Phenibut is an anti-anxiety medication prescribed in Russia. Since the 1960s, it has been used to treat insomnia, depression, stuttering, vestibular disorders, irregular heartbeat, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to BMJ Case Reports. Phenibut is a GABA-B agonist and goes by the names B-phenyl-y-aminobutyric acid or phenyl-GABA. It is a synthetic form of GABA, or gamma aminobutyric acid, one of the brain’s inhibitory neurotransmitters.
GABA has the effect of inducing a relaxed, calm feeling. A person will feel reduced anxiety and nervousness in social situations, for example, and may have more control over feelings and thoughts. By regulating overactive neural processing, it can help people who tend to over-think and who are overly self-conscious. Phenibut may also reduce negativity and has sedative effects.