GHB used to be a dietary supplement. Now it is considered a drug due
its side effects. It stands for
gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. As a drug, it
is commonly used as sodium GHB and potassium GHB. It is used to treat insomnia, narcolepsy (a
neurological disorder affecting the control of wakefulness and sleep), and even
depression. It can also be taken by an
athlete to enhance his performance, for weight loss and for muscle
building. Others use it as a stimulant
and as an aphrodisiac. Some bad people
would add it to alcoholic drinks of ladies and with its sedative effect, GHB
can be used to facilitate the raping of ladies.
The harm
caused by GHB
GHB however has its side effects which harm the body. Among others, it can cause memory lapses, low
blood pressure, slow heart rate, dizziness, sleepiness, headache, and
diarrhea. When taken in higher doses, it
can cause hallucinations, loss of coordination, seizures, unconsciousness, and
even death. In the long term, the drug can also lead to addiction. Regular users of GHB develop a dependence onthe drug. For them to experience the
same euphoric effect, they will need to take even larger doses of it. Stopping its use would make the user experience
withdrawal symptoms.
Help
available for those into GHB addiction
Most of
those who become addicted to GHB are athletes, those who suffer chronic pain,
and those with sleep disorders. Just
like any addiction, one needs medical supervision and the support of family if
one decides to get rid of the addiction.
There are also inpatient as well as outpatient services designed for drug addiction treatment.
The
best chance to succeed in the endeavor to quit GHB addiction is to have a very
good drug abuse and treatment information about it.