As a supplement/drug, it is used most commonly in the form of a salt.7 GHB is also produced as a result of fermentation, and so is found in small quantities in some beers and wines. Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency is a disease that causes GHB to accumulate in the blood. GBL is not considered to be as safe as GHB used responsibly or medicinally, since it is theorized to display additional toxic effects on the body, unlike GHB. The LD50 is above the active dosage, and there is no danger of acute toxicity. However, it can become dangerous when used as a recreational drug or abused.
What Products Contain Gamma-butyrolactone?
It is good to think about how you might keep yourself and others safe before you use. It can also be a good idea to colour liquid GHB/GBL/1,4-BD with blue food colouring. This way, it will not be mistaken for water and added to your or someone else’s drink without knowing.
Hydrogenation of butyne-1,4-diol gives butane-1,4-diol.9 It is also made on an industrial scale from maleic anhydride in the Davy process, which is first converted to the methyl maleate ester, then hydrogenated. GBL is not active in its own right, its mechanism of action stems from its identity as a prodrug of gamma-hydroxybutyrate. The compound gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) was found in extracts from samples of unadulterated wines.
This means GBL is relatively safe to use and handle compared to other industrial solvents. It is used as a sedative and hypnotic, as an anesthetic, and as an antidepressant. GBL is also used to treat narcolepsy and enuresis and to reduce muscular spasms. It has also been used in the treatment of alcohol and opiate addiction. These withdrawal symptoms are especially likely if the user runs out of the drug and has to suddenly stop taking it. Experienced users measure the drug out very carefully using a pipette or a syringe, or by filling pre-measured vials (small bottles) to avoid taking too much.
How Long Does GHB Last?
The longer and higher the dose of GHB used, the more pronounced the effect may become 3. It is a naturally occurring substance found in the human central nervous system, 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 insomnia, clinical depression, narcolepsy, and alcohol withdrawal, and to improve athletic performance 3.
- The primary benefit of GBL is its ability to quickly break down cellulose and dissolve proteins and other organic compounds.
- Likewise, adverse effects become increasingly likely with higher doses and may include addiction, severe injury, or death ☠.
- GHB, GBL and 1,4-BD are most commonly mixed into a drink and swallowed, which releases them into your body slower than by snorting or injecting.
- In conclusion, GBL and GHB are two closely related chemicals that have similar effects on the body.
- Its most common name as an illegal drug is probably liquid Ecstasy.
- The effects usually last up to 4 hours, after which you may start to experience a comedown period.
Depressants
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. There is a particularly high chance of accidental overdose with GHB and GBL, because an extra half-millilitre of GBL or half-gram of GHB on top of a moderate dose can make you fall into a deep sleep where you could potentially choke to death on your own vomit.
Visual Effects
Its most common name as an illegal drug is probably liquid Ecstasy. GHB is produced in the body in very small amounts, and blood levels may climb after death to levels in the range of 30–50 mg/L.57 Levels higher than this are found in GHB deaths. Levels lower than this may be due to GHB or to postmortem endogenous elevations. Also note that both of the metabolic breakdown pathways shown for GHB can run in either direction, depending on the concentrations of the substances involved, so the body can make its own GHB either from GABA or from succinic semialdehyde.
Treatment Options For GBL Dependence
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. Regular and frequent use of GHB can lead to physical dependency, with severe withdrawal symptoms akin to those from Alcohol or Benzodiazepines.
What Happens If You Have Too Much GHB/GBL/1,4-BD?
GBL is a highly toxic chemical and can cause serious health problems if ingested. Therefore, it is best to keep GBL away from areas where children and pets can access it. Finding reliable suppliers can be difficult, but there are a variety of ways to locate suppliers. Anbu Chem is one gamma-butyrolactone supplier in China known for providing quality GBL at competitive prices. Furthermore, Anbu Chem offers a variety of shipping options, meaning you can select the best method for you. Plus, Anbu Chem is known for providing excellent customer service, so you’ll see you’re in good hands.
- If they cannot be roused, put them in the recovery position until you can get help 4.
- However, at pharmacological doses, GHB reaches much higher concentrations in the brain and activates GABAB receptors, which are primarily responsible for its sedative effects.17 GHB’s sedative effects are blocked by GABAB antagonists.
- The ADF acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands across Australia upon which we work.
- Please see our psychoactive substance index to view complete and more informative versions of these articles.
- Avoid mixing GHB/GBL/1,4-BD with other drugs, especially alcohol and depressants.
Sedative Medications (CNS Depressants) Interacts With GAMMA BUTYROLACTONE (GBL)
Anyone who supplies the substance without prescription can be fined HK$10,000. The penalty for trafficking or manufacturing the substance is a HK$150,000 fine and life imprisonment. Possession of the substance for consumption without license from the Department of Health is illegal with a HK$100,000 fine or five years of jail time.
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 GABA and thought to act via GABA receptors (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 GABA receptors. Instead the salt is mixed with water to produce a clear liquid – often sold in small platic bottles. 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. GHB presents cross-tolerance with 1,4-Butanediol and GBL, since these act as prodrugs for GHB.
It is important to know whether you have GHB, GBL or 1,4-BD when deciding what dose to take. Before we get into the specifics of how to store GBL properly, let’s first review some basic safety information. GBL is a colorless, odorless, highly flammable liquid that can be hazardous to human health. It’s essential to keep GBL away from any open flames or other heat sources and always to wear protective clothing, such as safety glasses, gloves, and a respirator when handling it.
