Top 6 Places to Buy Real Phenibut Powder & Capsules (2024)

Phenibut is a name that is very well known to nootropic fanatics as it is one of the most potent compounds in this trendy niche of the supplement world, although phenibut isn’t technically considered a dietary supplement.

Even many consumers who are illiterate about nootropics have been unknowingly consuming this substance as several manufacturers used it in their supplement formulations. That is until the FDA issued a handful of warning letters to some manufacturers asking them to stop labeling and selling phenibut as a dietary supplement.

As a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring amino acid GABA, phenibut is an unregulated substance with no proven therapeutic uses in the USA and most other countries. It is usually sold as a research chemical intended for research purposes.

There are a handful of niche online vendors where people usually source phenibut and various other nootropics from. In summary, the following vendors are as legit as they get.

Warning: Phenibut is not a dietary supplement and it can have some risks if used improperly. If you don’t fully understand what this substance is and how it works then it’s probably not for you.

1. Venogen

Venogen has been a solid supplier of nootropics and other products for several years now, although they haven’t been actively marketing their brand so it’s not as well-known as some other big players in this small niche (most of them are gone now unfortunately).

They source phenibut from the same supplier that other reputable vendors (now closed or discontinued) used to source it from.

Venogen is one of very few places left where you can get legit phenibut HCl powder in 2024. You can view the COA on their website (requires batch number) or you can request it via email.

Shipments are dispatched from Singapore and can take a few weeks to reach the USA.

2. Raw Powders

Raw Powders is another established retailer of nutritional supplements based in Lithuania. They offer phenibut in powder form as well as non-vegan capsules.

Their prices are rather high, but they can deliver faster to the UK and European countries, which is where most of their customers come from. They also ship to the USA but it takes longer for the package to arrive.

In addition to phenibut HCl and FAA, this store also carries F-phenibut (Fluoro-phenibut). The latter is not as widely known or used as the other two versions and it’s primarily intended for research purposes.

F-phenibut is claimed to have higher potency and shorter duration compared to HCl and FAA, but not much is known about its effects and safety. It should be used with more caution and in smaller amounts.

3. Cross The Limits

Based in the UK, this small online shop specializes in the sale of sports supplements, nootropics and other nutritional products. This is one of the very few trustworthy vendors in the UK that sell phenibut and other hard-to-find supplements.

They currently have phenibut capsules from a brand called Revange Nutrition and pure phenibut powder from a brand called Koka Labz. These aren’t very popular brands but they’ve been around for a while and the feedback seems to be generally positive, so they’re worth giving a shot.

You may also want to check out some of the nootropic formulas they sell — you might find some interesting ingredients there.

4. NutriVitaShop

This is a long-standing online store that carries numerous nutritional supplements as well as a few nootropic compounds. The latter include phenibut HCl powder and some racetams that have become increasingly difficult to source.

Their products are of good quality overall and they can provide a COA for some items when requested.

As for phenibut, they are now only selling it in bulk power quantities starting from 1 kg (2.2 lb). Not sure why they stopped selling smaller quantities, but it seems like they are mainly aiming at their loyal repeat customers for this item at least.

NutriVitaShop is based in the USA and ships worldwide. It should be pointed out though that there have been some customer complaints about shipping delays and the support team not responding to emails. It’s a good idea to shoot them an email and see how responsive they are before you place an order.

5. Health Naturals

Health Naturals has been offering quality nootropic supplements for many years and they are quite competitive with their pricing. Well, sure, they had to raise the price of most synthetic compounds following the recent supply shortages, but who hasn’t?!

Although their phenibut HCl capsules have been out of stock recently and it looks like they’ve completely removed the listing from their website, I’m keeping this brand on the list for two reasons: First, they have several nootropics that most other vendors stopped selling, and second, maybe they will restock phenibut at some point in the future.

Health Naturals only ships to the USA and Canada.

6. Burman’s Health Shop

This is a small nutrition store located in Brookhaven, Pennsylvania. Most of their customers seem to be local residents, but they do ship orders nationwide (USA) through their online shop.

You can find a few interesting products on their website including phenibut powder and capsules.

They also carry some multi-ingredient formulas that include phenibut in addition to a few other ingredients intended for various purposes. It’s probably better to stick with the pure phenibut products so you know exactly what you’re buying (while those last).

The folks working at this place are friendly and helpful. You can contact them via email, phone or live chat — they usually answer promptly during business hours.

Phenibut comes in two common versions: The standard HCl salt and the free amino acid (FAA) form.

Both are basically the same compound, but they have a few minor differences in their chemical characteristics. The HCl salt is an acidic compound that is made by reacting the FAA version with hydrochloric acid. It dissolves more easily in water and it’s more cost-effective.

On the other hand, the FAA form is a little more costly, but it can be more suitable for people who have trouble digesting the acidic HCl salt.

There was a time in the past where you could find many phenibut brands on Amazon, but that’s no longer the case. If you search for it on Amazon, you will get many results of various similar supplements, but none of them is actually phenibut. Well, don’t bother! Amazon no longer allows the sale of this product and a whole bunch of other synthetic supplements.

Amazon and other major health stores, like GNC, CVS, Walmart and Walgreens, may be convenient places where you can order any herbal or natural supplement, but phenibut is just the opposite of that! Most retailers that sell traditional nutritional supplements shy away from this sort of controversial products.

While it still remains legal for consumers to purchase phenibut over the counter for non-medical uses, it is very likely that a total ban is coming soon to the USA, especially as the FDA has been keeping a close eye on this substance lately and sending out warning letters to manufacturers. This would follow the lead of some other countries that have already imposed a ban on it.

In the meantime, people continue to freely order phenibut from online shops, and we listed some of the top places to source it from above.

Because of the lack of clinical studies on its long-term effects, efficacy and safety, phenibut may not be a suitable choice for an everyday supplement.

If you are looking for a 100% natural supplement you can safely take on a daily basis, there are many more common natural and herbal substances to consider. The following are seven of the best, evidence-based natural remedies for restlessness and stress.

Note: I’ve included some reference links to supporting studies — you are free to do further research on these.

Kava Kava

Kava kava is an herb native to the Pacific Islands where it is used to prepare a sedative and euphoric drink. In herbal medicine, kava root extract is used to help induce sleep.

Studies noted an anti-stress effect of kava extract, which was attributed to its modulation of GABA receptors. [ref.][ref.][ref.]

There aren’t any major side effects associated with kava, however, some reports raised concerns about liver toxicity that was linked to consumption of this herb. Although no conclusive evidence has been found to link kava consumption with liver damage, people with liver problems should avoid taking it. Kava is generally considered safe for short-term use.

Check out Kava Kava extract by NOW Foods if you’re interested in trying this herb out.

Magnolia Bark Extract

Magnolol and honokiol are two bioactive, organic compounds found in the bark of the magnolia tree. These compounds have been shown to act on GABA(A) receptors. [ref.][ref.]

Magnesium Glycinate

This is an amino acid chelate that consists of magnesium and glycine. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to many health issues, so supplementation may be helpful.

Glycine is an amino acid that functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Studies show that taking glycine before bedtime can improve sleep quality and reduce daytime fatigue. [ref.]

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is an herb in the mint family. The tea, essential oil and extracts of the herb have several medicinal uses. It is a popular sleep aid and natural remedy for stress.

Studies have concluded positive results regarding the calming effects of lemon balm. [ref.][ref.]

L-Theanine

L-theanine is an amino acid that is found in some plants, most prominently green tea. It has brain-calming, stress-reducing, and sleep-promoting effects. [ref.][ref.]

GABA

Gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, is the natural equivalent for phenibut. GABA is often sold as a dietary supplement to help with stress.

GABA as a dietary supplement, however, does not cross the blood-brain barrier and so does not have the same potent effect as that of synthetic GABA analogues.

Despite the lack of clinical evidence, many consumers reported experiencing reduction in agitation and improved sleep when supplementing with GABA.

A 2019 study found that a combination of GABA and L-theanine was synergistically more effective in improving sleep quality than either compound alone. [ref.]

Oleamide

Oleamide is an organic compound derived from oleic acid: an omega-9 fatty acid found in olive oil and other fat-rich foods.

Studies found that this compound affects several neurotransmitter systems and has potential sleep-inducing activity. [ref.][ref.][ref.]