By: Zinnia Healing Editorial Staff | Edited By: Rebecca Hill
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Mixing Alcohol With Phenibut: What Are the Dangers?
Phenibut is an enhancer of depressants like alcohol, which is why they’re often used together. However, mixing alcohol with phenibut can be dangerous. In fact, while phenibut is rarely deadly on its own, the addition of alcohol can make it so. What’s more, alcohol and phenibut together put a strain on the body’s central nervous system, contributing to respiratory suppression and other severe side effects.
If you or someone you know is using phenibut for self-medication of mental health problems or for recreational purposes, it’s important to get the right information. Call Zinnia Healing today at (855) 430-9439 to learn more.
What Is Phenibut?
Phenibut is a prescription drug in Russia, where it’s used to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, phenibut is available without a prescription in the United States and in many other countries around the world. In the U.S., individuals can obtain phenibut online.
Phenibut works by activating GABA receptors in the brain. GABA, also known as “gamma-aminobutyric acid,” is a neurotransmitter responsible for dampening the transmission of nerve impulses. Because of this, one of the key effects of phenibut is a sense of calm and relaxation.
In the U.S., phenibut is also widely marketed as a nootropic. Nootropics are a class of drugs marketed as having a positive effect on focus, alertness, and cognition, sometimes called “smart drugs.” Kratom is another example of an unregulated drug that is being pushed on the market as an enhancer. However, nootropic drugs are poorly regulated.
On its own, taking phenibut rarely leads to overdose or death. However, mixing alcohol with phenibut can be fatal. When phenibut is intentionally mixed with alcohol, it is a type of substance abuse.
The Dangers of Mixing Alcohol With Phenibut
Some people take the two together intentionally because phenibut acts as a potentiate, or enhancer, of central nervous system depressants like alcohol.
Alcohol is one of the most widely used CNS depressants, which means it can reduce inhibitions. When taken with phenibut, the effects of alcohol only become stronger. This means people with social anxiety may use Phenibut to feel more extroverted and sociable. However, the combination of mixing alcohol with phenibut is harmful to the body.
The interaction between alcohol and phenibut is complex and may lead to extreme drowsiness and sedation if taken at a certain ratio. In turn, this can lead to issues with a slower heart rate and slower breathing, which could cause oxygen deficiencies for major organs, leading to permanent damage.
Phenibut’s ability to increase the sedative effects of alcohol can also worsen reaction time, cognition, and judgment. As a result, the combination can put someone at increased risk of bodily injury. However, these are only some of the dangers of mixing alcohol with phenibut. The most severe side effects and symptoms can be life-threatening.
Are you or someone you love currently using phenibut? Call Zinnia Healing today at (855) 430-9439 to discuss your options.
Side Effects of Mixing Alcohol With Phenibut
The combination of alcohol and phenibut can cause people to respond very differently. For most, phenibut and alcohol lead to higher sociability and disinhibition. However, too much can lead to sedation and drowsiness.
Additional dangers of mixing alcohol and phenibut have to do with its powerful symptoms, which include blackouts and short-term memory loss. The combination can also elicit symptoms of nausea, vomiting, and headaches. Phenibut also has its own set of hangover symptoms, which can lead a person to feeling very sick after a day of drinking.
The most severe symptoms of mixing alcohol with phenibut come down to the fact that both drugs act as nervous system depressants. This means respiratory depression can occur, resulting in oxygen deprivation for major organs, loss of consciousness, or even death.
With repeat use, phenibut dependence can form, which is marked by a change in behavioral health caused by chemical changes in the brain. Any drug, such as opioids, that interacts with receptors in the brain can cause rapid development of physical dependence. Physical dependence is one step away from phenibut addiction, which is marked by psychological dependence. Combining phenibut and alcohol can also lead to alcohol dependence.
Recovering From Mixing Alcohol With Phenibut
The day following the use of alcohol and phenibut together, a person is likely to experience very strong hangover-like symptoms. However, this is just a short-term side effect. More severe, long-term side effects of combining alcohol with phenibut spring from the heightened risk of tolerance, dependence, and addiction.
If someone is addicted to alcohol and/or phenibut, the combination will only push them further down the path of misuse. Because phenibut heightens the effects of alcohol, it can rapidly lead to tolerance for a given amount. This will lead an individual to take more in order to feel the same effects, which contributes to the development of physical dependence.
Once dependence forms, it’s no longer possible to just quit “cold turkey.” A person must go through withdrawal symptoms, which can be dangerous and uncomfortable. Alcohol withdrawal is an uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous process, as is phenibut withdrawal. Treatment programs exist to help those suffering from substance use disorders avoid toxicity, detox from the substance, and achieve remission.
Being physically dependent on both means that specialized addiction treatment is necessary to ensure safe and lasting recovery. Going through the withdrawal process alone is tough and leads to a higher risk of relapse. That’s why reaching out to a team of caring professionals is the right way forward.
Zinnia Healing Can Help
Do you want to find a team of knowledgeable professionals who can help guide you on the road to recovery in a confidential, supportive environment? At Zinnia Healing, we are dedicated to helping individuals through recovery and beyond.
If you’re interested in learning more about what we do for you or your loved one, call Zinnia Healing today at (855) 430-9439 and speak to one of our team members.