Severe gamma-hydroxybutyrate withdrawal:
a case report and literature review
by
Craig K, Gomez HF, McManus JL, Bania TC
Department of Emergency Medicine
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital,
New York,
New York, USA.
J Emerg Med 2000 Jan;18(1):65-70

ABSTRACT

We report a case of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) withdrawal resulting in severe agitation, mental status changes, elevated blood pressure, and tachycardia hours after stopping chronic use of GHB. The patient admitted to substantial GHB abuse on a daily basis for 2.5 years. Previous attempts at cessation reportedly resulted in diaphoresis, tremors, and agitation. The patient's symptoms, negative polypharmacy history, and negative urine and blood toxicological analysis for alcohol, benzodiazepines, sedative-hypnotics, or other substances suggested the diagnosis of GHB withdrawal. Later analysis of a patient drug sample confirmed the presence of GHB. The patient required 507 mg of lorazepam and 120 mg of diazepam over 90 h to control agitation. This is one of the few reported cases of GHB withdrawal and one of the most severe. Given the increasing use of GHB, more cases of severe GHB withdrawal should be anticipated.

GHB
GABA
MDMA
Opioids
Reward
Alcohol
Dopamine
GHB and GABA
GHB and cocaine
Drugs and reward
GHB and the brain
GHB and alcoholism
GHB and narcolepsy
GHB and growth hormone
The pleasure and the pain
GHB, tryptophan and serotonin
GHB (Xyrem): tolerance and withdrawal

Refs
and further reading

HOME
HedWeb
Nootropics
cocaine.wiki
Future Opioids
BLTC Research
MDMA/Ecstasy
Superhapiness?
Utopian Surgery?
The Abolitionist Project
The Hedonistic Imperative
The Reproductive Revolution
Critique of Huxley's Brave New World

The Good Drug Guide
The Responsible Parent's Guide
To Healthy Mood Boosters For All The Family