GHB

drug

Also known as: gamma hydroxybutyrate

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Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

GHB, or gamma hydroxybutyrate, is a fatty acid chemically similar to gamma-aminobutyric acid. It acts as a depressant of the central nervous system. Medically, its sodium salt is used to treat narcolepsy. Illicitly, GHB is used for its sedative and euphoric effects. It has also been misused by athletes and bodybuilders seeking to stimulate growth hormone release, though evidence does not support its effectiveness in increasing muscle mass. GHB is also referred to as a date-rape drug.1

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date rape
…“date-rape drugs” such as Rohypnol, GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), and ketamine. Such substances can be slipped into alcoholic or other drinks when a victim is not looking. The drugs are usually odourless and colourless, although Rohypnol, after it became notorious as a date-rape drug, has been altered chemically to change the…
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…“date-rape drugs” such as Rohypnol, GHB (gamma hydroxybutyrate), and ketamine. Such substances can be slipped into alcoholic or other drinks when a victim is not looking. The drugs are usually odourless and colourless, although Rohypnol, after it became notorious as a date-rape drug, has been altered chemically to change the…
Read More