Medical Description

Gamma-Hydroxybutyric, commonly abbreviated GHB, is a neuroprotective therapeutic drug used to medically treat insomnia, clinical depression, narcolepsy, alcoholism, and used as a general anesthetic. GHB Toxicity is an adverse effect associated with GHB dose-dependent.

Symptoms

• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Coma
• Drowsiness
• Decreased respirations
• Hypotension
• Amnesia
• Hypotonia
• Unconsciousness

General Information

GHB is a naturally-occurring substance found in the central nervous system, wine, beef, small citrus fruits, and almost all living creatures in small amounts.

Besides medical usage, it is also used illegally under the street names Juice, Liquid Ecstasy, Fantasy, and simply G, either as an intoxicant or as a date rape drug.

GHB Toxicity can be associated with withdrawal syndrome of insomnia, anxiety and tremor that usually takes three to twelve days to resolve. Various dosages of the GHB drug can cause a variety of adverse events:

• Oral doses less than 10 mg/kg may cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, decreased respirations, hypotension, and seizure like phenomenon

• Oral doses of 10mg/kg may cause amnesia and hypotonia

• Oral doses of 20 to 30 mg/kg may cause somnolence within 15 minutes

• Oral doses of greater than 50 mg. kg may cause unconsciousness and coma

Treatment of GHB toxicity involves supportive care measures since the majority of GHB effects, even when mixed with other drugs, will wear off within hours. The most serious of these effects is the respiratory depression that can lead to hypoxia and death.

Another treatment of GHB toxicity a reversal agent may be considered if coma or known massive ingestion is persistent. However, the side effects of the reversal agents may present more of a risk than a benefit in treating GHB Toxicity.

Source: “Toxicity, Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate”, eMedicine, January 8, 2007.

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