^ I'm sorry, I don't have enough free time (and I'm tired) to research the subject at this time, like where
VDCCs are located mainly and what they're responsible for, but my main point was that VDCC blockage is the mechanism of action of gabapentinoids (gabapentin, pregabalin) - and you have stated that you disliked those drugs very much - and phenibut also acts as a VDCC blocker
1. Since they mess with Ca2+ currents in neuronal cells, improper activity at those channels may result in excitotoxicity known as
Olney's lesions. However, my understanding of more recent literature is that such excitotoxicity requires pretty tough conditions - such as extreme benzo withdrawal (which subsequently increases glutamatergic activity - and thus Ca2+ current into the cell), or withdrawal from extremely high-dose use of NMDA-antagonists (withdrawal also increasing glutamatergic activity too much - too much Ca2+ - cells deading). In any case, my understanding of the literature is that
permanent brain damage from excitotoxicity is extremely rare in humans. The brain is very plastic, and even if it takes months or years, things can get back to normal.
Back to my original point. Phenibut may seem dirty as a drug - it definitely seemed that way to me (1-5 g/day usage a few years ago). But maybe that's because it acts on GABA-B not GABA-A. Anyway, on the other hand, reasonable use of phenibut seems to be harmless and generally alright. Overdoing practically any drug may result in unwanted, lasting after-effects. So, I'm glad you've decreased your use - try to use every other day or "as needed". Occasional use is great sometimes.
Alcohol is, hands down, much more harmful than phenibut. If you take phenibut as a sodium salt, then supplement add potassium-containing foods or use (at least food-grade) commercial potassium chloride as a salting agent instead of the normally used sodium chloride. I actually did that for a while. KCl is not nearly as good as a salt as NaCl, but a 1:1 mix ain't too bad, and also provides the often lacking potassium in your diet. Going further off-topic, you do know that unless you monitor what you intake in terms of minerals in the Western world, you're probably taking 2-4 times more sodium than you need, and may not be getting enough potassium.
Anyway, hope you're well soon
1 Phenibut's receptor affinities are about as follows, in relative units: (S)-phenibut at GABA
B ~0, (R)-phenibut at GABA
B 1, (RS)-phenibut at VDCC 4. So, if you're getting a racemate (50% S- and 50% R-isomer), then you have 8 times higher affinity for VDCC.
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Fellow dissociative connoisseurs, have you tried O-PCE and how would you compare it to other dissos you've done? It's the only one I've done since it's legal here, and I'm finding it very interesting. Well, if we exclude solvents like ether...