Sodium oxybutyrate (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid GHB) is a hypnotic of metabolic action. This drug has been used in anesthesiology. According to A. Labory (French surgeon), sodium oxybutyrate allowed a new way to achieve surgical anesthesia. The mechanism of action of the drug was based on the direction of cellular metabolism, and not on its destruction.
Sodium oxybutyrate has a low intrinsic analgesic activity, but is able to enhance the effects of antipsychotics, analgesics and other drugs for anesthesia.
GHB has extremely low toxicity. This circumstance concerns the conditions of intensive care rooms in the operating rooms and operating rooms, where the problems of oppression of the respiratory center and central muscle relaxation at excessively high doses are solved by professional equipment for ventilation and airway passage. Community-acquired administration of GHB is characterized by more stringent toxicity criteria.
Sodium oxybutyrate is quite effective both for intravenous and rectal, oral and intramuscular administration. Rapid introduction into a vein may be accompanied by twitching of a convulsive muscle.
After ingestion, GHB is completely included in the metabolism. As a result, the drug decomposes to carbon dioxide and water. A small volume of GHB is excreted in the urine.
The use of sodium oxybutyrate does not cause addiction and addiction, and there is no hangover. With the introduction of the drug, the patient falls asleep pleasantly and easily, sleep is considered refreshing, full.
The medication is marked by the severity of the dose-effect curvature (doubling the dosage leads to a four-fold increase in the effect). In therapeutic volumes, it has practically no inhibitory effect on the respiratory center.
GHB is considered the most powerful pituitary stimulator of all known. Reception (single) is accompanied by a short (up to several hours) increase in the concentration of growth hormone by ten to fifteen times.
The use of sodium oskibutyrate contributes to an increase in the threshold for cardiac fibrillation.
GHB belongs to anabolics of direct and indirect action. The drug can be used with parenteral nutrition, as it causes a decrease in protein breakdown. The necessary dosages are 8-12 grams per day.
GHB has the ability to significantly reduce the concentration of cholesterol in the blood. The medication is a powerful antihypoxant (a tool that increases the body's resistance to oxygen deficiency), a radioprotector. The drug contributes to a significant increase in mesenteric blood flow and the development of hypothermia.
Some of the properties listed above have led to the fact that GHB at one time was widely used as a biological additive (food). It was in this quality that the drug could be purchased quite freely without prescriptions in Western European countries and America. However, due to the fact that after a certain time GHB began to be used as a psychotropic drug, it was withdrawn from free sale. Moreover, for non-medical use of the drug sodium oxybutyrate, manufacture in large volumes, criminal liability is provided.
An overdose of the drug occurs very quickly. So, for example, an additional fourth of the gram instead of euphoria provokes vomiting. The combination of GHB with other psychotropic substances can lead to the most serious consequences.
Sodium hydroxybutyrate. Instruction manual
For intravenous administration to excitable and strong (physically) patients, the dosage is calculated depending on body weight (70-120 grams per kilogram). A narcotic state occurs four to six minutes after application, after which anesthesia is deepened with an additional 40 g / kg.