RT Book, Section
A1 Smollin, Craig
A2 Papadakis, Maxine A.
A2 McPhee, Stephen J.
A2 Rabow, Michael W.
A2 McQuaid, Kenneth R.
SR Print(0)
ID 1184179652
T1 Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) Overdose
T2 Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2022
YR 2022
FD 2022
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781264269389
LK accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1184179652
RD 2024/04/19
AB GHB  is  a  popular  drug  of  abuse.  It  originated  as  a  short-acting  general  anesthetic  and  is  occasionally  used  in  the  treatment  of  narcolepsy.  It  gained  popularity  among  bodybuilders  for  its  alleged  growth  hormone  stimulation  and  found  its  way  into  social  settings,  where  it  is  consumed  as  a  liquid.  It  has  been  used  to  facilitate  sexual  assault  (“date-rape”  drug).  Symptoms  after  ingestion  include  drowsiness  and  lethargy  followed  by  coma  with  respiratory  depression.  Muscle  twitching  and  seizures  are  sometimes  observed.  Recovery  is  usually  rapid,  with  patients  awakening  within  a  few  hours.  Other  related  chemicals  with  similar  effects  include  butanediol  and  gamma-butyrolactone  (GBL).  A  prolonged  withdrawal  syndrome  has  been  described  in  some  heavy  users.