GHB
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate
High-risk depressant profile focused on sedation, overdose, dependence and alcohol interaction concerns.
Key caution
Extremely narrow margin between sedating and overdose amounts — a defining safety concern
Education profile
High-risk education profile
This profile is provided for risk awareness and educational context only. It is not a use guide.
SubsAtlas does not provide dosing, sourcing, preparation or optimization guidance.
Editorial review status — shown for transparency
AI Context
Deterministic summaries of curated archive data. Not medical advice. Not a use guide.
This is a high-risk education profile. AI Context does not provide use guidance, dosing or combination recommendations.
GHB: profile overview
GHB is a high-risk education with moderate evidence quality and a high risk profile. High-risk depressant profile focused on sedation, overdose, dependence and alcohol interaction concerns. Individual responses vary significantly. This summary is drawn from the curated SubsAtlas archive.
- Risk profile: High — high concern — serious interaction risks, dependency potential or toxicity concerns.
- Evidence quality: Moderate — some research exists but results are mixed or populations differ.
- Key caution: Extremely narrow margin between sedating and overdose amounts — a defining safety concern
- Interaction concerns noted with: Alcohol, Benzodiazepines, Opioids.
- Primary compounds: Gamma-hydroxybutyrate.
GHB is a high-risk education profile. AI Context does not provide use guidance.
Limitations
- Based on curated SubsAtlas archive data only.
- Not medical advice. Not legal advice. Not a use guide.
- Individual responses vary. Source review is ongoing.
- Do not rely on this for personal decisions.
AI Context summarizes curated SubsAtlas archive data only. Not medical advice. Not legal advice. Not a use guide. No external AI calls are made.
Quick Facts
Concise educational context for orientation. Effects and risks vary.
Category
high-risk-education
Main compounds
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate
Reported profile
Sedation, Impairment, Respiratory depression risk, Memory impairment risk
Onset range
Varies by context
Duration range
Varies by context
Main caution
Extremely narrow margin between sedating and overdose amounts — a defining safety concern
Body & Mind Map
Visual summary of reported effect patterns. Effects vary.
Community Signal
Community Signal is based on anonymous structured reports. It does not represent a recommendation.
Common warning
Community Signal requires moderated structured reports.
Risk awareness
Clear cautions, uncertainty and interaction concerns. This is not medical advice.
Main risks
- Extremely narrow margin between sedating and overdose amounts — a defining safety concern
- GHB combined with alcohol is among the highest-risk drug combinations documented
- Memory impairment and blackouts are documented effects
- Dependence and significant withdrawal risk with regular use
- Combining with any CNS depressant dramatically compounds overdose risk
Avoid if…
- You have relevant medical concerns without professional guidance
- You are in an unsafe setting
- You need to drive or operate machinery
Do not combine with…
- Alcohol
- Benzodiazepines
- Opioids
- Ketamine
- Other depressants
Medical caution
- Review medication interactions with a qualified professional
- Seek professional help for medical concerns
Unknowns
- Product quality may vary
- Individual response varies
- Evidence may be incomplete
Interaction Warnings
Interaction concerns are shown for risk awareness only. SubsAtlas does not describe any combination as safe.
- GHB combined with alcohol is among the most dangerous documented drug combinations — the risk of sudden unconsciousness and respiratory depression is severe. Combining with benzodiazepines, opioids or any other CNS depressant compounds this risk further. The narrow dose margin of GHB makes any interaction context particularly unpredictable.
Related safety topics
Educational context pages relevant to this profile. For risk awareness only.
What not to mix with alcohol
Alcohol may increase risk when combined with depressants, opioids, benzodiazepines and other substances.
Opioids and depressants
Combining opioids with depressants may increase sedation, breathing-related risks and overdose concerns.
Benzodiazepines and alcohol
Risk awareness around sedation, memory impairment, loss of control, dependence and overdose concerns.
When to seek emergency help
General emergency awareness — recognizing signs that require immediate contact with emergency services.
General onset
Varies by context
Peak
Varies by substance, product and person
Duration
Varies by context
After effects
May vary; monitor uncertainty and risk context
Timeline ranges are general educational context, not instructions.
Sources
Evidence quality, source type and review context are separated from community patterns.
Sources need editorial review
Sources listed here have not yet completed editorial review. They are shown for transparency, not as verified citations. What source review means
Curated GHB high-risk education profile
editorial source · Reviewed 2026-05-16
Source status: needs-review · How source review works
Legal context
Legal status varies by country, state and local regulation. This is educational context only — not legal advice.
GHB is a controlled substance in most countries. Regulatory status and scheduling vary by jurisdiction — some regions permit medical use under strict clinical conditions. Illicit GHB is associated with serious misuse concerns. This profile is for educational context only.
Legal status varies by country, state and local regulation. SubsAtlas provides educational context only and does not provide legal advice, sourcing or buying guidance.
Legal context requires ongoing review as laws change. How legal context works
Similar Entries
Related educational profiles for comparison and context.
Alcohol
Legal CNS depressant with well-documented impairment, dependence, organ health risks and extensive interaction concerns across many substances and medications.
Impaired judgment and coordination — do not drive or operate machinery
Legal: Legal context varies
Alprazolam / Xanax
High-risk benzodiazepine profile focused on sedation, dependence, withdrawal and depressant interaction concerns.
High dependence potential — withdrawal can be medically serious or life-threatening
Legal: Prescription-only
Ketamine
High-risk education profile focused on dissociation, impairment, bladder concerns and depressant interactions.
Dissociation and impairment risk
Legal: Legal context varies
Partner Resources
Education resources editorially separate from risk ratings and evidence content.
High-risk education profiles do not include commercial product recommendations. Only education, evidence literacy and recovery resources are shown.
Pharmacology: An Introduction
PreviewEducation Partner · Course
OpenStax-aligned pharmacology learning resource covering receptor mechanisms, drug classes and physiological effects. Suitable for general audiences seeking scientific foundations.
Partner link. We may earn a commission. Editorial content remains independent.
Risk ratings and evidence levels are not influenced by partners.
Partner resource preview — not yet active
Harm Reduction Education — Course
Partner resourceEducation Partner · Course
A structured online harm reduction literacy course covering interaction concerns, risk patterns, product quality uncertainty and evidence interpretation. Education-focused, no use guidance.
Partner link. We may earn a commission. Editorial content remains independent.
Risk ratings and evidence levels are not influenced by partners.
Partner resource preview — not yet active
Partner resources never affect risk ratings or evidence levels. Disclosure policy
Shareable cards
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Related guides
Educational guides with relevant context for this profile.
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Educational information only. Not medical advice. No personalized dosing, sourcing, preparation or optimization guidance.