GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL): Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews

Overview

Gamma butyrolactone is a chemical. People use it as medicine. Be careful not to confuse gamma butyrolactone (GBL) with gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB).

Despite serious safety concerns and illegality, people take gamma butyrolactone for improving athletic performance, sleep, and sexual performance and pleasure. They also take it for relieving depression and stress, prolonging life, promoting clear thinking, causing relaxation, and releasing growth hormone. GBL is also used to trim fat and as a body- or muscle-builder. Some people take it as a recreational drug.

How does it work ?

Gamma butyrolactone is converted in the body to gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) which affects several nerve pathways in the brain.

Interactions ?

Major Interaction

Do not take this combination

Alcohol interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Alcohol can cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Taking GBL along with alcohol might greatly increase sleepiness and drowsiness caused by alcohol. Taking GBL along with alcohol can lead to serious side effects. Do not take GBL if you have been drinking.
Amphetamines interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Amphetamines are drugs that can speed up your nervous system. GBL is changed in the body to GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate). GHB can slow down your nervous system. Taking GBL along with amphetamines can lead to serious side effects.
Haloperidol (Haldol) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
GBL can affect the brain. Haloperidol (Haldol) can also affect the brain. Taking haloperidol (Haldol) along with GBL might cause serious side effects.
Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
GBL can affect the brain. Medications for mental conditions also affect the brain. Taking GBL along with medications for mental conditions might increase the effects and serious side effects of GBL. Do not take GBL if you are taking medications for a mental condition.
Some of these medications include fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), and others.
Medications for pain (Narcotic drugs) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Some medications for pain can cause sleepiness and drowsiness. GBL might also cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Taking GBL along with some medications for pain might cause severe side effects. Do not take GBL if you are taking medications for pain.
Some medications for pain include meperidine (Demerol), hydrocodone, morphine, OxyContin, and many others.
Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Medications used to prevent seizures affect chemicals in the brain. GBL is changed in the body to one of these brain chemicals called GABA. Taking GBL along with medications used to prevent seizures might decrease the effects of GBL.
Some medications used to prevent seizures include phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), valproic acid (Depakene), gabapentin (Neurontin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin), and others.
Muscle relaxants interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Muscle relaxants can cause drowsiness. GBL can also cause drowsiness. Taking GBL along with muscle relaxants might cause too much drowsiness and serious side effects. Do not take GBL if you are taking muscle relaxants.
Some of these muscle relaxants include carisoprodol (Soma), pipecuronium (Arduan), orphenadrine (Banflex, Disipal), cyclobenzaprine, gallamine (Flaxedil), atracurium (Tracrium), pancuronium (Pavulon), succinylcholine (Anectine), and others.
Naloxone (Narcan) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
GBL is changed by the body to another chemical. This chemical is called GHB. GHB can affect the brain. Taking naloxone (Narcan) along with GBL might decrease the effects of GBL on the brain.
Ritonavir (Norvir) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Ritonavir (Norvir) and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) are commonly used together for HIV/AIDS. Taking both of these medications plus GBL might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of GBL. This could cause serious side effects.
Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) and ritonavir (Norvir) are commonly used together for HIV/AIDS. Taking both these medications plus GBL might decrease how fast the body gets rid of GBL. This could cause serious side effects.
Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
GBL might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking GBL along with sedative medications might cause serious side effects. Do not take GBL if you are taking sedative medications.
Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.
Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
GBL might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness and drowsiness are called sedatives. Taking GBL along with sedative medications might cause serious side effects. Do not take GBL if you are taking sedative medications.
Some of these sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and others.

View References

REFERENCES:

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Anon. Important message for health professionals: Report serious adverse events associated with dietary supplements containing GBL, GHB or BD. Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD. August 25, 1999. Available at: https://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/mwgblghb.html

Anon. Multistate outbreak of poisonings associated with illicit use of gamma hydroxy butyrate. JAMA 1991;265:447-8.

Bhattacharya IS, Watson F, Bruce M. A case of ?-butyrolactone associated with severe withdrawal delirium and acute renal failure. Eur Addict Res 2011;17(4):169-71. VIew abstract.

Bosch OG, Eisenegger C, Gertsch J, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate enhances mood and prosocial behavior without affecting plasma oxytocin and testosterone. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2015 Dec;62:1-10. View abstract.

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Corkery JM, Loi B, Claridge H, et al. Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD; BDO): A literature review with a focus on UK fatalities related to non-medical use. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015;53:52-78. View abstract.

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FDA Talk Paper. FDA Warns About GBL-Related Products. 1999. Available at: vm.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/tpgbl2.html

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GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Overview

How does it work ?

Uses & Effectiveness ?

Insufficient Evidence for

Side Effects

Special Precautions and Warnings

Interactions ?

Major Interaction

Alcohol interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Amphetamines interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Haloperidol (Haldol) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Medications for pain (Narcotic drugs) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Muscle relaxants interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Naloxone (Narcan) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Ritonavir (Norvir) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)

Dosing

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