Please note: This information was current at the time of publication. But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient education website.
Information from Your Family Doctor
Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
Am Fam Physician. 2000 Dec 1;62(11):2483.
See related article on gamma-hydroxybutyrate.
What is GHB?
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is an illegal drug that is used as a muscle builder, a “party drug” and a “date-rape” drug. GHB comes in a liquid and a powder form. GHB has been linked to many serious illnesses and even deaths.
What are the dangers of GHB use?
GHB causes many problems including:
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Nausea
Vomiting
Changes in blood pressure
Trouble breathing
Aggressive behavior
Impaired judgment
Hallucinations
Seizures
Coma
Death
These effects usually appear 10 to 20 minutes after taking the drug.
Should I be worried about GHB?
Yes. Because GHB has no color or smell, it can easily be slipped into drinks and food. A very small amount of GHB may cause you to “black-out” (unconsciousness). GHB is often used as a “date-rape” drug. Don't take drinks from people you don't know or drink from containers you didn't open yourself.
What should I tell my children about GHB?
GHB is used most often by teenagers and young adults. Talk with your children about the dangers of GHB. Warn them not to accept drinks from strangers. Tell them to keep their drinks with them all the time, even if they go into the bathroom. If you have questions, ask your doctor.
Common street names of GHB
Blue nitro
Cherry fX bombs
Cherry meth
Easy lay
Everclear
Firewater
Gamma G
Georgia homeboy
GHB
G.H. revitalizer
Gib
Goops
Great hormones at bedtime
Grievous bodily harm
G-riffick
Growth hormone booster
Insom-X
Invigorate
Lemon fX drops
Liquid ecstasy
Liquid E
Liquid X
Longevity
Natural sleep-500
Nature's quaalude
Orange fX rush
Organic quaalude
Oxy-sleep
Poor man's heroin
Remforce
Revivarant
Salty water
Scoop
Soap Somatomax PM
Somsanit
Vita-G
Water
Wolfies
Zonked
This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org.
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
Copyright © 2000 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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