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Healthy Medicine Or Harmful Intoxicant?

by Medindia Content Team on Mar 19 2002 3:03 PM

Is it a healthy, naturally occurring substance with many health benefits or a deadly intoxicant with no legitimate medical use? GHB -- gamma hydroxy butyric acid -- hailed as a wonder drug for the first 30 years of its career, has been blamed as an illegal killer for the past 12 years. Many blame GHB for thousands of deaths and emergency room visits, while others claim its unrivaled uses as a prescription drug.

The Food and Drug Administration banned GHB in 1990. President Clinton signed a bill in 2000, indicating that its possession or use is illegal except for supervised study on narcolepsy. The government has turned GHB into a forbidden fruit. The FDA outlawed this drug lacking proper procedure.

Narcoleptic patients have found that Xyrem, a liquid form of GHB, to have been incredibly effective and its use is rising. Individuals using GHB feel a sense of euphoria and relaxation, enhanced sexuality, and increased verbalization. Users feel the results five to 20 minutes after intake, and effects disappear after three hours.

Users of GHB may also experience dizziness, loss of coordination, seizures, lack of bladder control, amnesia and vomiting. GHB suspends the gag reflex, and users normally go into a deep sleep or coma. GHB was also sold extensively in health-food stores as an aid in muscle building and fat reduction during the 1980s.


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