Phenibut, a GABAB Agonist, Detected in a Fatality

Abstract Phenibut, a GABAB agonist structurally similar to baclofen, is not approved for medical use in the USA but is available through internet suppliers for recreational use. Calls to poison control centers for phenibut have increased over the last 5 years, and there are many case reports of seve...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of analytical toxicology Vol. 46; no. 2; pp. e73 - e77
Main Authors Arndt, Crystal, Gray, Teresa R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published US Oxford University Press 14.09.2021
Subjects
LC/MS/MS
postmortem
Phenibut
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Summary:Abstract Phenibut, a GABAB agonist structurally similar to baclofen, is not approved for medical use in the USA but is available through internet suppliers for recreational use. Calls to poison control centers for phenibut have increased over the last 5 years, and there are many case reports of severe acute intoxications and withdrawals requiring hospitalization. This case report describes the autopsy and toxicology findings of a 26-year-old male found dead at home with phenibut containers on the scene. Autopsy findings and routine toxicology testing were generally unremarkable. Scene findings prompted the validation of a qualitative liquid chromatography--tandem mass spectrometry method that confirmed the presence of phenibut in blood and urine.
ISSN:0146-4760
1945-2403
DOI:10.1093/jat/bkab099