GBL / GHB

Liquid Ecstasy, geebs, GBH, GHB, liquid ecstasy, liquid e, liquid X, blue nitro

Depressant

skull

GHB (gammahydroxybutrate) and GBL (gammabutyrolactone), are closely related, dangerous drugs with similar sedativeOne of a diverse group of drugs manufactured for medical purposes to relax the central nervous system. More and anaesthetic effects.

GBL is converted to GHB shortly after entering the body. Both produce a feeling of euphoriafeelings of joy and happiness and can reduce inhibitions and cause sleepiness.

But both can kill and are particularly dangerous when used with alcohol and other depressant or sedativeOne of a diverse group of drugs manufactured for medical purposes to relax the central nervous system. More substances.

When they are sold as drugs they are usually sold as an odourless, colourless, oily liquid in small bottles or capsules and they both taste slightly salty. A teaspoon or a capful is a normal dose although the strength of GHB varies so it can be very difficult for people to know how much they’re taking, making it easy to overdose.

There is a form of GHB (called iGHB) that does come in powder form but is rare. Prices can vary from region to region, on average a 30ml plastic container of GHB costs about £15.

GHB has a medical use in the treatment of narcolepsy, while GBL has a legitimate use as a stain remover, rust remover, alloy cleaner, superglue remover and as a paint stripper ¹.

At room temperature GBL is a colourless, slightly oily liquid that is clear to semi-opaque. It has a distinctive taste that some users have described as being distinctly chemical, like a solvent, nail varnish or paint stripper ².

GHB is a CNSthe Central Nervous System, upon which certain drugs act depressant used as intoxicant. It is a naturally occurring substance found in the human central nervous systembrain and spinal cord, as well as in wine, beef, small citrus fruits, and in small amounts in almost all animals. GHB has been used in a medical setting as a general anaesthetic, to treat conditions such as insomniadifficulty in going to sleep or in getting enough sleep, clinical depression, narcolepsy, and alcohol withdrawal, and to improve athletic performance ³.

GBL is a liquid, available in some countries in the form of an industrial solvent for cleaning metal or removing spray paint from vandalised buildings ⁴.

GHB is a white crystalline powder. The powder is rarely sold on at street or club level. Instead the salt is mixed with water to produce a clear liquid – often sold in small platic bottles.

GHB can be easiliy manufactured from GBL which is typically sold in plastic bottles, sometimes labelled but often unmarked ⁵.

GHB is mostly manufactured and distributed illicitly via mail order, unless manufactured pharmaceutically for the medical industry ⁶.

GHB is mostly manufactured and distributed illicitly. UK sources may originate in Europe or further afield. GBL is currently found in a number of products including stain and glue removers, and industrial solvents. Most of the GBL currently used in the UK is sold in this form.

GBL is a pro-drug and converts in the body to GHB. Alternatively it is converted to GHB by processing with Sodium Hydroxide. GBL is also present, in small quantities, in some food and drinks as a natural product. It is present, in low levels, in many wines ⁷.

There is very little statistical evidence relating to the prevalence of GHB, GBL and 1,4-BD in the UK. The drugs do not feature in any of the major national surveys of recreational drug use, such as the British Crime Survey Drug Misuse Declared bulletin.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that use of the drugs is fairly widespread on the UK club scene, particularly in gay clubs, but have yet to become significant players among the general drug-taking population ⁸.

GBL is not active in its own right; its mechanism of action stems from its identity as a prodrug of GHB.

It is rapidly converted into GHB by lactonase enzymes found in the blood. GBL is more lipophilic (fat soluble) than GHB, and so is absorbed faster and has higher bioavailability; the paradox is that this can mean that GBL has a faster onset of effects than GHB itself, even though it is a prodrug.

The levels of lactonase enzyme can vary between individuals, meaning that first-time users can show unpredictable results, even from small doses. In many this manifests as slow onset of effects, followed by headaches, semi-consciousness which is distinct from GBL sleep in normal users. If the user decides to try again at a later date, they appear to be able to enjoy the effects normally. Because of these pharmacokinetic differences, GBL tends to be more potent and faster-acting than GHB, but has a shorter duration; whereas the related compound 1,4-butanediol (1,4-B) tends to be slightly less potent, slower to take effect but longer-acting than GHB ¹¹.

GHB has an interesting but still greatly undiscovered pharmacology. It was created with the intention to produce an analogue of (or a related compound to) the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABAGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain, meaning it slows your brain's functions. GABA is known for producing a calming effect. and thought to act via GABAGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain, meaning it slows your brain's functions. GABA is known for producing a calming effect. receptorsnerve endings that sense changes in the body More (mainly GABAB). However, we now know that it stimulates its own distinct GHB receptor, that it is endogenously (naturally) present in the brain, and that GHB actually has a low affinity (ability to bind) for the GABAGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain, meaning it slows your brain's functions. GABA is known for producing a calming effect. receptorsnerve endings that sense changes in the body More.

GHB also interacts with the dopaminergic system, and can alter levels of dopamine. In some areas of the brain, it increases, and in others it decreases the levels of dopamine. It is also though to act on serotonergic and opioidergic systems. Interestingly, naloxone and naltrexone has shown to reverse the effects GHB (and GBL) on dopamine release. Much of the research requires further investigation.

GBL is converted into GHB in the body. GBL is more lipophilic (mixes with fat/lipids easily) than GHB, and therefore is absorbed faster in the body than GHB. This means that, paradoxically, GBL can have a faster onset than GHB [5].

GBL is mainly taken orally. Due both to its unpleasant taste and to it being a skin irritant, most users dilute it with juice or other liquid. IVintravenous More use is strongly advised against; one user reported that this lead to the most horrific pain you can think of…the tiny amount of GBL that was on the outside of the needle was enough to make me cry ².

Most illicit GHB is sold in the form of a clear, odourless, nearly tasteless liquid – though it can be somewhat salty tasting. It is often sold or found in a variety of containers such as water bottles, eyedroppers and/or vitamin bottles. Ingestion is usually achieved by mixing the solution with a beverage, usually water or various alcoholic drinks. Like other drugs (e.g., ecstasy, marijuana) the chemical composition of GHB is highly variable, and sold in a wide range of concentrations. As a result, there is no definitive way for users to know how strong a particular form of GHB is, thereby increasing the risk of an overdose. Powder forms of GHB are not as prevalent as liquid forms, yet the method of use is nearly identical ¹³.

GHB and GBL is most commonly taken orally in liquid form; the powder is not commonly snorted, but dissolved in fluid.

• Swallowed – small capful provides an ‘average’ dose. It can take up to an hour for the effects to be fully felt.

GBL is converted to GHB in the body, appears in the same liquid form and produces equivalent effects to GHB ⁵.

Orally, usually in small doses such as a teaspoon (5ml) at a time ⁶.

GHB is usually swallowed, but sometimes it’s injected or inserted anally ¹⁴, ¹⁵.

GHB and GBL produce essentially the same effects – feelings of euphoriafeelings of joy and happiness, reduced inhibitions and drowsiness. The effects start after about 10 minutes to an hour and can last for up to seven hours or so ¹.

There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk. It’s important to be careful when taking any type of drug ¹⁶.

GHB affects everyone differently, based on –

• the amount taken,
• the strength of the drug (varies from batch to batch),
• size, weight and health,
• whether the person is used to taking it,
• whether other drugs are taken around the same time ¹⁶.

Taking GHB and/or GBL does involve risks. Here’s what it could do to you –

• Both GHB and GBL can cause unconsciousness, coma and death,
• even experienced users are at risk of death,
• because GHB and GBL can really knock you out, they’ve been linked to drug assisted sexual assault,
• when mixed badly, it can really burn the mouth ¹.

The strength of GHB and GBL varies widely from bottle to bottle. At present there is little reliable evidence to determine the purity of GBL ¹.

Highly variable; as GHB is illegally manufactured strength can vary widely from brand to brand and batch to batch. Likewise, concentrations of GBL can vary massively ⁷.

Giving up GHB after using it for a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without it. This is why it’s important to speak to a health professional when planning to stop using GHB.

Withdrawal symptoms usually start about 12 hours after the last dose and can continue for about 15 days.

Sudden withdrawal from high doses can result in bowel and bladder incontinenceuncontrolled urination More and blackouts ¹⁹, ¹⁶.

• insomniadifficulty in going to sleep or in getting enough sleep,
• anxiety,
• tremors,
• sweating,
• increased heart rate and blood pressure,
• psychoticthis is a mental state when you see or hear things which aren't there and have delusions More thoughts ¹⁷,
• confusiontrouble focusing, slow or disorganised thinking, poor short-term memory, unsure of time or place, or having difficulty following a conversation and agitation,
• panic,
• feelings of doom and paranoiasuspicion, distrust or fear of other people,
• restless sleep,
• muscle cramps,
• sweating,
• hallucinationswhere someone sees, hears, smells, tastes or feels things that don't exist outside of their mind ¹⁶.

• GHB and GBL are both Class C drugs – but GBL is available for legitimate use in industry, but if someone supplies or possesses them knowing or believing that they will be swallowed and ingested, they are committing an offence.
• Possession can get you up to two years in prison and/or an unlimited fine.
• Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you 14 years in jail and/or an unlimited fine ¹.

GBL/GHB are particularly dangerous when used with alcohol ¹.

• GHB + alcohol or benzodiazepines – chance of overdose is greatly increased.
• GHB + amphetamines or ecstasy – enormous strain on the body and risk of seizuresthe outward effect can vary from uncontrolled jerking movement (tonic-clonic seizure) to as subtle as a momentary loss of awareness More ²⁰.

The strength of GHB varies a great deal. It is therefore advisable to take a small amount at first in order to avoid unexpectedly taking more than intended. After use, there is likely to be a lack of energy for hours or even days.

The doses of GHB and GBL are different, and should be thoroughly considered. The same dose has different effects on different people. What may be a normal dose for one user could be a dangerous overdose to another user, tolerancethis is the process by which the receptors in your brain become habituated to the action of a drug. When tolerance is reached, more of the drug is required to achieve the same effect. With benzodiazepines, and probably with many other classes of drugs as well, tolerance is virtually always associated with some degree of physical dependence. If you find that you are experiencing tolerance, this is a clear warning sign that you may have formed a dependence. More can develop very quickly and it is dangerous to mix either drug with alcohol or any CNSthe Central Nervous System, upon which certain drugs act depressant.

GHB has recently been associated with ‘date rape’.

Taken in strong doses or with alcohol, the effects of GHB can be physically disabling. GHB is difficult to detect in a strongly flavoured alcoholic drink. These qualities have led people to ‘spike’ alcoholic drinks with GHB, with the intention of committing a sexual assault against the ‘disabled’ victim.

The risk of having your drink spiked with GHB should not be exaggerated. American research has shown that alcohol alone is implicated in over 90% of sexual assaults. However, it is a risk of which you should be aware.

To avoid being a victim of any date rape drug, the best advice is not to accept a drink unless you have seen it being prepared and not to leave your drink unattended.

You should be careful about accepting any form of drug (including alcohol) from someone who is not known to you.

Symptoms of having been ‘spiked’ could include extreme drowsiness, slight nausea and paralysis of the limbs, blurred vision and audio/spatial disorientation.

If you think you may have been ‘spiked’, it is best to stay with a trusted friend (not someone you have just met) and go to a safe place (your home/hospital/police station) ⁵.

• always measure your dose using a dropper and start with a small amount (0.3 – 0.5ml),
• wait until effects are felt and don’t re-dose for at least 2 hours,
• always dilute in water and add a food colouring to avoid accidental drinking,
• always use in a safe place with friends and with someone who is ‘straight’ as it is common to become unconscious with GHB/GBL,
• avoid frequent use. GHB/GBL is very physically addictive,
• avoid mixing with other downers especially alcohol which increases the risk of overdose ²¹,
• the dosage curve of GHB is very steep, recreational doses being very close to doses which will cause a period of unrousable sleep, which are again relatively close to doses which may cause coma or death through respiratory depressionslowing the drive and effectiveness of breathing More,
• the only way to know the concentration of liquid GHB is to know and trust information provided by the source. Users should be extremely careful about GHB dosages as even small overdoses can result in temporarily unrousable sleep,
• avoid driving and operating heavy machinery,
• don’t mix it with alcohol, or other depressants,
• 2 – 3 uses a week should be the maximum,
• high addiction potential ³.

GHB is usually sold in small plastic bottles, containing around 40ml ⁶.

Synthesis of the chemical GHB was first reported in 1874. GHB was re-investigated in France more than 50 years ago as a possible anaesthetic and introduced into medicine between 1960 – 63 when it was discovered as a naturally occurring chemical in the human brain and scientists noted its effect on the neurotransmitter GABAGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain, meaning it slows your brain's functions. GABA is known for producing a calming effect.. Throughout much of the 1960’s it was held likely to have considerable anaesthetic properties, but was abandoned by doctors following discoveries of its limited clinical analgesicpain relieving effects and its very short duration of action. In the 1970’s, GHB was recommended for the treatment of narcolepsy/cataplexy, though it was again found to be flawed, primarily due to its euphoric side effects.

During the 1980’s it was marketed as a fat burner and muscle developer and interest was stirred in the body-building/steroid using community to enhance the body’s production of growth hormone. It became adopted by ‘rave’ culture during the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, particularly because of its euphoric and aphrodisiaca substance that enhances sexual desires More properties. It is occasionally used in the treatment of alcoholism. Its effects have been noted in clubs with incidents reported of people losing consciousness and the use of the drug as a ‘spiking’ agent in sexual assaults. These have contributed to wariness of the drug, and it has waned in popularity across the last 10 years. It was made a class C drug in June 2003.

GBL and 1,4-BD are chemicals that have widespread legitimate uses (for example, in nail polish, paints and as industrial solvents) but are also misused. They are pro-drugs of the Class C drug gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), meaning that when either substance is ingested it is rapidly converted to GHB. The effects and risks associated with their misuse are unconsciousness, a risk of death by intoxication and a dependence syndrome if used regularly. The risks are increased if combined with alcohol or other depressant substances. GBL and 1,4-BD have therefore been controlled as Class C drugs ⁵.

GHB was synthesised and introduced into medicine in 1960 and in 1963 discovered as a naturally occurring chemical in the human brain ²². Throughout much of the 1960’s it was a popular anaesthetic, but was abandoned by doctors following discoveries of its poor analgesicpain relieving effects ²³. In the 1970’s, GHB was recommended for the treatment of narcolepsy, though it was also found to be an ineffective and unpopular form of treatment primarily due to its euphoric side-effects. Use began to intensify in the 1980’s when it was marketed as a fat burner and muscle developer. However, in 1990, based on more than 30 reports of GHB-linked illness, the FDAUS Food and Drug Administration declared the chemical unsafe and ordered it to be removed from store’s shelves, thus limiting a user’s ability to purchase the product. Following the FDAUS Food and Drug Administration ban, many producers of GHB began to switch their ingredients to GBL and BD and sold those drugs as muscle enhancers and sleep aids. On January 21, 1999, the FDAUS Food and Drug Administration began to ask manufactures of GBL to stop producing it and to recall products containing GBL because it was never approved for human consumption. Around this same time GHB gained in popularity among ‘party drug’ users for its euphoric and aphrodisiaca substance that enhances sexual desires More effects ²⁴, ²⁵.

Synthesis of this chemical was first reported in 1874 by Alexander Zaytsev. But the first major research in humans was conducted in the early 1960’s by Dr. Henri Laborit to use in studying the neurotransmitter GABAGamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in your brain, meaning it slows your brain's functions. GABA is known for producing a calming effect..

Throughout most of the 1960’s it was a popular anaesthetic, then was abandoned by doctors, following discoveries of its poor analgesicpain relieving effects. In the 1970’s was recommended for the treatment of narcolepsy, though the euphoric side of GHB made that unfavourable.

GHB was widely used in France, Italy, and other European countries for several decades as a sleeping agent and an anaesthetic in childbirth, but problems with its abuse potential and development of newer drugs have led to a decrease in the medical use in recent times.

In the 1980’s It was marketed for a short time as a fat burner and muscle developer. However, in 1990, based off many reports of GHB-linked illness, the FDAUS Food and Drug Administration declared GHB unsafe, and ordered it to be removed from stores shelves. Following this, many users switched to GBL and 1 4-butanediol.

GHB (Xyrem) was approved by the FDAUS Food and Drug Administration in 2002 for use in the treatment of narcolepsy/cataplexy ³.