GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

OTHER NAME(S):

4-Hydroxybutanoate, 4-Hydroxy Butyrate, 4-hydroxybutyric acid, Acide 4-hydroxybutanoïque, Acide Gamma-Hydroxybutyrique, Acide Gamma-Hydroxy-Butyrique, Cherry Meth, Ecstasy Liquide, Fantasy G, Gamma Hydrate, Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate, Gamma-Hydroxy-Butyrate, Gamma Hydroxy-Butyrate de Sodium, Gamma Hydroxybutyrate Sodium, Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid, Gamma-Hidroxibutirato, Gamma-OH, GHB, Grievous Bodily Harm, Liquid Ecstacy, Liquid X, Oxybate de Sodium, Oxybutyrate de Sodium, Scoop, Sodium 4-hydroxybutyrate, Sodium gamma-hydroxybutyrate, Sodium Oxybate, Sodium Oxybutyrate, Vita-G.<br/><br/>

Overview

Overview Information

Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a chemical found in the brain and other areas of the body. It can also be made in a laboratory.

GHB used to be available as a dietary supplement in the U.S., but it was taken off the market in 1990 because of safety concerns. GHB and two closely related chemicals, gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and butanediol (BD), were linked to 3 deaths and 122 serious side effects. Nevertheless, secret production and sales of GHB continued, often on the Internet. Continued interest in GHB might have been fueled by GHB's reputation as a "date rape" drug. Under the Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000, regulation tightened. GHB was classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, like heroin. It is now illegal for Americans to produce, sell, or possess GHB except for medical use. A prescription form of GHB remains available, but the only legal access to this drug is through a physician or other healthcare provider who is licensed to prescribe medications.

GHB is used for depression, weight loss, muscle building, and relief of some fibromyalgia symptoms including pain, fatigue, and sleep problems. It is also used as an alternative to the dietary supplement L-tryptophan for promoting relaxation and sleepiness. People who are addicted to alcohol or narcotic drugs sometimes use GHB to help them manage withdrawal symptoms. It is also used to cause sexual arousal.

The prescription form of GHB has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of narcolepsy, a sleep disorder caused by the brain's inability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy experience irresistible bouts of daytime sleep. They can also experience muscle control problems, paralysis, and hallucinations. GHB is available under the generic name sodium oxybate and trade name Xyrem (Orphan Medical) for the treatment of paralysis associated with narcolepsy. It is a Schedule III Controlled Substance, which means extra paperwork is necessary when this drug is prescribed, and prescriptions for this drug receive special scrutiny from regulators.

Health care providers use GHB intravenously to numb pain and reduce pressure inside the head after a head injury.

How does it work?

The natural function of GHB in the body might be to slow down brain activity during sleep. GHB affects several nerve pathways in the brain, including activating the body's pain-killing (opioid) system and raising levels of growth hormone.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for

  • Alcohol dependence and withdrawal. Taking GHB seems to reduce symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and prevent relapse in people who already completed detox.
  • Treatment of loss of muscle control and weakness associated with a condition called narcolepsy. Taking GHB seems to help people with narcolepsy sleep at night so they are less likely to feel sleepy during the day. GHB also seems to help reduce the temporary paralysis that sometimes goes along with narcolepsy.
  • Fibromyalgia. Taking GHB seems to reduce pain, fatigue, and sleep problems associated with fibromyalgia
  • Opioid withdrawal. Taking GHB seems to reduce withdrawal symptoms in heroin addicts and methadone-maintained addicts.

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Causing sexual arousal.
  • Enhancing muscle growth.
  • Reducing pressure in the brain caused by head injury.
  • Reducing weight.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of GHB for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

The prescription medication GHB (sodium oxybate) is POSSIBLY SAFE for adults who are taking it under close medical supervision for symptoms of a condition called narcolepsy. GHB is also POSSIBLY SAFE when given by IV under close medical supervision, short-term.

GHB is UNSAFE and illegal for use as a dietary supplement. Use of GHB, or the closely related gamma butyrolactone (GBL) and butanediol (BD), has been linked to at least three deaths and 122 cases of serious side effects. GHB can cause many serious side effects including headaches, hallucinations, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, agitation, diarrhea, sexual arousal, numbing of legs, vision problems, tightness of chest, changes in heart rate, mental changes, combativeness, memory loss, serious breathing and heart problems, seizures, coma, and death. GHB can be addictive. Long-term use may lead to withdrawal symptoms that are serious enough to require hospitalization.

GHB also has some major interactions with prescription medications.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: GHB is UNSAFE. Don't use GHB if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. It's been linked with life-threatening side effects.

Slow heart rate (bradycardia): GHB should be avoided since it can cause bradycardia.

Epilepsy: GHB might cause seizures in people with epilepsy. Avoid use.

High blood pressure: GHB might raise blood pressure. Avoid use.

Surgery: GHB can affect the central nervous system. There is a concern that it might cause too much sleepiness if it is used along with anesthesia and other nerve-numbing medications used during and after surgery. Stop using GHB at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Interactions?

Major Interaction

Do not take this combination

!

  • Alcohol interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    Alcohol can cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Taking GHB along with alcohol might greatly increase sleepiness and drowsiness caused by alcohol. Taking GHB along with alcohol can lead to serious side effects. Do not take GHB if you have been drinking.

  • Amphetamines interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    Amphetamines are drugs that can speed up your nervous system. GHB can slow down your nervous system. Taking GHB along with amphetamines can lead to serious side effects.

  • Haloperidol (Haldol) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    GHB can affect the brain. Haloperidol (Haldol) can also affect the brain. Taking haloperidol (Haldol) along with GHB might cause serious side effects.

  • Medications for mental conditions (Antipsychotic drugs) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    GHB can affect the brain. Medications for mental conditions also affect the brain. Taking GHB along with medications for mental conditions might increase the effects and serious side effects of GHB. Do not take GHB if you are taking medications for a mental condition.<br><nb>Some of these medications include fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol), chlorpromazine (Thorazine), prochlorperazine (Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), trifluoperazine (Stelazine), and others.

  • Medications used to prevent seizures (Anticonvulsants) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    Medications used to prevent seizures affect chemicals in the brain. GHB is changed in the body to one of these brain chemicals called GABA. Taking GHB along with medications used to prevent seizures might decrease the effects of GHB.<br><nb>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-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    Muscle relaxants can cause drowsiness. GHB can also cause drowsiness. Taking GHB along with muscle relaxants might cause too much drowsiness and serious side effects. Do not take GHB if you are taking muscle relaxants.<br><nb>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-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    GHB can affect the brain. Taking naloxone (Narcan) along with GHB might decrease the effects of GHB on the brain.

  • Ritonavir (Norvir) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    Ritonavir (Norvir) and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) are commonly used together for HIV/AIDS. Taking both of these medications plus GHB might decrease how quickly the body gets rid of GHB. This could cause serious side effects.

  • Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    Saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase) and ritonavir (Norvir) are commonly used together for HIV/AIDS. Taking both these medications plus GHB might decrease how fast the body gets rid of GHB. This could cause serious side effects.

  • Sedative medications (Benzodiazepines) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    GHB (BD) might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness and drowsiness are called sedatives. Taking GHB along with sedative medications might cause serious side effects. Do not take GHB if you are taking sedative medications.<br><nb>Some of these sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and others.

  • Sedative medications (CNS depressants) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    GHB might cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Medications that cause sleepiness are called sedatives. Taking GHB along with sedative medications might cause serious side effects. Do not take GHB if you are taking sedative medications.<br><nb>Some sedative medications include clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), phenobarbital (Donnatal), zolpidem (Ambien), and others.

Moderate Interaction

Be cautious with this combination

!

  • Medications for pain (Narcotic drugs) interacts with GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRATE (GHB)

    Some medications for pain can cause sleepiness and drowsiness. GHB might also cause sleepiness and drowsiness. Taking GHB along with some medications for pain might cause severe side effects. Do not take GHB if you are taking medications for pain.<br><nb>Some medications for pain include meperidine (Demerol), hydrocodone, morphine, OxyContin, and many others.

Dosing

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For narcolepsy and its symptoms: A dose of 25 mg/kg at bedtime, repeated 3 hours later, or a total of approximately 50 mg/kg or 3-9 grams in divided doses. GHB should be used only under close medical supervision.
  • For treating alcohol dependence: 50 to 150 mg/kg divided into 3 to 6 doses per day. GHB should be used only under close medical supervision.
BY IV:
  • For treating alcohol dependence: 50-100 mg/kg divided into 4 doses per day has been used. GHB should be used only under close medical supervision.

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View References

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