View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

Reasons for use and experiences of using phenibut, a mixed methods analysis of online reports.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Reasons for use and experiences of using phenibut, a mixed methods analysis of online reports.
Authors: Behmer Hansen, Ryan A. (AUTHOR), Behmer Hansen, Rosemary T. (AUTHOR), Noureddine, Chaden (AUTHOR), Behmer, Virginia A. (AUTHOR), Opler, Douglas (AUTHOR)
Source: American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse. 2023, Vol. 49 Issue 4, p458-469. 12p.
Subjects: Amino acid derivatives, Drug withdrawal symptoms, Motor ability, Dietary supplements, Male authors, Gabapentin
Geographic Terms: United States
Abstract: Background: Phenibut is a drug similar in structure to gabapentin and pregabalin. It is available online without prescription, often marketed as a dietary supplement or amino acid derivative. Little is known about phenibut use despite its increased popularity in the United States over the last decade. Objective: To clarify reasons for taking phenibut, circumstances, and effects of use. Methods: Reports of phenibut, gabapentin, and pregabalin use were downloaded from a publicly-available database, Erowid.org. A mixed methods approach utilizing qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Of 229 reports, 211 were from male authors. People usually purchased phenibut online and reportedly used it for recreation, to manage a medical or psychiatric problem (primarily insomnia, anxiety), as a substitute for other drugs (especially benzodiazepines), to manage withdrawal from another substance (including benzodiazepines, opioids), and/or for performance enhancement. While it shared many reported effects with pregabalin and gabapentin such as anxiolysis, increased talkativeness, and impaired motor coordination, reports of gastrointestinal distress and sedation were more commonly attributed to phenibut. Several people reported difficulty in restricting their use and managing withdrawal. Conclusions: Phenibut reports suggest that phenibut may have some benefits for some people. Use also, however, carries risks of adverse effects, a potentially dangerous withdrawal syndrome, and addiction. Not dissimilar to unprescribed gabapentin or pregabalin, self-medication is a common motive for phenibut use. Physicians should continue to ask their patients about use of any non-prescribed medications, dietary supplements, or "amino acid derivatives."Abbreviation: PWUPh: people who use phenibut; PWUG: people who use gabapentin; PWUPr: people who use pregabalin [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 170747655
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Reasons for use and experiences of using phenibut, a mixed methods analysis of online reports.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Behmer+Hansen%2C+Ryan+A%2E%22">Behmer Hansen, Ryan A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Behmer+Hansen%2C+Rosemary+T%2E%22">Behmer Hansen, Rosemary T.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Noureddine%2C+Chaden%22">Noureddine, Chaden</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Behmer%2C+Virginia+A%2E%22">Behmer, Virginia A.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Opler%2C+Douglas%22">Opler, Douglas</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22American+Journal+of+Drug+%26+Alcohol+Abuse%22">American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse</searchLink>. 2023, Vol. 49 Issue 4, p458-469. 12p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Amino+acid+derivatives%22">Amino acid derivatives</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Drug+withdrawal+symptoms%22">Drug withdrawal symptoms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Motor+ability%22">Motor ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dietary+supplements%22">Dietary supplements</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Male+authors%22">Male authors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gabapentin%22">Gabapentin</searchLink>
– Name: SubjectGeographic
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Background: Phenibut is a drug similar in structure to gabapentin and pregabalin. It is available online without prescription, often marketed as a dietary supplement or amino acid derivative. Little is known about phenibut use despite its increased popularity in the United States over the last decade. Objective: To clarify reasons for taking phenibut, circumstances, and effects of use. Methods: Reports of phenibut, gabapentin, and pregabalin use were downloaded from a publicly-available database, Erowid.org. A mixed methods approach utilizing qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Of 229 reports, 211 were from male authors. People usually purchased phenibut online and reportedly used it for recreation, to manage a medical or psychiatric problem (primarily insomnia, anxiety), as a substitute for other drugs (especially benzodiazepines), to manage withdrawal from another substance (including benzodiazepines, opioids), and/or for performance enhancement. While it shared many reported effects with pregabalin and gabapentin such as anxiolysis, increased talkativeness, and impaired motor coordination, reports of gastrointestinal distress and sedation were more commonly attributed to phenibut. Several people reported difficulty in restricting their use and managing withdrawal. Conclusions: Phenibut reports suggest that phenibut may have some benefits for some people. Use also, however, carries risks of adverse effects, a potentially dangerous withdrawal syndrome, and addiction. Not dissimilar to unprescribed gabapentin or pregabalin, self-medication is a common motive for phenibut use. Physicians should continue to ask their patients about use of any non-prescribed medications, dietary supplements, or "amino acid derivatives."Abbreviation: PWUPh: people who use phenibut; PWUG: people who use gabapentin; PWUPr: people who use pregabalin [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=170747655
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2204510
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 458
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Amino acid derivatives
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Drug withdrawal symptoms
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Motor ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dietary supplements
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Male authors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gabapentin
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United States
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Reasons for use and experiences of using phenibut, a mixed methods analysis of online reports.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Behmer Hansen, Ryan A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Behmer Hansen, Rosemary T.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Noureddine, Chaden
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Behmer, Virginia A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Opler, Douglas
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 07
              Text: 2023
              Type: published
              Y: 2023
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 00952990
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 49
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse
              Type: main
ResultId 1