Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate to Reduce Alcohol Intake
We describe a 52-year-old man who self-medicated with
-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a widely available illicit substance, to obtain a decrease in ethanol consumption. He successfully reduced his ethanol intake over a 3-month period, but he was unable to sustain abstinence. Although case reports on the use of GHB to induce euphoria have been published, this is the first report of GHB self-medication to facilitate ethanol abstinence. This report highlights the importance of considering GHB self-medication not only for euphoric and mood altering effects, but also as a potential treatment for ethanol intake reduction.
-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a proposed neuromodulator that is consumed in a variety of situations among users trying to induce amnesia for the purpose of date rape or euphoria, or trying to increase muscle mass. It is currently being investigated for the pharmacologic management of acute alcohol withdrawal and as an agent to facilitate ethanol abstinence. Physicians should be aware that individuals may use certain illicit drugs, such as GHB, to prevent or diminish symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. The following case is the first published report of self-medication with GHB to prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a widely available illicit substance, to obtain a decrease in ethanol consumption. He successfully reduced his ethanol intake over a 3-month period, but he was unable to sustain abstinence. Although case reports on the use of GHB to induce euphoria have been published, this is the first report of GHB self-medication to facilitate ethanol abstinence. This report highlights the importance of considering GHB self-medication not only for euphoric and mood altering effects, but also as a potential treatment for ethanol intake reduction.
-Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a proposed neuromodulator that is consumed in a variety of situations among users trying to induce amnesia for the purpose of date rape or euphoria, or trying to increase muscle mass. It is currently being investigated for the pharmacologic management of acute alcohol withdrawal and as an agent to facilitate ethanol abstinence. Physicians should be aware that individuals may use certain illicit drugs, such as GHB, to prevent or diminish symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. The following case is the first published report of self-medication with GHB to prevent symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
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