phenibut was referred to as fenigam and phenigama. The drug has not been assigned an . Brand names Phenibut is marketed in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Latvia under the brand names Anvifen, Fenibut, Bifren and Noofen (Russian: Анвифен, Фенибут, Бифрен and Ноофен, respectively). Availability Phenibut is approved in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Latvia for medical use. It is not approved or available as a medication in other countries in the European Union, the United States, or Australia. In countries where phenibut is not a licensed pharmaceutical drug, it is sold online without a prescription as a "nutritional supplement". It is often used as a form of self-medication for social anxiety. Recreational use Phenibut is used recreationally due to its ability to produce euphoria, anxiolysis, and increased sociability, as well as remaining undetected in routine urinalysis. Because of its delayed onset of effects, first-time users often mistakenly take an additional dose of phenibut in the belief that the initial dose did not work. Recreational users usually take the drug orally; there are a few case reports of rectal administration and one report of insufflation, which was described as "very painful" and causing swollen nostrils. Legal status As of 2021, phenibut is a controlled substance in Australia, France, Hungary, Italy, and Lithuania. In 2015, it was suggested that the legal status of phenibut in Europe should be reconsidered due to its recreational potential. In February 2018, the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration declared it a prohibited (schedule 9) substance, citing health concerns due to withdrawal and overdose. As of 14 November 2018, Hungary added phenibut and 10 other items to its New Psychoactive Substances ban list. As of 26 August 2020, Italy added phenibut to its New Psychoactive Substances ban list. As of 18 September 2020, France added phenibut to the controlled psychoactive substances list, prohibiting production, sale, storage and use. In the United States, Phenibut is not a Controlled Substance. However, Dietary supplements that contain Phenibut are unlawful to introduce into interstate commerce, because Phenibut is considered a "New Drug" and any food, supplement, cosmetic, or drug that contains Phenibut is therefore adulterated. Alabama scheduled Phenibut and Tianeptine in 2021 first by action of the Alabama Department of Public Health and then followed by the state legislature. References Analgesics Anticonvulsants Anxiolytics Bodybuilding supplements Calcium channel blockers Drug culture Drugs in the Soviet Union Euphoriants GABA analogues GABAA receptor agonists GABAB receptor agonists