How to use Phenibut FAA for Efficacious Anxiety Relief

Written on June 11, 2023 by | Reviewed by William Gallagher, MNeuroSci


Phenibut FAA (Free Amino Acid) is a nootropic supplement that has been shown to relieve anxiety and provide cognitive benefits.

The compound functions by mimicking the natural neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).

It does this in two ways: it binds to GABA receptors, and it prevents the breakdown of endogenous GABA, which causes an increase in its levels in the brain.

With Phenibut FAA for anxiety relief, you can finally find peace without feeling like your mind is foggy or sluggish.

In this article, I'll talk about how Phenibut FAA works in the brain to relieve anxiety, and I'll give you some tips on how to use it in the right way.

So without further ado, let's just get straight into it, shall we?

First things first, what is GABA?

Before we get to Phenibut FAA, let's first talk about GABA a little bit.

GABA is one of your main inhibitory neurotransmitters, which means that when it binds with its appropriate receptors (called GABA-R), it prevents the neuron from firing.

GABA is essential for cognitive function and can be found throughout the brain, but specifically in regions that control movement (the motor cortex), cognition (the prefrontal cortex), and emotions (amygdala).

It's also involved in regulating muscle tone – if you've ever been told to relax your muscles, you can think of GABA as the neurotransmitter that helps you do just that.

So why is GABA important?

Well, by blocking the neuron from firing it helps us achieve a relaxed state of mind.

That's why when you take GABA supplements or have an increase in your endogenous levels (produced naturally), you feel less anxious and more chilled out.

I've mentioned GABA, but what about Phenibut FAA?

Well, this is where things get interesting.

What is Phenibut FAA and how does it work?

Phenibut FAA (Free Amino Acid) is a derivative of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, which has been shown to reduce excitability and anxiety while increasing euphoria and cognitive function.

Phenibut resembles the effects of GABA and has been compared to it in that it acts as a GABA-mimetic but can better permeate the blood-brain barrier.

Much like GABA, Phenibut FAA binds to the same receptors in your brain.

When it's taken at recommended dosages you can experience a reduction in anxiety and stress levels, increased sociability, and an improved sleep quality.

In higher doses, this supplement has been shown to provide cognitive benefits such as enhanced memory retention and learning capabilities.

How do I use Phenibut FAA for anxiety relief?

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The recommended dosage of this supplement is 250 mg up to three times a day.

Doses higher than 500 mg per day are not advised, and some users find that they experience the side effects more when taking it in excess (more on what those might be later on).

Phenibut FAA should be taken orally on an empty stomach (an hour or two before eating) for best results.

It may take up to 4 hours to experience its benefits, so give it some time if you don't feel anything after ingestion.

Phenibut has a half-life of about five hours, so it's important that you don't take another dose within the five-hour period.

If you do, this can lead to an excess build-up of Phenibut FAA in your system which could make you feel ill (or worse) if taken too close together or at higher doses.

Phenibut should not be used more than twice a week and should never be mixed with alcohol or other substances, especially if you're new to taking it.

What are the side effects of Phenibut FAA?

While this supplement is generally well tolerated by most users, some may experience mild side effects such as nausea and upset stomach when taken in excess.

There are several others that are also reported, but they're extremely rare.

The most common is a headache or drowsiness when you first start taking it – this will usually subside as your body gets used to the drug.

Headaches can be avoided altogether by following my dosage guidelines and not mixing Phenibut with other drinks or supplements.

The other most common side effect is dependency – due to the way Phenibut binds with GABA-R if you take it too frequently your body can become accustomed to having higher levels of this neurotransmitter than usual.

If you suddenly stop taking Phenibut FAA or reduce your dosage substantially, there's a chance that you'll experience mild withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and sleep problems.

For this reason, it's important to take Phenibut FAA responsibly – don't use more than the recommended dosage, never mix with other supplements or medications, and space out your doses by at least a few days if you're taking it every day.

If you do experience any side effects, it's best to stop taking Phenibut FAA immediately and seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you're new to GABA or nootropics in general then I recommend starting with a lower dose than the recommended amount before increasing gradually until you feel its effects.

What I like about Phenibut FAA

When I was in my early 20's I used to get anxiety attacks on a regular basis.

The symptoms of these were intense self-doubt, constant worry over everything I did, and an overwhelming sensation that something bad was about to happen.

I tried several different ways to 'cure' myself of this problem but nothing ever worked until I started taking nootropics like Phenibut FAA in combination with some good old exposure therapy.

For me, Phenibut FAA helped with the anxiety more than anything else I'd tried.

By binding to GABA-R in your neurons it creates an anti-anxiety response that's not unlike having higher levels of GABA itself (which is what benzodiazepines do).

The difference here is that you don't develop a tolerance as quickly and the benefits of Phenibut FAA last much longer than something like Xanax (without making you into a zombie).

When I take Phenibut I turn into a social butterfly – I feel confident, well-spoken, and at ease in conversation with almost anyone.

What I don't like about Phenibut FAA

One of the downsides of Phenibut FAA is that it can be addictive if you use it too frequently.

As mentioned before, your body will become reliant on its effects and if you stop taking it suddenly after heavy or regular usage then the chances are you'll experience withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and insomnia.

Another thing to note about this supplement is that some people experience headaches when they first take it.

This is a sign that your body isn't used to having such high levels of GABA in the neurons and you might need to work up from a lower dosage before increasing gradually until you feel its effects.

If you experience headaches you can easily get rid of them by taking a choline supplement like Alpha GPC or CDP Choline and remember to drink plenty of water (ideally with some electrolytes).

If you're a person with an addictive personality I highly recommend it against Phenibut FAA.

Final thoughts

Phenibut FAA stands for Free Amino Acid and it's a GABA analog – just like Phenibut HCL.

Phenibut is a nootropic that mimics the relaxing effects of GABA in your brain.

The biggest difference between these two nootropics is that free amino acids are absorbed more quickly by your body so you get the benefits much faster.

This isn't necessarily a good thing though because if you take it too frequently your body can become accustomed to having higher levels of this neurotransmitter than usual.

If you suddenly stop taking Phenibut FAA or reduce your dosage substantially, there's a chance that you'll experience mild withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety and sleep problems.

For this reason, it's important to take Phenibut FAA responsibly, always follow the recommended dosage and remember to take a break from it every once in a while.

Finally, Phenibut is one of those nootropics that has potential benefits but only if you use it correctly.

It's not uncommon for people who misuse this supplement to experience side effects like addiction or withdrawal symptoms so please be responsible.