Book contents
- Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances
- Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Stimulant Drugs
- Part III Depressant Drugs
- Chapter 12 Depressant Drugs: Introduction
- Chapter 13 Depressant Drugs: Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL)
- Chapter 14 Depressant Drugs: Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogues and Other Opioid NPS
- Chapter 15 Depressant Drugs: Benzodiazepine NPS
- Chapter 16 Depressant Drugs: Ketamine and Its Analogues
- Part IV Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
- Part V Hallucinogens
- References
- Index
Chapter 13 - Depressant Drugs: Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL)
from Part III - Depressant Drugs
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 September 2020
- Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances
- Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive Substances
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Stimulant Drugs
- Part III Depressant Drugs
- Chapter 12 Depressant Drugs: Introduction
- Chapter 13 Depressant Drugs: Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL)
- Chapter 14 Depressant Drugs: Fentanyl, Fentanyl Analogues and Other Opioid NPS
- Chapter 15 Depressant Drugs: Benzodiazepine NPS
- Chapter 16 Depressant Drugs: Ketamine and Its Analogues
- Part IV Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists
- Part V Hallucinogens
- References
- Index
Summary
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and its precursor gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) are central nervous system (CNS) depressants. GHB is both a metabolite and a precursor of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and acts on both GABA-B and at their own so-called GHB receptors. GHB/GBL also release noradrenaline and therefore produce, at low doses, euphoric effects similar to those of stimulants. The effects of GHB usually occur 15–20 minutes after ingestion, with peak effects at 30–60 minutes after use. Effects can last for up to 3–4 hours. GHB is undetectable in urine after approximately 12 hours.
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- Information
- Club Drugs and Novel Psychoactive SubstancesThe Clinician's Handbook, pp. 62 - 70Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020