title: GHB: an important pharmacologic and clinical update.
abstract: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) intoxication is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients taking the drug for recreational purposes. Due to the recent increase in emergency room visits, hospital admissions, and deaths, it has become necessary to re-examine the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, clinical manifestations, and potential adverse effects associated with GHB use. We present an important pharmacologic and clinical update on GHB.
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Department of Neurology, Atlanta, Georgia, USA and University of Florida, Department of Neurology, The Brain Institute, Gainesville, Florida, USA. msokun@dnamail.com
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Okun
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Boothby
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bartfield
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Doering
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D004357:Drug Synergism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000378:metabolism; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D000431:Ethanol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D013006:Growth Hormone