Unfortunately, a common and dangerous misconception is that because something is legal or marketed as a supplement that it’s completely safe. One such supplement, phenibut, is a powerful central nervous system depressant that produces relaxation and sedation. This substance is currently uncontrolled and unregulated and is usually purchased online without a prescription. Among the many questions that users of this supplement have asked, a major one that we’re taking a look at today is: how long does phenibut last?

How Long Does Phenibut Take To Kick in?

Phenibut works on GABA receptors in the brain to produce side effects similar to those of benzodiazepines like Xanax. GABA is known as an inhibitory transmitter designed to block and reduce neural activity in the brain and spinal cord.

When someone takes phenibut, they may experience a sense of relaxation. This is why many people take this as a supplement for anxiety and insomnia. However, what many don’t know is that a phenibut high can also occur if the drug is misused.

In addition to euphoria, other common phenibut side effects include nausea, vomiting, sedation, irritability, anxiety, headache, and sedation. In the end, abusing this drug may produce worse symptoms than anxiety or sleeplessness.

Using a higher phenibut dosage than recommended can also cause side effects like coordination impairment, as well as a hangover effect. Other reported physical side effects of phenibut include increased libido, stomach cramps, pain relief, dehydration, muscle cramps, and elevated blood pressure.

Usually, the side effects of phenibut may kick in about 80 to 90 minutes after taking it. A major contributing factor to the duration of phenibut effects is whether you’ve eaten.

If you take phenibut on an empty stomach, side effects may kick in quicker than average, and you’ll feel effects in as little as 30 to 45 minutes. On the other hand, taking phenibut on a full stomach may take around 4 to 5 hours to kick in fully.

Phenibut’s Half-Life

Phenibut usually takes a while to start working. This can lead people to take higher doses than directed, thinking that the first dose never had any effect.

This increases the risk of toxicity or overdose, so it’s important to keep in mind that long-acting drugs like Phenibut should be taken with great caution. Additionally, the half-life of phenibut is longer than most drugs.

A drug’s half-life is the length of time it takes for half of it to be eliminated from your system. Phenibut’s half-life is around 5.3 hours, and it can take several half-lives for it to be completely eliminated from the body.

How Long Does Phenibut Stay in Your System?

It’s important to know how long phenibut lasts in your system for several reasons. The most important is to time withdrawal symptoms.

Phenibut withdrawal can be severe, and knowing its half-life and elimination time can help people who are trying to taper down their dosage or use. What's more, the dosage of phenibut used is the primary factor in knowing how long it stays in your system.

Other factors that affect how long phenibut lasts in your body include:

• How often it’s used
• Age (older people tend to take longer to eliminate the drug than younger people)
• Metabolism
• Liver function
• Hydration

The phenibut duration in the body heavily depends not only on the dosage taken but also on the person’s tolerance and frequency of use. People who have used phenibut for longer periods usually take longer to eliminate it from their bodies. Overall, phenibut can last from 24 to 30 hours in your system.

Will Phenibut Show Up on a Drug Test?

No phenibut drug test exists, and it doesn’t show up on drug screenings. Although phenibut is potentially addictive, it isn’t a controlled substance in the United States, so it’s unlikely that it would show up on any typical drug test.

If someone were to be specifically tested for phenibut, it would be detectable for four days to four weeks in urine, depending on how often the person takes it. In a blood test, phenibut may be detectable for as long as 80 hours after the last dose.

Although most drug screenings won’t test for phenibut, there is a rare chance that it may cause a false positive for benzodiazepines, so it’s always important to disclose any medications or supplements you’re taking when preparing to be drug tested.

Help for Phenibut Addiction

Phenibut addiction can occur if it’s misused. Taking higher doses than recommended or mixing it with other substances both qualify as forms of substance abuse, and this drug can lead to dependence and addiction.

People who begin experimenting with uncontrolled substances like phenibut may also become curious about how other, more serious drugs may make them feel. For instance, many people with heroin addictions started using by abusing their prescription opioids, so it’s important to essentially nip substance abuse in the bud before it becomes worse.

If you or a loved one has developed a problem with drugs or alcohol, Banyan Treatment Centers Boca offers medically monitored detox and other forms of therapy to help people recover from substance abuse. Because we predominantly specialize in mental health care, we also offer inpatient mental health treatment essential for people with co-occurring disorders.

For more information about our services, call our rehab in Boca Raton, Florida, today at 888-280-4763.