GHB (Gammahydroxybutyrate)

Page contents

• Other Names
• How's it taken?
• Effects
• Legal Status

Related links

• Government drugs website

Summary

• is a depressant drug
• is a synthetic drug used as an anaesthetic
• is sold as liquid ecstasy, although it is in no way related to ecstasy

How is it taken?

• GHB is a colourless, odourless liquid with a slightly salty taste and is usually sold in bottles but sometimes comes as tablets

Effects

• small doses (possibly one capful) will feel like having a few drinks of alcohol
• at higher doses it may cause sleepiness, nausea, vomiting, muscle stiffness and confusion
• really high doses can lead to convulsions, coma and stopping breathing
• the strength of GHB can vary greatly from bottle to bottle so it may be very difficult to know how much is being taken
• some people take it while on other drugs with unpredictable and possibly dangerous results, especially if the other drugs are depressants like alcohol
• not a lot is known about the effects of long term use of GHB, however, it is possible that tolerance, physical dependence and psychological dependence could result

Legal Status

• In July 2003 GHB was made a class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act.