Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (4-hydroxybutanoic acid, C4H8O3) is both a drug and a naturally occurring compound found in mammalian brain, where it could well function as a neurotransmitter. As a drug it is used most commonly in the form of a chemical salt (Na-GHB or K-GHB). It temporarily inhibits dopamine release and stimulates pituitary growth hormone (GH) release. Structural formula of gamma-hydroxybutyrate It has been used as a general anesthetic and as a hypnotic in the treatment of insomnia, particularly in the treatment of narcolepsy under the trade name Xyrem. In addition, it is used by body-builders for its boost to GH release, in the treatment for alcoholism, to aid child-birth, or recreationally as an intoxicant (as GHB, G, Liquid X, Liquid E, GBH, Gamma-oh, Georgia Home Boy, Blue Verve). GHB was first synthesized in the early 1960s by Dr. H. Laborit to use in studying the neurotransmitter GABA. It quickly found a wide range of uses due to its minimal side effects and controlled action, the only difficulty being the narrow safe dosage range. Its use recreationally and as a date rape drug in the 1990s led to it being placed in the US on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in March 2000. In the UK it was made a class C drug in June 2003. At low doses GHB can cause a state of drunkenness. This kind of use is particularly common at rave parties. GBL, or gamma-butyrolactone, a chemical precursor of GHB, has effects very similar to GHB but is argued to be more toxic. This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.