GHB at a glance: schedule, half-life, and class
- Chemical name
- Gamma-hydroxybutyrate
- Related chemicals
- GBL and 1,4-butanediol, which the body converts to GHB
- Drug class
- CNS depressant; GABA-B and GHB receptor agonist
- US legal status
- Schedule I (illicit); sodium oxybate (Xyrem): Schedule III
- Approved medicine
- Sodium oxybate for narcolepsy
- Forms
- Clear liquid, powder
- Onset
- 15 to 30 minutes
- Half-life
- About 30 to 60 minutes
What is GHB?
GHB occurs naturally in the brain in small amounts. As a drug, it slows brain activity, causing relaxation, euphoria, and sleepiness. It was sold as a bodybuilding supplement until the FDA banned it in 1990.[1]
The industrial solvents GBL and 1,4-butanediol are converted to GHB in the body and cause the same effects and risks.[1]
GHB effects and how long they last
At low doses GHB causes euphoria, sociability, and lowered inhibitions, similar to alcohol. Slightly higher doses cause dizziness, confusion, vomiting, and sudden deep sleep from which the person cannot be woken.[1]
Effects start within 15 to 30 minutes and last 1.5 to 4 hours. The concentration of liquid GHB varies widely, so the same amount from different bottles can have very different effects.
GHB side effects and risks
Overdose: the dose that causes unconsciousness is only slightly higher than the dose that causes euphoria. Vomiting while unconscious and slowed breathing can be fatal.[1]
Alcohol: GHB with alcohol is a leading cause of GHB deaths, because the two greatly deepen sedation.
Drug-facilitated sexual assault: GHB is colorless, nearly odorless, and acts fast, and has been used to incapacitate victims. It leaves the body within about 12 hours, so testing must be done quickly.[1]
Warning: GHB with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or ketamine can stop breathing. Never leave someone who has taken GHB alone, and place them on their side if they cannot be woken.
GHB interactions: what is dangerous to mix with it
Choose what it would be combined with:
| Combined with | What happens | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Coma, vomiting, stopped breathing | Dangerous |
| Opioids | Profound sedation and stopped breathing | Dangerous |
| Benzodiazepines, sleep medicines, gabapentinoids | Deep sedation and breathing problems | Dangerous |
| Ketamine | Unconsciousness and choking risk | Dangerous |
| Stimulants (methamphetamine, MDMA) | Masked sedation, then collapse | High risk |
This is not a full list. Combining substances raises the risk of harm, especially when the contents of street drugs are unknown.
GHB overdose: signs and what to do
GHB overdose causes vomiting, confusion, slow breathing, a slow heartbeat, low body temperature, seizures, and coma. People can appear to wake up and then lose consciousness again.[1]
If someone may have overdosed
- Call 911 if the person is unresponsive, hard to wake, or breathing slowly.
- For advice when the person is awake and stable, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US, free, 24 hours).
- If opioids could be involved, including pills not from a pharmacy, give naloxone if you have it. Naloxone does not reverse GHB, but it will not harm the person.
- Stay with the person and place them on their side if they are drowsy or vomiting.
GHB withdrawal timeline: symptoms and how long it lasts
People who take GHB every 1 to 3 hours around the clock develop severe physical dependence. GHB withdrawal can be life-threatening and may need hospital care.[1]
- 1 to 6 hoursRapid onsetAnxiety, tremor, insomnia, sweating, and fast heartbeat.
- Days 1 to 6PeakAgitation, hallucinations, delirium, and seizures in severe cases.
- 1 to 2 weeksResolvesSymptoms ease; sleep and mood problems can last longer.
Warning: Never stop frequent, daily GHB use suddenly without medical support. Withdrawal can cause delirium and seizures.
Hospitals treat GHB withdrawal with benzodiazepines, sometimes with baclofen or phenobarbital.
Is GHB legal in the US? Schedule and legal status
Under federal law, GHB is a Schedule I controlled substance, placed there by the Hillory J. Farias and Samantha Reid Date-Rape Drug Prohibition Act of 2000. FDA-approved sodium oxybate products are in Schedule III.[2]
- Possession: under federal law, a first conviction for possessing any controlled substance without a valid prescription can bring up to one year in prison and a minimum fine of $1,000.[3]
- Assault: federal law adds up to 20 years in prison for giving a controlled substance to someone without their knowledge with intent to commit a violent crime, including sexual assault.[4]
- Precursors: GBL is a List I chemical, and GBL or 1,4-butanediol sold for human consumption can be prosecuted as GHB analogues.
Where can someone get help with GHB use?
- SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, 24 hours a day, in English and Spanish. It gives referrals to local treatment and support.[5]
- FindTreatment.gov: a federal locator for state-licensed treatment programs, searchable by location, payment, and type of care.[6]
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988 for a mental health or substance use crisis.
- Your own clinician: a primary care doctor can screen, treat, and refer, and can discuss medicines that support recovery where they exist.
GHB legal status in other countries
| Country | Status |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Class B (since 2022), along with GBL and 1,4-butanediol |
| Australia | Schedule 9 prohibited substance |
| International | Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances |
Laws change and differ in detail. Check current rules before carrying any controlled medicine across a border.[7]
Common questions about GHB
What does GHB feel like?
At low doses, like being drunk: relaxed, sociable, and uninhibited. Slightly more can cause sudden unconsciousness.
Is GHB the same as Xyrem?
Xyrem is sodium oxybate, the sodium salt of GHB, made to pharmaceutical standards and approved for narcolepsy under strict controls.
How long is GHB detectable?
Only about 6 to 12 hours in blood and urine, which is why testing after a suspected assault must happen quickly.
Can GHB withdrawal kill?
Yes. Withdrawal after frequent daily use can cause delirium and seizures and needs medical care.
What should you do if you think your drink was spiked?
Get to a safe place with someone you trust, call 911 if you feel very unwell, and ask for testing as soon as possible.
Sources
- GHB (Gamma-Hydroxybutyric Acid) drug fact sheet. US Drug Enforcement Administration.
- Controlled Substance Schedules. DEA Diversion Control Division.
- 21 U.S.C. 844, Penalties for simple possession. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
- 21 U.S.C. 841, Prohibited acts A (trafficking penalties). Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School.
- National Helpline. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- FindTreatment.gov. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- International drug control conventions. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
