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Dietary supplement

Phenibut Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Absorb Health

Unknown Category: Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Phenibut is a dietary supplement by Absorb Health with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for anxiety and stress, insomnia and sleep problems, stress relief.Based on those ingredients, 248 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Phenibut. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Phenibut by Absorb Health

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Phenibut is the single active ingredient in this product. It's a compound that works on GABA receptors in the brain, the same pathway targeted by some anti-anxiety and sleep medications.

The product contains no other active ingredients.

Does it work?

Not established
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not established

The graded evidence we hold for these ingredients covers different conditions than the ones this product is marketed for, so there's no established rating for its stated use — see Phenibut's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: Mood support.
  • We looked for evidence on: Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Emotional wellness.
  • The closest evidence on file: Phenibut is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Anxiety (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Phenibut is rated "Insufficient Reliable Evidence To Rate" for Depression, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The evidence we hold shows insufficient reliable data to rate phenibut for any of its common uses — alcohol use disorder, anxiety, ADHD, cognitive function, depression, and insomnia all fall into this category. That means we don't have enough solid research to say whether it actually works for these conditions.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Phenibut

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Phenibut carries serious safety concerns that outweigh potential benefits. It has a high risk of dependence (addiction), dangerous withdrawal symptoms, and overdose, and it is not approved as a supplement or medication in the United States.

The most common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and balance problems. After just 3 or more consecutive days of use, withdrawal can kick in — with symptoms like anxiety, depression, insomnia, seizures, and a rapid heartbeat.

At high doses, phenibut has caused respiratory depression, altered mental status, hallucinations, and coma in case reports. It should be avoided in pregnancy because it's a CNS depressant with no safety data in pregnant people.

It should also be avoided while breastfeeding because we don't know if it passes into breast milk. Do not use phenibut without explicit guidance from your doctor.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Phenibut

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Phenibut.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • For scale: 248 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

If you're taking any CNS depressants — including sleep aids, sedatives, opioids, or anti-anxiety medications — do not combine them with phenibut without your doctor's direct approval; the risk of dangerous sedation and slowed breathing is moderate and real. Pregabalin (Lyrica) requires the same caution.

Before starting phenibut with any prescription medication, use the checker on this page to verify your specific drugs.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no established evidence rating for its marketed use. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Phenibut is not approved in the U.S. and carries substantial risks — dependence, withdrawal, and respiratory depression — that make it unsuitable for most people. If your doctor has specifically recommended it, you need to discuss the interaction risks with 248 medications before starting.

Talk to your pharmacist before taking this product.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Mar 22, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Phenibut, straight from the product label.

Brand Absorb Health
Barcode (UPC) 790566991149
Net contents 50 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Mar 22, 2024
DSLD ID 306968
Product type Non-nutrient/non-botanical
Supplement form Unknown
Dietary claims / uses All Other, Structure/Function
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Phenibut by Absorb Health, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
50 mg
Maximum serving Sizes:
50 mg
UPC/BARCODE
790566991149
IngredientAmount% DV
Phenibut50 mg--

Other ingredients: None

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Formulation

Mood support

Free of sugar, soy, dairy, yeast, gluten or additives

General Statements

US Standard Measuring Spoons Spoons size (level) miligrams 1/4 Teaspoon 447 1/2 Teaspoon 894 1 Teaspoon 1789

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: as dietary supplement, take 50mg daily

Storage

Storage: keep dry, cool & dark

See for yourself

Phenibut by Absorb Health label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Phenibut by Absorb Health

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size50 mg Dosage formUnknown Amounts shown are per serving.

Phenibut

Interacts with
248 drugs
50 mg per serving

Phenibut is a synthetic, lab-made central nervous system depressant—not a natural herb—that some people use for anxiety and sleep, but it carries a se...

Phenibut monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: None. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Phenibut by Absorb Health Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Phenibut?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
248Drugs
248 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Phenibut 248

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Phenibut with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Phenibut2 drug types · 248 drugs

Cns Depressants

Theoretically, phenibut might increase the risk of sedation and respiratory depression when taken with CNS depressants.
Phenibut has been associated with sedation and respiratory depression in several case reports, especially when taken at high doses.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Pregabalin (Lyrica)

Theoretically, phenibut might increase the risk for additive adverse effects, including sedation, when taken with pregabalin.
Phenibut is structurally related to pregabalin, and both chemicals act at GABA receptors in the brain. In a case report, a patient who had experienced tolerance to the effects of pregabalin for treatment of chronic neuropathic pain experienced a reduction in tolerance when phenibut was taken concurrently.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Phenibut, from the product label.

Absorb Health

See all Absorb Health products
Name
Absorb Health
Street Address
4705 Southport-Supply Rd., 202
City
Southport
State
NC
ZipCode
28461
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Phenibut by Absorb Health: Common Questions

Does Phenibut by Absorb Health interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Phenibut has a known interaction with 248 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Phenibut contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Is phenibut safe to take?
Phenibut is regarded as unsafe for oral use in our data. It carries a high risk of dependence, serious withdrawal symptoms (including seizures and hallucinations), and respiratory depression — especially at high doses. It is not approved as a supplement or drug in the U.S.
Can I take phenibut if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. The safety data advises against phenibut in pregnancy because there is no safety data and it's a CNS depressant. It should also be avoided while breastfeeding because we don't know if it passes into breast milk.
What are the withdrawal symptoms?
Withdrawal can occur after 3 or more consecutive days of use and includes agitation, anxiety, depression, insomnia, nausea, seizures, high blood pressure, and a rapid heartbeat. These can be serious and sometimes dangerous.
Does phenibut actually work for anxiety or sleep?
We don't have enough reliable evidence in our data to say whether phenibut works for anxiety, insomnia, or any of the other conditions it's marketed for.
Can I take phenibut with sleep aids or other sedating medications?
No — not without explicit approval from your doctor. Phenibut combined with CNS depressants (sleep aids, sedatives, opioids) poses a moderate risk of dangerous sedation and slowed breathing.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Phenibut is safe with your meds?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Phenibut label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Phenibut's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 23 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Phenibut 23 references
  1. Downes MA, Berling IL, Mostafa A, Grice J, Roberts MS, Isbister GK. Acute behavioural disturbance associated with phenibut purchased via an internet supplier. Clin Toxicol (Phila). 2015;53(7):636-8. PubMed
  2. Samokhvalov AV, Paton-Gay CL, Balchand K, Rehm J. Phenibut dependence. BMJ Case Rep. 2013 Feb 6;2013. Pii: bcr2012008381.
  3. O'Connell CW, Schneir AB, Hwang JQ, Cantrell FL. Phenibut, the appearance of another potentially dangerous product in the United States. Am J Med. 2014 Aug;127(8):e3-4. PubMed
  4. Brunner E, Levy R. Case report of physiologic phenibut dependence treated with a phenobarbital taper in a patient being treated with buprenorphine. J Addict Med. 2017 May/Jun;11(3):239-40. PubMed
  5. Sankary S, Canino P, Jackson J. Phenibut overdose. AM J Emerg Med. 2017 Mar;35(3):516.e1-516.e2.
  6. Owen DR, Wood DM, Archer JR, Dargan PI. Phenibut (4-amino-3-phenyl-butyric acid): Availability, prevalence of use, desired effects, and acute toxicity. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2016 Sep;35(5):591-6. PubMed
  7. Magsalin RM, Khan AY. Withdrawal symptoms after internet purchase of phenibut (beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid HCl). J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2010 Oct;30(5):648-9.
  8. Rod W, Kudryk A, Brunetti L, Sun N, Nguyen M. Phenibut withdrawal management in the setting of concomitant kratom and alcohol dependence. Critical Care Med 2018;46(1):451.
  9. Li W, Madhira B. Phenibut (beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid) psychosis. Am J Therapeut 2017;24(5):e639-640.
  10. Joshi Y, Friend S, Jimenez B, Steiger L. Dissociative intoxication and prolonged withdrawal associated with phenibut: a case report. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2017;37(4):478-80. PubMed
  11. Zheng KH, Khan A, Espiridion ED. Phenibut addiction in a patient with substance use disorder. Cureus. 2019;11(7):e5230. PubMed
  12. Hardman MI, Sprung J, Weingarten TN. Acute phenibut withdrawal: A comprehensive literature review and illustrative case report. Bosn J Basic Med Sci. 2019;19(2):125-129. PubMed
  13. Ahuja T, Mgbako O, Katzman C, Grossman A. Phenibut (β-Phenyl-γ-aminobutyric Acid) dependence and management of withdrawal: Emerging nootropics of abuse. Case Rep Psychiatry. 2018;2018:9864285.
  14. Isoardi KZ, Kulawickrama S, Isbister GK. Severe phenibut poisoning: An adolescent case cluster. J Paediatr Child Health. 2020;56(2):330-331. PubMed
  15. McCabe DJ, Bangh SA, Arens AM, Cole JB. Phenibut exposures and clinical effects reported to a regional poison center. Am J Emerg Med. 2019;37(11):2066-2071. PubMed
  16. Graves JM, Dilley J, Kubsad S, Liebelt E. Notes from the field: phenibut exposures reported to poison centers - United States, 2009-2019. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69(35):1227-8. PubMed
  17. Tamarelli C, Hosanagar A. Phenibut use in a patient prescribed gabapentinoids (letter). Pain Med 2020; Aug 4:pnaa205. doi: 10.1093/pm/pnaa205. PubMed
  18. Esposito CM, Mandolini GM, Delvecchio G, Fiorentini A, Brambilla P. Psychomotor agitation non-responsive to treatment: a case report of phenibut withdrawal syndrome. Front Psychiatry 2021;12:688147. PubMed
  19. Acosta E, Munguti C. Acute Psychosis Associated with Phenibut Ingestion. Kans J Med 2021;14:308-309. PubMed
  20. VanDreese B, Holland A, Murray A. Chronic Phenibut Use: Symptoms, Severe Withdrawal, and Recovery. WMJ 2022;121(1):E1-E4.
  21. Martin R, Buffenstein I, Cho D, Kiyokawa M. Toxidrome of an Easily Obtainable Nootropic: A Case Report of Phenibut Intoxication and Withdrawal Delirium. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2023. PubMed
  22. Morris M, Espinosa J, Lucerna A, Lahr R. A case of phenibut withdrawal and treatment with baclofen. World J Emerg Med 2023;14(4):338-340. PubMed
  23. DiFiore E, Pittman J. A Case of Phenibut Withdrawal Management and Detoxification Using Baclofen in the Outpatient Setting. Case Rep Psychiatry 2024;2024:8824770. PubMed

See these in context on the Phenibut monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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