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Gamma-hydroxybutyrate

المؤلف:  Sue Jickells , Adam Negrusz (Editors)

المصدر:  Clarkes Analytical Forensic Toxicology

الجزء والصفحة:  p293-294

2026-10-25

21

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate

Other drugs that have been implicated in sexual assault include gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) (synonym: gamma-hydroxybutyric acid) and related compounds which are converted to GHB such as gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4 butanediol (1,4-BD) shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the metabolic transformation of GBL and 1,4-BD to GHB by alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and lactonase. GHB is sold on the streets under names such as Salty Water, Scoop, Soap, Liquid X, Natural Sleep-500 and Liquid Ecstasy. It is used in date rape because it is effective rapidly, is relatively easy to manufacture and obtain, and is alleged to have aphrodisiac properties. Possession, sale and clan destine manufacturing of GHB are illegal in many countries including the USA, UK and Japan. Since July 2002, GHB has been approved in the USA for treatment of narcolepsy. GHB is rapidly metabolised and eliminated from the body. The detection window for blood is about 6 hours and for urine is about 8 hours. GHB is endogenously produced in the human body and in some foods and this needs to be taken into account when carrying out an analysis for GHB.

Figure 1 Chemical structure of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-butane diol (1,4-BD).

Figure 2 Metabolic transformation of GBL and 1,4-BD to GHB.