GHB

GHB

www.druginfo.adf.org.au

GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate) is a depressant drug.

GHB Care & Treatment

Pronounced agitation or insomnia
  • Benzodiazepines: Diazepam, Temazepam tablets* (*Risk/benefit analysis required due to propensity for misuse and exacerbation of depressive symptoms)
  • Barbiturates* (*in combination with benzodiazepines have been used successfully to lower benzodiazepine requirements and improve withdrawal symptoms)

GHB Clinical Features

  • Anxiety, depression and insomnia
  • Intermittent Tachycardia 
  • Tremor
  • Risk of seizures
  • Confusion, psychosis and delirium
  • Excessive Sweating 
  • Auditory, tactile, and visual hallucinations 
  • Hypertension 
  • Nausea and Vomiting 
  • Diaphoresis

GHB Tolerance (dependence) & withdrawal

  • People who use GHB on a regular basis may become dependent on it.
  • They may also develop a tolerance to GHB, which means they will need to use larger amounts to get the same effect.
  • Dependence on GHB can be physical, psychological, or both. People who are dependent crave GHB and find it very difficult to stop using it.
  • People who are psychologically dependent on GHB may feel an urge to use it when they are in specific situations.
  • Physical dependence occurs when a person’s body adapts to GHB and gets used to functioning with GHB present.

GHB Mechanism of action (on the brain)

  • GHB is a naturally occurring metabolite of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA; their structures are very similar.
  • GHB is a weak agonist at GABAβ receptors (inhibitory), and stimulates the 5-hydroxytryptophan systems and dopamine release; higher concentrations inhibit dopamine release.
  • There are ‘GHB receptors’ in the CNS, activation of which increases levels of glutamate (excitatory) in the brain; thus GHB can have both CNS depressant and stimulatory effects.

GHB Route of administration & onset

  • GHB is generally swallowed or snorted although some individuals inject it.
  • The effects of any drug also depend on the amount taken. This can be very hard to judge as the quality and strength of drugs can vary greatly from one batch to another. This is a particular concern with GHB, as there can be a very small difference between the dose required for a “high” and an overdose.
  • The immediate effects of GHB may start to be felt within 15-20 minutes and last for approximately 3-4 hours.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - GHB