Sodium oxybate abuse
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Reactions 486 - 29 Jan 1994 ★ Sodium oxybate abuse First report of dependence: case report During attempts to discontinue the abuse of sodium oxybate [γ-hydroxybutyrate], a 30-year-old woman experienced withdrawal symptoms. The woman had abused sodium oxybate for 2 years to produce effects such as relaxation, increased libido and euphoria. During this time she had consumed 25 g/day orally in 5 divided doses. After 2 years, she decided to abruptly reduce the dose of sodium oxybate to 10 g/day; this led to a week of anxiety. She subsequently tried on 6 occasions to discontinue sodium oxybate. Each time she experienced tremor and anxiety which began 12 hours after her last dose and continued until she took another dose. In another attempt to discontinue the agent, she experienced insomnia, tremor and anxiety for 12 days after withdrawal. On follow-up she had avoided sodium oxybate for 30 days since discontinuation. Author comment: It has been reported that sodium oxybate is sold in nightclubs in the US and UK as "liquid X" for its euphoric, sedative and anabolic effects. Abuse of this agent has previously been associated with coma, seizures and respiratory arrest but not physical dependence. Galloway GP, et al. Physical dependence on sodium oxybate. Lancet 343: 57, 1 Jan 1994 - USA 800244662 1 Reactions 29 Jan 1994 No. 486 0114-9954/10/0486-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
Transcript of Sodium oxybate abuse
Reactions 486 - 29 Jan 1994
★Sodium oxybate abuse
First report of dependence: case reportDuring attempts to discontinue the abuse of sodium oxybate
[γ-hydroxybutyrate], a 30-year-old woman experiencedwithdrawal symptoms.
The woman had abused sodium oxybate for 2 years toproduce effects such as relaxation, increased libido andeuphoria. During this time she had consumed 25 g/day orallyin 5 divided doses.
After 2 years, she decided to abruptly reduce the dose ofsodium oxybate to 10 g/day; this led to a week of anxiety. Shesubsequently tried on 6 occasions to discontinue sodiumoxybate. Each time she experienced tremor and anxiety whichbegan 12 hours after her last dose and continued until she tookanother dose.
In another attempt to discontinue the agent, sheexperienced insomnia, tremor and anxiety for 12 days afterwithdrawal. On follow-up she had avoided sodium oxybate for30 days since discontinuation.
Author comment: It has been reported that sodium oxybateis sold in nightclubs in the US and UK as "liquid X" for itseuphoric, sedative and anabolic effects. Abuse of this agent haspreviously been associated with coma, seizures and respiratoryarrest but not physical dependence.Galloway GP, et al. Physical dependence on sodium oxybate. Lancet 343: 57, 1Jan 1994 - USA 800244662
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Reactions 29 Jan 1994 No. 4860114-9954/10/0486-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved
