Poison center reports of phenibut exposures increased in the United States from 2009 to 2019

This observational surveillance report analyzed data from U.S. poison centers on phenibut exposures reported between 2009 and 2019. The study population included individuals with phenibut exposures reported to these centers. The primary finding was an increase in the number of phenibut-related exposures reported over this period. The exact number of cases, the magnitude of the increase, and statistical measures such as p-values or confidence intervals were not reported.

No data on adverse events, serious adverse events, tolerability, or reasons for discontinuation were provided in the report. The absence of this safety information limits the ability to assess the clinical severity or patterns of harm associated with these exposures.

Key limitations include the observational nature of the data, reliance on voluntary reporting to poison centers, and the lack of detailed clinical or demographic information about the exposed individuals. The report does not specify funding sources or potential conflicts of interest. For practice, this report signals a growing trend of phenibut exposures that may come to clinical attention, but the evidence is descriptive and cannot establish causality, prevalence, or specific risks.