Possible long-term effects of γ-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) due to neurotoxicity and overdose

Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
Jan G C van AmsterdamRaymond J M Niesink

Abstract

In several countries, including the Netherlands, the use of GHB seems to be rising. GHB is regarded by recreational users as an innocent drug without any side effects. Recently, the number of patients in treatment due to GHB addiction sharply increased. In addition, various studies report incidents following risky GHB use or GHB overdosing. Other sedative drugs, like ketamine and alcohol have been shown to result in unintended neurotoxic harm at the level of memory and cognitive function. As outlined in the present review, GHB and ketamine have a common mode of action, which suggests that GHB may also lead to similar neurotoxicity as ketamine. GHB overdosing, as well as binge drinking (and high ketamine doses), induce profound coma which is probably neurotoxic for the brain especially in the maturing brain of young adults. It is therefore advocated to investigate possible long-term neurotoxic effects in recreational GHB users e.g. by studying the residual effects on cognition and memory.

References

Sep 1, 1990·Canada Diseases Weekly Report = Rapport Hebdomadaire Des Maladies Au Canada·J W Olney
Jan 1, 1991·Journal of Clinical Psychology·J Cosgrove, T G Newell
Sep 28, 1987·Life Sciences·P VayerM Maitre
Jun 5, 1980·Nature·S H Snyder
Mar 21, 1998·Journal of Studies on Alcohol·O A Parsons, S J Nixon
Mar 26, 1998·The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse·M HernandezO J Hernandez
Apr 8, 1999·Anaesthesia·P C Kam, F F Yoong
Jan 25, 2000·The Journal of Emergency Medicine·K CraigT C Bania
Feb 11, 2000·Neurology·O Miyamoto, R N Auer
Mar 4, 2000·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·S A BrownD C Delis
Jul 6, 2000·Southern Medical Journal·R H SchwartzM A LeBeau
Oct 14, 2000·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·N DeGregorio-RocasolanoR Trullas
Mar 10, 2001·Alcoholism, Clinical and Experimental Research·S F TapertS A Brown
Jun 27, 2001·Electrophoresis·M FountoulakisL Suter
Aug 14, 2001·Journal of Analytical Toxicology·Y M PanH H McCurdy
Oct 3, 2001·The American Journal on Addictions·K MiottoR Rawson
Mar 26, 2002·Alcohol and Alcoholism : International Journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism·Jan S Gill
Jun 14, 2002·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Louisa DegenhardtPaul Dillon
Jan 29, 2003·Current Opinion in Pharmacology·John W Olney
Sep 1, 1964·International Journal of Neuropharmacology·H LABORIT
Oct 14, 2003·Biochemical Pharmacology·François RenaultHervé Chneiweiss
Feb 28, 2004·Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ·M VarelaO Miró
Jul 1, 2004·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Michael McDonoughJenny Bearn
Jul 31, 2004·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Celia J A MorganH Valerie Curran
Apr 12, 2005·Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology·John D HayesIan R Jowsey
May 6, 2005·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Alejandro Gonzalez, David J Nutt
Aug 30, 2005·Trends in Pharmacological Sciences·Hugh C HemmingsNeil L Harrison
Sep 7, 2005·Drug and Alcohol Dependence·Matthias E LiechtiHugo Kupferschmidt
Jul 14, 2006·Neurobiology of Aging·Mortimer Mamelak
Jul 22, 2006·Annals of Emergency Medicine·Eric PerezTheodore Bania
Aug 29, 2006·Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine·Brian C KellyBrooke E Wells
Sep 29, 2006·Psychopharmacology·Celia J A Morgan, H Valerie Curran
Nov 15, 2006·The European Journal of Neuroscience·Lawrence P CarterCharles P France
Jan 2, 2007·FASEB Journal : Official Publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·Christian AndriamampandryMichel Maitre
Jan 16, 2007·Journal of Neurochemistry·M Lopez-FanarragaJ C Zabala

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Oct 2, 2013·European Addiction Research·Dirk J KorfJan G C van Amsterdam
Feb 7, 2014·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·Ann-Sofie M E IngelsChristophe P Stove
Nov 13, 2015·Expert Opinion on Emerging Drugs·Shannon S Sullivan, Christian Guilleminault
Dec 1, 2015·Neurochemistry International·Antero SalminenMikko Hiltunen
Jul 24, 2014·Journal of Psychoactive Drugs·Rebekah Brennan, Marie Claire Van Hout
Jan 2, 2016·Progress in Neurobiology·Sarah Wurts BlackThomas S Kilduff
Dec 11, 2014·Journal of Addiction Medicine·Rama M KamalCornelis A J De Jong
Sep 26, 2015·Pharmacological Reviews·Esa R KorpiGavin S Dawe
Mar 19, 2015·British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·Nathalie ProssNicolas Fauchoux
Jul 1, 2020·Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju·Enrico MarinelliSimona Zaami

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis

Barrel cortex

Here is the latest research on barrel cortex, a region of somatosensory and motor corticies in the brain, which are used by animals that rely on whiskers for world exploration.

Addiction

This feed focuses mechanisms underlying addiction and addictive behaviour including heroin and opium dependence, alcohol intoxication, gambling, and tobacco addiction.

Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder involves a pattern of alcohol consumption that includes compulsive use and a loss of control over intake of alcohol. The impact on physical health, socioeconomic factors, and psychiatric health is profound. Find the latest research on alcohol use disorder here.