Addiction | Details & Faq's | Illicit GHB | Prevention
| Chemical Name |
Gamma hydroxybutyrate |
| Drug Type |
Euphoriant-depressant |
| Street Name(s) |
Liquid E, Liquid X, "GHB," "Grievous Bodily Harm |
| Duration |
Depends on dose, but effects start in 15-30 minutes and can last 2-4 hours |
| Risks |
Because it produces CNS depression, GHB should not be used with other depressant drugs or alcohol--a main factor in many adverse reactions. Since liquid GHB is often sold premixed with juices, dosage can be difficult to gauge. |
GHB is usually available as an odorless, colorless,and nearly tasteless liquid. Sometimes the substance is available as a powder, or in a capsule. GHB is a central nervous system depressant that occurs naturally in the body. It was first introduced in the United States as a surgical anesthetic. It was rejected by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) because of dangerous side effects including coma and severe respiratory depression.
GHB found it's way into the health food stores. In 1990 the FDA banned GHB from health food stores after receiving several reports of dangerous side effects and one reported death. This was a 77 year old man, who went to the health food store looking for something tohelp him sleep, this label said it was a sleep-aide. The FDA issued a warning stating that GHB had been promoted as a legal psychedelic but had caused more than 30 people in California, Florida, and Georgia to become ill with symptoms ranging from nausea and vomiting to severe respiratory problems, seizures, and coma. GHB has gone by other names including sodium oxybate, sodium oxybutyrate, gamma hydroxybutyrate sodium, gamma hydroxybutyrate acid, gamma-oh, 4-hydroxybutyrate, gamma hydrate, somatomax pm, and 4-hydroxybutyrateacid.
GHB quickly was replaced by Gamma Butyl Lactone (GBL). GBL is an industrial solvent that turns into GHB in the body. The FDA did not ban GBL, instead, they asked the manufactures of products containing GBL to voluntarily re-call the products. Those manufactures who "honored" the re-call replaced GBL with 1-4 Butane Diol (BD). BD is another industrial solvent that turns into GHB in the body. All of these GHB, GBL, and BD have the same dangerous side effects on the body. Many people walk into health food stores with the false sense of security thinking that the products sold there are completely safe. Remember, GBL and BD are industrial solvents that replaced GHB in the health food stores after the FDA banned it in 1990. Legislation has stopped most of the health food stores sales, but it can still be found on the Internet.
Adverse effects reported include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, weakness, tonic-clonic seizure-like activity, loss of peripheral vision, confusion, agitation, hallucinations, bradycardia, decreased respiratory effort, unconsciousness and coma. These effects can appear within 15 minutes or oral ingestion of the drug and acute symptoms appear to remit after 7 hours, although some cases have been reported lingering dizziness for up to two weeks.
GHB can cause a variety of adverse effects, including potentially fatal respiratory depression, seizure activity, vomiting and dis-co-ordination. Combining GHB with alcohol, methamphetamine or MDMA may increase the incidence of adverse effects. Tolerance and physical dependence, as evidenced by a withdrawal syndrome that may include insomnia, muscular cramping, tremor and anxiety can develop.
Bodybuilders used health food store GHB as a "natural" alternative to steroids. Products claim increased muscle mass, although there are no clinical studies to backup this claim. Bodybuilders began taking more than the recommended dose and started feeling the euphoric effects. Word quickly spread about these "natural" produces giving a feeling of euphoria.
Recreational drug users began to use GHB mixing it with alcohol and other drugs, with devastating effects. The Internet started teaching users how to use GHB safely. Most of the sites claim that if you use GHB by itself and find your safe level you will have a safe experience. GHB may be misrepresented as a safe, natural and non-addictive hypnotic or anabolic.
Many young adults are experimenting with GHB, taking it on their own or worse yet, it is being slipped into unknowing victims drinks and/or beverages. GHB has become commonly known as the "new" date-rape drug.
What are the street names/slang terms for GHB?
What is it?
GHB is predominantly a central nervous system depressant.
What does GHB look like?
GHB can be produced in a clear liquid, white powder, tablet, and capsule form. It is colorless and odorless and has a salty taste; however it is often diluted inliquids and virtually undetectable. GHB is often manufactured in homes with recipes and kits found and purchased on the internet.
How is GHB used?
In powder form, measuring a dose is fairly straightforward. In liquid form, GHB comes in a wide variety of concentrations with a single dose ranging from a few drops to a full glass.
What are the long-term effects?
At lower doses, GHB can relieve anxiety and produce relaxation. Combining use with other drugs such as alcohol can result in nausea and difficulty breathing. GHB may also produce withdrawal effects, including insomnia, anxiety, tremors, and sweating.
What is the Federal Substance Classification?
GHB was put in the Schedule I category in 2000.
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