant concern, as highlighted by Dr McGuire, who stated that the drug is "dangerous" and that "the harms well and truly outweigh the potential benefits of a very short stimulus." The drug's availability online has led to an increase in its prevalence across Australia, with confirmed cases of Phenibut poisoning and a rise in suspected cases of misuse and harm.
Furthermore, the online availability of Phenibut has contributed to its recreational use, with individuals seeking its euphoric effects. This has resulted in overdoses and toxic exposure, with serious reactions including comas and even deaths. The ability to purchase Phenibut online also enables self-medication for conditions like social anxiety, which can have detrimental consequences without proper medical supervision.
While the TGA ban aims to restrict Phenibut's availability, the drug's online presence on international websites continues to provide a route for Australians to access it. This highlights the limitations of current law enforcement practices in addressing the evolving nature of online drug markets and the need for new strategies to reduce harm.
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It's a controlled substance in Australia
Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions. It is a controlled substance in Australia, where it was listed as a prohibited substance and banned in 2018. This means that its possession, use, sale, or manufacture is illegal in the country.
The decision to ban Phenibut in Australia was made by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), which cited the health risks associated with the drug as the primary reason for the ban. These risks include the high potential for dependency, abuse, and misuse, as well as overdose, and other serious side effects. There is also a lack of established therapeutic uses for Phenibut, and the perceived benefits do not outweigh the risks.
Despite the ban, Phenibut remains widely available for purchase in Australia through online retailers and international websites. It can be bought through the surface web, using search engines to locate web stores willing to ship the product to Australia. This has led to concerns about the ease of access to prohibited substances, particularly for young people, and the limitations of current law enforcement practices in addressing this issue.
The availability of Phenibut online and the challenges in regulating its sale and distribution have contributed to its continued use and misuse in Australia. There have been reported cases of Phenibut poisoning and an increase in suspected cases of Phenibut use and harm in the country. This has resulted in discussions about the need for new strategies to address the online drug market and reduce the harm associated with Phenibut use.
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It has addictive qualities
Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects. It is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and other medical indications. The drug is known to produce euphoria, sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, and headaches.
Phenibut is highly addictive, and its misuse can lead to serious health complications. In Australia, there have been confirmed cases of phenibut poisoning and an increase in the number of suspected cases of phenibut misuse and harm. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) officially listed Phenibut as a Prohibited Substance in 2018, banning its possession, use, sale, or manufacture. This decision was made due to the drug's potential for abuse, misuse, and addiction, as well as the associated health risks.
The TGA's ban on Phenibut was prompted by several factors, including the ease of access to the drug, particularly through online channels, and the lack of understanding about its potential dangers among users. The drug was easily and cheaply available online, with sellers marketing its cognitive benefits without mentioning its serious health risks.
The addictive nature of Phenibut has been well-documented, with users experiencing withdrawal symptoms upon cessation. The drug acts as a GABA mimetic, primarily at GABAB receptors, and to some extent at GABAA receptors. This action can lead to dependence and withdrawal symptoms, as reported in some cases.
In summary, the addictive qualities of Phenibut, coupled with its potential for misuse and abuse, led to its prohibition in Australia. The TGA's decision was a necessary step to protect the health and safety of Australians, particularly vulnerable individuals such as adolescents who may not fully understand the risks associated with the drug.
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It's not approved for medical use in most countries
Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects and is used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and a variety of other indications. It is usually taken orally, but may be given intravenously.
Despite its medicinal uses, phenibut is not approved for medical use in most countries. In Australia, phenibut was listed as a prohibited substance and banned in the country in 2018. It is a controlled substance in Australia, and it has been suggested that its legal status should be reconsidered in Europe as well. In Germany, phenibut is not approved as a drug and is controlled under the German New Psychoactive Substances Act. In the United States, phenibut is not considered a safe substance to consume, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned its marketing as a dietary supplement. It is unregulated, unapproved for medical use, and not a controlled substance by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Phenibut is also not approved or available as a medication in other countries in the European Union.
The reasons for not approving phenibut for medical use in most countries are likely due to its potential for abuse, dependence, addiction, and serious side effects. There is strong evidence to indicate that it is predominantly used as a recreational drug. The medical conditions phenibut is reportedly being used to treat (including anxiety and sleep disorders) are better managed by a medical practitioner. Phenibut represents a significant risk of harm, including overdose (intentional and accidental). Complications of overdose include coma requiring admission to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for advanced life support. Withdrawal symptoms result when phenibut use is stopped.
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Frequently asked questions
Phenibut is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant with anxiolytic effects, often used to treat anxiety and insomnia. In Australia, it is a Schedule 9 prohibited substance, which means that its possession, use, sale or manufacture is banned. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) banned Phenibut due to its potential for harm, including overdose and withdrawal symptoms, as well as its high risk of dependency, abuse and misuse.
Phenibut can cause sedation, sleepiness, nausea, irritability, agitation, dizziness, euphoria and headaches. It can also lead to addiction, dependence and withdrawal symptoms.
Phenibut is available as a pharmaceutical drug in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Latvia, where it is used to treat anxiety and insomnia, among other conditions. It is not approved for clinical use in the US and most of Europe, but it is sold online as a supplement.
Despite the ban, people in Australia can still buy Phenibut online from international websites, particularly through the surface web. This refers to content accessible through popular search engines, which makes it easy to locate and purchase the drug.
