Agmatine for Drug Withdrawal Symptoms
Agmatine is a substance that can reduce withdrawal symptoms naturally without damaging the body or causing a secondary addiction.Agmatine is a derivative of the conditionally essential amino acid L-arginine. The body makes agmatine naturally, but many people also supplement with agmatine sulfate to accomplish various health goals. In this article, we’re going to discuss the use of agmatine as a natural treatment for withdrawal from drugs.
Agmatine is a neuromodulator that generally helps to lessen withdrawal symptoms naturally whether a person is withdrawing from addiction to alcohol, addiction to opioids, or even addiction to L-phenibut (a nootropic that has been used successfully to treat PTSD, but with the unfortunate consequence that it can cause addiction).
Agmatine has been used to reduce morphine tolerance and diminish symptoms of withdrawal from opioids naturally. Agmatine affects glutamatergic neurotransmission which seems to be one of the main ways in which it can reduce opioid dependence naturally.
Scientists have studied agmatine as a powerful treatment for withdrawal from other drugs of abuse in addition to benzodiazepines. These include:
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines
- Cannabinoids
- Cocaine
- Kratom
- Natural L-Phenibut Withdrawal Treatment
- Nicotine Addiction
- Sugar Addiction
- Steroid Cream Addiction
- Opioids
- Morphine
- More…
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Amino acids are often helpful as an at-home treatment for addiction. Click here to read more about the use of amino acid therapy for addiction.
Agmatine works as a natural treatment for addiction via its neuromodulatory effects on the GABA/glutamate system as well as by reducing brain inflammation. Most substance abuse addictions respond well to agmatine treatment, but some behavioral addictions may also respond to treatment with agmatine because of how it regulates the nervous system’s ability to be stimulated and excited in contrast to being sedated and relaxed.
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Agmatine as a Treatment for Phenibut Withdrawal Treatment
L-Phenibut, also known as beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid, Fenibut, Pbut, Noofen, Brain Booster, or just “phenibut” is a nootropic that is currently unregulated. It is a GABA agonist that is not FDA approved despite its availability as a nootropic supplement. As a GABA agonist, phenibut has the ability to reduce anxiety and it has been particularly useful to those with complex PTSD or regular PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as well as depression, anxiety, and sleep problems.Baclofen, an antispasmodic prescription medication has been used to replace phenibut and doctors then slowly taper patients down to stop phenibut addiction, but for those who wish to treat phenibut addiction at home, agmatine is a non-toxic substance that seems to work well for this purpose.
Phenibut was developed in Russia in the 1960s to treat alcohol withdrawal symptoms, stammering, anxiety, and insomnia. It was also used to strengthen neuroleptics and drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease.
Officially, phenibut is used to treat a wide range of mental health issues including:
- Social anxiety
- Alcoholism
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder / PTSD
- Complex PTSD
- Insomnia
- Parkinson’s disease
What does Phenibut do?
Phenibut can produce feelings of relaxation and euphoria by increasing the concentration of dopamine in low doses. As such, in addition to relieving anxiety, phenibut also has a stimulating effect.Phenibut Side Effects
A number of side effects have been reported with the use of phenibut including:- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- Sedation
- High Blood Pressure
- Muscle Spasms
- Increased Heart Rate
- Irritability
- Delirium
- Dilated Pupils
- Seizures
- Slowed Breathing
- Respiratory Depression
- Coma
- Death
Respiratory depression, coma, and death is most common in those who use phenibut with other central nervous system depressants like alcohol.
Phenibut Addiction
Some clinical trials indicate that phenibut is not addictive, but anecdotal reports suggest otherwise. Regular use seems to produce tolerance which means that people need higher and higher doses to produce the same effect. Some reports state that tolerance occurs within only one week of regular phenibut use.Phenibut addiction occurs when a person experiences withdrawal symptoms as a result of stopping use of the drug. Not everyone who uses phenibut gets addicted to it, but those who do have reported the following withdrawal symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Agitation
- Racing Heart
- Depression
- Mood Swings
- Slowed Cognition
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
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How to Use Agmatine to Stop Phenibut Withdrawal Symptoms Naturally
If you are trying to treat phenibut withdrawal symptoms at home, consider using agmatine to lower the doses of phenibut while potentiating the phenibut rather than going cold-turkey. Taper off on your daily dose of phenibut while slowly increasing the dose of agmatine from 1000 mg up to 3500 mg per day (in divided doses).
Agmatine as a Natural Treatment for Benzodiazepine Withdrawal
Agmatine is a neuromodulating substance that is found naturally in the human body. When it is administered as a supplement, it is synthesized as a polyamine. The enzyme arginine decarboxylase produces this polyamine which then modulates several receptors in the brain. As a neuromodulator, agmatine is particularly famous in terms of its ability to regulate the GABA/glutamate system.Diazepam and other benzodiazepines are addictive substances that can cause symptoms of withdrawal if a patient takes these drugs for a period of time and then seeks to quit taking them. Symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal include:
- Irritability
- Psychosis
- Sleep problems
- Seizures
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe. Benzodiazepine tolerance develops as a result of sensitization of glutamatergic receptors and desensitization of GABA receptors. Once sensitization occurs and tolerance develops, withdrawal symptoms can occur if the patient stops taking benzodiazepines. Withdrawal symptoms occur because GABA interneurons have a reduced function while post-synaptic glutamate neurons become hyperactive.
Agmatine selectively antagonizes the glutamate receptor channels of NMDA and inhibits NOS. Studies have shown that administration of agmatine protects cells against damage caused by glutamate and NMDA. Agmatine also reverses or averts the glutamatergic pathways in the central nervous system.
Studies have shown that agmatine decreases anxiety and compulsive behaviors in individuals who are dealing with addiction. It can naturally reduce symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal by improving balance in the GABA / glutamate system. According to the research, agmatine acts on the NMDA receptor at GABA interneurons and at the glutamate post-synaptic neurons which is how it achieves balance in the GABA / glutamate system to treat benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.
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Resources:
• Ahuja, T. et al. (2018). Phenibut (beta-phenyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid) Dependence and Management of Withdrawal: Emerging Nootropics of Abuse. Retrieved October 8, 2023 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5952553/
• Rafi, H. et al. (2021). Inhibition of NMDA receptors by agmatine is followed by GABA/glutamate balance in benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome.Retrieved October 8, 2023 from https://bjbas.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s43088-021-00125-8
• Geoffrion, L. et al. (2023). Phenibut Addiction, Side Effects, Withdrawal, and Treatment. Retrieved October 8, 2023 from https://americanaddictioncenters.org/phenibut
