Abuse and therapeutic potential of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid

Galloway, Gantt P.; Frederick-Osborne, Sydney L; Seymour, Richard B.; Contini, Sarah E; Smith, David Eugene

doi:10.1016/s0741-8329(99)00090-7

Cited by 66 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Illicit GHB/GBL users describe their subjective effects as comparable to alcohol (Colombo et al, 1995a), MDMA/ 'ecstasy' (Galloway et al, 2000), and flunitrazepam (Abanades et al, 2007). Drug workers and some user fora comments suggest that GHB may be used as a substitute for alcohol or other drugs to get intoxicated so as to avoid detection by testing in situations such as treatment compliance, driving and the workplace (EMCDDA, 2002).…”

Section: Non-medical Uses Of Ghb and Its Precursorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Galloway et al (2000) suggest that a potentially lethal dose of GHB ranges from 15-50g (250-750mg/kg).…”

Section: Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…anatomical, physiological, pharmacological, etc., a level of toxicity can only serve as a guide for when severe toxicity should be suspected/investigated. Galloway et al (2000) suggest that a potential lethal dose may be between 15 and 50g (250-750mg/kg) for a 70 kg person. Knudsen et al (2010) found that although blood concentrations of GHB were higher with alcohol than without (320 vs. 235mg/L) these findings were not statistically significant.…”

Section: Post-mortem Toxicology and Other Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In many instances the effects on respiratory depression of GHB/GBL were enhanced by the presence of alcohol (46%) and other CNS depressants such as benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and opiates/opioids. Both alcohol and GHB are metabolised by alcohol dehydrogenase and potentiate the effects of each other (Galloway et al, 2000;Smith et al, 2002;Vree et al, 1975). Recent animal studies have concluded that alcohol potentiates the sedative and respiratory depressant effects, especially the tidal volume, of GHB, thereby increasing the risk of death (Morse and Morris, 2013).…”

Section: Post-mortem Toxicology and Other Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

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

Corkery

Loi

Claridge

et al. 2015

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

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Misuse of gamma hydroxybutrate (GHB) and gamma butyrolactone (GBL) has increased greatly since the early 1990s, being implicated in a rising number of deaths. This paper reviews knowledge on GHB and derivatives, and explores the largest series of deaths associated with their non-medical use. Descriptive analyses of cases associated with GHB/GBL and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BD) use extracted from the UK's National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths database. From 1995 to September 2013, 159 GHB/GBL-associated fatalities were reported. Typical victims: White (92%); young (mean age 32 years); male (82%); with a drug misuse history (70%). Most deaths (79%) were accidental or related to drug use, the remainder (potential) suicides. GHB/GBL alone was implicated in 37%; alcohol 14%; other drugs 28%; other drugs and alcohol 15%. Its endogenous nature and rapid elimination limit toxicological detection. Post-mortem blood levels: mean 482 (range 0-6500; SD 758)mg/L. Results suggest significant caution is needed when ingesting GHB/GBL, particularly with alcohol, benzodiazepines, opiates, stimulants, and ketamine. More awareness is needed about risks associated with consumption.

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Section: Non-medical Uses Of Ghb and Its Precursorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Galloway et al (2000) suggest that a potentially lethal dose of GHB ranges from 15-50g (250-750mg/kg).…”

Section: Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Post-mortem Toxicology and Other Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Post-mortem Toxicology and Other Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

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

Corkery

Loi

Claridge

et al. 2015

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although it has been abandoned as anaesthetic agent in most countries because of side effects such as seizures and coma, it is still registered in Germany (Somsanit®). The sodium salt of GHB, known under the international drug name sodium oxybate, has a role in the treatment of narcolepsy with cataplexy (Xyrem®) and of opiate and alcohol withdrawal (Alcover®) [7][8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Troductiomentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in dried blood spots using a simple GC-MS method with direct “on spot” derivatization

2010

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Pharmacokinetics of GHB and detection window in serum and urine after single uptake of a low dose of GBL – an experiment with two volunteers

Schröck

Hari

König

et al. 2013

Drug Testing and Analysis

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During the last few years γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and γ-butyrolactone (GBL) have attracted much interest as recreational drugs and knock-out drops in drug-facilitated sexual assaults. This experiment aims at getting an insight into the pharmacokinetics of GHB after intake of GBL. Therefore Two volunteers took a single dose of 1.5 ml GBL, which had been spiked to a soft drink. Assuming that GBL was completely metabolized to GHB, the corresponding amount of GHB was 2.1 g. Blood and urine samples were collected 5 h and 24 h after ingestion, respectively. Additionally, hair samples (head hair and beard hair) were taken within four to five weeks after intake of GBL. Samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after protein precipitation with acetonitrile. The following observations were made: spiked to a soft drink, GBL, which tastes very bitter, formed a liquid layer at the bottom of the glass, only disappearing when stirring. Both volunteers reported weak central effects after approximately 15 min, which disappeared completely half an hour later. Maximum concentrations of GHB in serum were measured after 20 min (95 µg/ml and 106 µg/ml). Already after 4-5 h the GHB concentrations in serum decreased below 1 µg/ml. In urine maximum GHB concentrations (140 µg/ml and 120 µg/ml) were measured after 1-2 h, and decreased to less than 1 µg/ml within 8-10 h. The ratio of GHB in serum versus blood was 1.2 and 1.6.

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Abuse and therapeutic potential of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid

Cited by 66 publications

References 49 publications

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

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

Determination of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in dried blood spots using a simple GC-MS method with direct “on spot” derivatization

Pharmacokinetics of GHB and detection window in serum and urine after single uptake of a low dose of GBL – an experiment with two volunteers

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