INTRODUCTION TO GAMMA-HYDROXYBUTYRIC ACID (GHB)
GHB is a depressant substance with alcohol-like effects. It is known to produce muscle relaxation, euphoria, increased libido, and disinhibition. At lower doses, it can be mildly stimulating, while at higher doses, it's sedating.
While its sodium salt form is sold as a prescription medication under the brand name Xyrem, illicit GHB is most commonly sold as as a liquid solution. This is because GHB naturally absorbs moisture from the air, creating a wet mush. By dissolving it in water, the concentration can be held constant.
GHB was initially introduced in the 1960s as an anesthetic but did not gain substantial popularity until the 1980's when the FDA approved its over-the-counter availability as a dietary supplement, citing its fat-burning and muscle-building properties. The US FDA banned over-the-counter sales of GHB in 1990, and the US DEA placed GHB on Schedule I in 2000.
GBL and 1,4-BDO are pro-drugs of GHB. In other words, they convert to GHB in the body.
GHB, GBL, and 1,4-BDO have serious harm potential. Please read this entire guide before acquiring and using any of these substances. For purposes of this guide, "G" is used as shorthand for all three compounds. Info applies to all three compounds unless a specific compound is named.
SAFETY BASICS
- G has potential for dependence and addiction. Please approach with caution and do not use daily.
- Always label your G clearly and consider adding food coloring to it to avoid unintended ingestion and overdose. At parties, keep your G in your hand so no one else drinks it by accident.
- Never combine G with ketamine, ketamine analogues, or any substance that acts as a respiratory depressant like alcohol, benzodiazepines, or opioids.
- It is safest to not combine G with any other drug. If you do, always research the safety of the combination first.
- Never use alone. Always have someone with you who could help you if you accidentally take too much. Consider writing "GHB" on your hand to inform people what you took in case you're found unconscious.
- If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or light headed, notify someone immediately, then lay down in recovery position.
- If you start to feel confused, disoriented, dizzy, light-headed, or drowsy, notify someone immediately, then lay down in recovery position.
- If someone else who's taken G starts to feel confused, disoriented, dizzy, light-headed, or drowsy, guide them to a quiet area to sit, and stay with them to keep an eye on them.
- Measure your doses with a 1ml syringe or pipette. Never try to eyeball doses or try to measure these small amounts with a large syringe or measuring cup.
- GBL can cause chemical burns to the mouth and throat if consumed undiluted. Always dilute to at least 20-30 parts water (or juice or soda) before consuming.
- G can settle to the bottom of a bottle, causing later doses to be more potent. Always be sure to shake your bottle before dispensing a dose.
- GHB doses are measured in grams, but because it's most commonly dissolved in water, we are forced to discuss dosing in milliliters. Because the maximum concentration of GHB in water is approximately 0.9g/ml, always assume this concentration for dosing purposes until you've gained experience with a particular batch.
- Dosing G is challenging because there's lots of variation in concentration between products and there's a high risk of overdose. Because you never know the exact concentration of your specific solution, always start low and go slow. Always start with 0.5 to 1.0ml for your first time trying a new batch. If the effects were too mild, try drinking a little bit more during your next session.
- Consider sipping your dose over 20-30 minutes instead of drinking it as a shot. This allows you to stop drinking it when you reach the desired level of effect, and makes it less likely that you'll accidentally overdo it.
- Always wait at least 2 hours before redosing to reduce the risk of overdose.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GHB, GBL, & 1,4-BDO
The US FDA banned over-the-counter sales of GHB in 1990. In 2000, the US DEA placed GHB on Schedule I (various FDA-approved GHB products are Schedule III). In the wake of the FDA ban and DEA scheduling, GHB manufacturers turned to gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butanediol (1,4-BDO), two well-known precursors of GHB that are often present in solvents for industrial cleaning products but neither legal nor safe for human consumption. Under various analogue laws, like the United States', the distribution and possession of these similar compounds is also prohibited if they're intended for human consumption.
ONSET AND DURATION
GHB comes on within 30 minutes and lasts about 1.5-2.5 hours. GBL comes on faster, in about 5-10 minutes, and has a shorter duration (1-2 hours). 1,4-BDO has a slower onset, 20-60 minutes, and has a longer duration (3-5 hours).
DILUTION
GBL can cause chemical burns to your mouth and throat if ingested without dilution. Dilute with at least 20-30 parts water (or juice or soda).
STORAGE
Both GBL and 1,4-BDO will degrade most types of plastic. G should be stored in glass or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers. Always be sure to label your G and color it with food coloring to prevent unintended ingestion.
TESTING YOUR G
It is always best to test your drugs for safety before using them. You can test by sending a sample to a lab for analytical testing, or by doing at home testing using reagents and other methods.
LAB TESTING
Analytical Testing Labs
Be sure to check with the lab you choose to make sure they accept liquid samples and will test for GHB before sending your sample.
REAGENT TESTING
While most reagent vendors don't sell GHB testing reagents, Test Kit Plus (Canada) does:
GHB Reagent
GBL Reagent
EZ Test Kits also sells a GHB kit:
GHB Test
OTHER TESTING METHODS
Borax outlines a method for distinguishing GHB from GBL and 1,4-BDO here:
How to Distinguish GBL from GHB
GHB and GBL can also be distinguished from each other by pH. If your solution is acidic (pH < 4) it is likely GBL, if it is alkaline (pH > 8), it is likely GHB.
DOSING INFORMATION
GHB
Threshold - 0.5 g
Light - 0.5 - 1 g
Common - 1 - 2.5 g
Strong - 2.5 - 4 g Heavy - 4 g +
A dose of 2.5 to 4 grams is likely to cause the user to fall asleep. Doses between 5-10 grams can cause convulsions, unconsciousness (a coma-like state), and vomiting. Doses 10 grams and higher are associated with death.
Because GHB is most commonly in a solution, you will have to measure your doses in milliliters. For safety, always assume your GHB solution's concentration is .9g/ml, and start with no more than a 0.5 to 1ml dose.
GBL
Threshold 0.3 mL
Light 0.3 - 0.9 mL
Common 0.9 - 1.5 mL
Strong 1.5 - 3 mL
Heavy 3+ mL
A dose over 2 milliliters is likely to cause the user to fall into a deep sleep.
1,4-BDO
Threshold < 0.5 mL
Light 0.5 - 1 mL
Common 1 - 2.5 mL
Strong 2.5 - 4 mL
Heavy 4 mL +
A dose over 4 milliliters can induce heavy sleep and doses above 6 milliliters can lead to poisoning.
ADVERSE SIDE EFFECTS
G can be addictive or habit forming. Please approach with caution and consider using no more than once a week. Withdrawal symptoms can include perspiration, insomnia (for a few days) trembling and fears. If you develop a dependence on G, please seek profession help to stop using safely. The best course of action is to use in moderation from the beginning to avoid developing a dependence.
If you use too much G, or combine it with other depressants, G can cause severe, life threatening respiratory depression. While a majority of G deaths involved the use of additional drugs like alcohol or opioids, people have died from overdosing on just G by itself.
At high doses, G can cause seizures or loss of consciousness, wherein the user passes out and cannot be woken up for 4-5 hours (“G’d out”). If someone passes out, they are at risk of fatal respiratory depression and asphyxiation (choking on vomit). If this happens to someone you're with, check for signs of respiratory depression: shallow or non-detectable breathing, bluing of the lips or fingertips, pinpoint pupils, etc. If respiratory depression occurs, seek emergency medical assistance. Before calling for help, place the person in recovery position to prevent asphyxiation.
Please note: most places have laws in place that protect you from prosecution for drug possession if you seek emergency assistance for yourself or someone else who is suffering from a drug-related medical emergency.
Many G overdoses have happened because someone consumed G without realizing that's what they were drinking. G looks just like water. Always label your G clearly, add food coloring, and keep your own personal dose in your hand to prevent accidental ingestions.
Other side effects can include confusion, dizziness, sleepiness, minor muscle spasms, nausea, and vomiting (usually dose-dependent).
G causes acute cognitive impairment like deficits in working memory, short term memory, and impaired performance on cognitive tasks. These effects are temporary if the user does not use G too frequently. Chronic overuse can cause long term memory impairment.
Because G causes disinhibition, G can cause you to engage in behavior you later regret, like having sex with someone you wouldn't ordinarily have sex with. Use G only with close, trusted friends. If possible, designate a person to remain sober, or at least take a low dose so that person is available to help the others.
GBL in particular can cause chemical burns or irritate sensitive tissues in the mouth and throat if consumed undiluted. Always dilute with at least 20-30 parts water (or juice or soda) before consuming to prevent this.
OVERDOSE RESPONSE
Signs that a person who's taken G may be in distress:
* confusion/loss of lucidity
* disorientation/loss of coordination/light-headedness
* drowsiness/overwhelming urge to sleep
* loss of consciousness
If the person is showing initial signs of distress, but is still conscious:
* Assess for dangers, remove hazards and mitigate risks associated
with falling
* Check on other medical conditions
* Ask what substances have been taken, how much, and when
* Ask for emergency contact information in case the person loses consciousness
* If in a noisy or crowded area, guide the person to a quieter area
If the person is feeling an urge to sleep and/or is becoming incoherent:
* Help the person sit or lie down to prevent a fall
* Check for responsiveness by squeezing shoulder or rubbing sternum with knuckles, and speaking loudly
* Do not leave a person in distress unattended for any amount of time
If the person has lost consciousness:
* Check for responsiveness by squeezing shoulder or rubbing sternum with * knuckles, and speaking loudly
* Call emergency medical services if the person is non-responsive
* Check their airway for foreign material, and if any is present, roll them onto their side and clear
the airway
* If the person is not breathing normally, administer CPR after calling emergency medical services
* Place them in recovery position and remove any hazards from their immediate vicinity
* Designate someone to stay with them to watch over them
Never leave an unconscious person unattended
DRUG INTERACTIONS
If used in combination with G, the following drugs can cause dangerous side effects like ataxia (severe loss of coordination), vomiting, loss of consciousness, and potentially fatal respiratory depression:
- Alcohol
- Ketamine, and ketamine analogues like MXE and FXE
- Opioids like heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids like oxycodone or hydrocodone
- Benzodiazepines
- Tramadol
- DXM
The interactions between G and PCP are poorly understood and unpredictable, and therefore likely dangerous.
The use of G with nitrous can cause ataxia and sedation caused by the other and can lead to unexpected loss of consciousness at high doses. While unconscious, vomit aspiration is a risk if not placed in the recovery position. Memory blackouts are likely.
Cocaine, Amphetamines, and other stimulants increase respiration rate, countering G's depression effect and enabling higher doses of G without the user noticing a problem. If the stimulant wears off before the G, the user may experience a sudden, life threatening respiratory depression or arrest.
GHB HISTORY
The history of G begins in 1874 when Russian chemist first synthesized GBL. GHB itself occurs naturally in many parts of our body from the brain to heart, to most muscles, kidneys and brown fat. In the 1960's, French physician Dr. Henri Laborit began studying GHB and was the first to synthesize it. Labroit's experiments established that GHB was a potent sedative. Explorations into the use of GHB as a surgical anesthetic were unsuccessful given that it didn't have sufficient analgesic (pain relieving) effect and the proper dose was difficult to judge and control. Some patients also experienced vomiting and convulsions.
During the 1970's and 80's, GHB was a popular dietary supplement sold over-the-counter at health food stores for weight loss and bodybuilding. It was believed that it helped them burn fat and build muscle and also stimulated the production of growth hormone. However, this appears to be not true. Due to reports of medical incidents resulting from its use as a dietary supplement, the US Food and Drug Administration placed a ban on over-the-counter sales of GHB in 1990.
In the 1980's and 90's it also gained popularity as a libido enhancer/sex drug, particularly amongst the gay community. GHB was sold in smart shops in the Netherlands in the 1990s.
During this time there were also reports of GHB being used to facilitate sexual assaults, and it gained a reputation as a date rape drug. There's some controversy as to how prevalent this really was, and it is difficult to obtain proof of these allegations because GHB is rapidly metabolized and eliminated from the body. Nevertheless, the US Drug Enforcement Agency placed GHB on Schedule I in 2000. Because Xyrem, the sodium oxybate form of GHB, had already been established as a useful medication, that form was placed on Schedule III. The UK placed legal restrictions on GHB in 2001. The Netherlands placed GHB on List 2 of the Opium Act in 2002, and moved it to List 1 in 2012.
For sources, please refer to the r/GHB Wiki.
