GHB

      Known in Europe as Gamma-OH, and in the US as GHB, gamma-hydroxybutyrate is a novel compound that increases sociability and may function as an antidepressant. Its sale was banned in the US in 1990, in spite of the fact that there is no scientific evidence that it posed any health risk when used responsibly.

      The possession of GHB is now illegal in the US.

      Important!

      Like any drug, GHB is NOT safe when used carelessly or irresponsibility. Unlike most of the other drugs in the Lycaeum's archives, misuse of GHB can be deadly!

      If you use GHB, we strongly urge you to observe the following safety precautions:

      1. Never combine GHB with alcohol or other CNS depressants. This combination has been deadly to a number of people.
      2. Seek medical attention for anyone who passes out from GHB unless you can positively verify they are not under the influence of other drugs as described above.
      3. Never use "liquid" GHB unless you know the concentration, as it varies according to preparation. An overdose will cause unrousable sleep under normal circumstances, but can be deadly in combination with other drugs as described above. We have not been able to verify any instances of death resulting from GHB alone, and we do not believe this to be a problem.
      4. Unlike cannabis and psychedelics, and like alcohol, nicotine, and heroin, Use of GHB can be physically addictive. We have received multiple reports from individuals who have experienced severe withdrawal symptoms when trying to abstain from GHB use. These individuals reported using GHB several times a day (practically continuously) for extended periods of time.

      When in doubt, DON'T USE GHB! That holds for all other drugs as well. This warning is not here to separate GHB from other drugs, as the same level of careful behavior is required at all times, for use of any drug. Because of the exceptional misinformation and hype surrouding GHB, however, we want to make readers (especially many first time readers of the Lycaeum who first come here because of GHB information) aware that there is no simple way to approach GHB (as in... date-rape drug or wonder drug?)

      Frequently Asked Questions

      • GHB FAQ: Frequently asked questions about GHB

      • Micro-FAQ: Suitable for printing

      Pharmacology

      • GHB Neuropharmacology

      • GHB and GABA: Studies on the relation of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) to gamma-aminobutyric acid.

      • Bimodal: an analysis of the varying effects of GHB

      Medical Use

      • GHB: anti-depressant information and answers

      • Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate: The First Sociabilising Molecule

      • GHB Patent: US Patent for use of GHB to treat alcoholism.

      • Using GHB to Mitigate Opiate Withdrawal: A report from a Lycaeum member.

      • Gamma-OH: the world's first authentic anti-depressant

      • Xyrem Press Release: FDA approves IND program to use GHB to treat narcolepsy

      • Dumb On Drugs: How the FDA has transformed over-the-counter GHB into a deadly underground date rape drug (PDF)

      Syntheses

      • GHB Synthesis: version 1.5

      • Kitchen GHB Synthesis: optimized for the domestics among us

      • New GHB Synthesis: Another GHB recipe

      • Another Method for Making Powdered GHB

      • GHBKit.com Instructions: Directions from the manufacturer

      Miscellaneous

      • GHB Article from Phoenix New Times, 8 Jun 99

      • GHB: a case and report

      • GHB: a defense of GHB

      • GHB References

      • Gamma-OH: A picture of the first brand of GHB to be produced commercially

      Contrasting Views

      • Say no to GHB: against GHB, by a team of physicians

      Related Compounds

      • Baclofene

        • Baclofene: a comparison to GHB

      • 1,4-Butanediol

        • BASF Technical Data Sheet (PDF)

        • NTP Chemical Repository Data Sheet: 1,4-Butanediol

        • NTP TOX-54: Summary Report on the Metabolism, Disposition and Toxicity of 1,4-Butanediol

        • 1,4-Butanediol MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet

        • 1,4-Butanediol Abstracts: Collected from MedLine

        • fX: 1,4-Butanediol sold as kava, makes 100 sick

      • gamma-Butyrolactone

        • BASF Technical Data Sheet (PDF)

        • NTP Chemical Repository Data Sheet: gamma-Butyrolactone

        • Renewtrient FAQ: FAQ for a commercial brand of gamma-Butryrolactone.

        • Blue Nitro Vitality: Picture of bottle

        • BLO Product Profile: Use of gamma-Butyrolactone as a solvent

      • 4-Methyl-GHB

        • Sodium Hydroxyvalerate: A novel GHB analog

      Experiences

        Trip Reports Archive - GHB

      EntheoCrawler Search

      The Lycæum: Drug Archive: GHB
      Contact drugs@lycaeum.org