Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) & BodyBuilding Part 6

Synthesis

GHB is one of the easiest chemicals to synthesize. The manufacture of GHB is a multi million dollar industry and the business of selling the final product is very lucrative.

GHB is synthesized from the precursor, gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). GBL is a solvent found in numerous household products including floor cleaning products, nail polish, varnishes, and superglue removers. Combining the lactone with sodium hydroxide results in formation of GHB. However, this simple method does have many problems including the presence of large amount of lye in the mixture. Ingestion of lye can cause severe burns of the throat and stomach. GBL can also be converted to GHB in the body. GBL is more bioavailable and more potent than GHB on an equimolar basis.

Dose

GHB is available as a liquid, tablet or powder. On the street, GHB generally is sold as powder or mixed with water. The liquid form is usually very concentrated and sold on the street in small vials. The vials generally cost about $10 and usually contain about 10 "hits".

Legal status

Although the manufacture and sale of GBH is now illegal, it is sometimes available for purchase through the internet and at health food stores under several brand names, including Firewater, Revivarant, Blue Nitro Vitality, GH Revitalizer, Gamma G, and Remforce. GHB distribution is now banned in most states. The FDA issued a warning notice requesting manufacturers to recall GBL-containing products in Jan, 1999 and also warned consumers not to purchase or use GBL products. The story of GHB is not over since several manufacturers have begun marketing 1, 4-butanediol (BD), a chemical that is metabolized to GHB in the body by the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase. The FDA has declared BD a Class I Health Hazard (i.e., a potentially life-threatening drug).

Today GHB is classified as a schedule 1 drug under the controlled substance act.

Final Point

GHB is a dangerous drug and associated with serious side effects. The product has no medical uses and its sale is forbidden in the USA. The drug is still used by a number of body builders, but with time the likelihood of side effects is very high. From all the present evidence we have, GHB does not have any ability to develop muscle mass.