Alcohol
Volume 20, Issue 3 , Pages 257-262 , April 2000

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in the treatment of alcohol and heroin dependence

  • Luigi Gallimberti

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Addictive Medicine Unit, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, I-35100, Padua, Italy
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +39-49-662026; fax: +39-49-8780483.(L. Gallimberti)
  • ,
  • Maurizio Raffaele Spella

      Affiliations

    • Addictive Behavior Medical Center, Via san Mattia 16, I-35121, Padua, Italy
  • ,
  • Carlo Alberto Soncini

      Affiliations

    • Addictive Behavior Medical Center, Via san Mattia 16, I-35121, Padua, Italy
  • ,
  • Gian Luigi Gessa

      Affiliations

    • Bernard B. Brodie Department of Neuroscience, University of Cagliari, Via Porcell 4, I-09124, Cagliari, Italy

Received 15 May 1998 ,Revised 10 February 1999 ,Accepted 22 February 1999.

References 

  1. Addolorato G, Caputo F, Capristo E, Stefanini GF, Gasbarrini G. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (efficacy, potential abuse, and dependence in the treatment of alcohol addiction). Alcohol. 2000;20:217–222
  2. American Psychiatric Association . Practice guidelines for the treatment of patients with substance use disorders (alcohol, cocaine, opioids). Am J Psychiatry. 1995;152(suppl.):
  3. Appia O. Apport d'un matériel onirique à la psychothérapie par l'utilisation du 4 hydroxybutyrate de sodium. Agressologie. 1967;8:577–582
  4. Benda, P., Deshaies, G., Perlès, R., Deshaies-Pellier, M. S., & Rosenberger-Debiesse, J. (1960). Premier essai de la butyrolactone en clinique. Societé Medico-Psychologique (Saint Maurice, Seine), pp. 770–775.
  5. Broughton R, Mamelak M. The treatment of narcolepsy-cataplexy with nocturnal gamma-hydroxybutyrate. J Can Sci Neurol. 1979;6:1–6
  6. Center for Disease Control . Multistate outbreak of poisonings associated with illicit use of gamma hydroxybutyrate. J Am Med Assoc. 1991;265:447–448
  7. Chin MY, Kreutzer RA, Dyer JE. Acute poisoning from gamma-hydroxybutyrate in California. West J Med. 1992;156:380–384
  8. De Couedic H, Voisse M. Contribution à l'étude du 4-hydroxybutyrate de Na (4-OH) dans le traitement des états anxieux aigus. Rev Agressol. 1964;5:73–84
  9. Dyer JE. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (a health-food product producing coma and seizurelike activity). Am J Emerg Med. 1991;9:321–324
  10. Einspuch BC, Clark SM. Near fatality results from health food store sleeping potion. Tex Med. 1992;88:10
  11. Ferrara SD, Tedeschi L, Frison G, Rossi A. Fatality due to gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) and heroin intoxication. J For Sci. 1995;40:501–504
  12. Fischer G, Diamant K, Schneider C, Pezawas L, Presslich O, Frey R, et al. Gamma-hydroxy butyric acid (GHB) for detoxification treatment of opiate dependent patients. Eur Neuropsychopharm. 1995;5(suppl.):10–31P- P-
  13. Gallimberti L, Canton G, Gentile N, Ferri M, Cibin M, Ferrara SD, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid for treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Lancet. 1989;2:787–789
  14. Gallimberti L, Ferri M, Ferrara SD, Fadda F, Gessa GL. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in the treatment of alcohol dependence (a double blind study). Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1992;16:673–676
  15. Gallimberti L, Cibin M, Pagnin P, Sabbion R, Pani PP, Pirastu R, et al. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid for treatment of opiate withdrawal syndrome. Neuropsychopharmacology. 1993;9:77–81
  16. Gallimberti L, Schifano F, Forza G, Miconi L, Ferrara SD. Clinical efficacy of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in treatment of opiate withdrawal. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1994;244:113–114
  17. Galloway GP, Frederick SL, Seymour R, Contini SE, Smith DE. Abuse and therapeutic potential of gamma-hydrdoxybutyric acid. Alcohol. 2000;20:253–269
  18. Gerra G, Fertonani-Affini G, Caccavari R, Zaimovic A, Tagliavini P, Riva M, et al. Gamma-hydroxy-butyric acid in the treatment of heroin addiction. Clin Neuropharmacol. 1994;2–4:357–360
  19. Gessa GL, Agabio R, Carai MAM, Lobina C, Pani M, Reali R, et al. Mechanism of the antialcohol effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid. Alcohol. 2000;20:271–276
  20. Gold MS, Redmond DE, Kleber HD. Clonidine blocks acute opiate-withdrawal symptoms. Lancet. 1978;2:599–601
  21. James C. Another case of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) overdose. J Emerg Nurs. 1996;22:97
  22. Kleinschmidt S, Mertzlufft F. Gamma-Hydroxu-Buttersäure – Hat sie einen Stellenwert in Anästhesie un Intensivmedizin? Anästhesiol. Intensivmed Norfallmed Schmerzther. 1995;30:393–402
  23. Laborit H. Sodium 4-hydroxybutyrate. Int J Neuropharmacol. 1964;3:433–452
  24. Laborit H, Buchard F, Laborit G, Kind A, Weber B. Emploi du 4-hydroxybutyrate de Na en anésthesie et en réanimation. Agressologie. 1960;1:549–560a
  25. Laborit H, Jouany JM, Gerard J, Fabiani F. Sur un substrat metabolique a action centrale inhibitrice (le 4-hydroxybutyrate de Na). Presse Med. 1960;68:1867–1869b
  26. Laborit H, Weber B. Essai d'interprétation du mode d'action métabolique de certains agents neurotropes III (le gamma hydroxybutirate). Rev Agressol. 1965;6:169–173
  27. Langlois M, Lacrotte J, Ferrier J. Action du gamma-hydroxybutyrate de sodium sur les syndromes névrotiques et psycho-pathiques avec agitation psycho-motrice. Rev Agressol. 1960;1:431–433
  28. Levy MI, Davis BD, Mohs RC, Trigos GC, Mathe AA, Davis KL. Gamma-hydroxybutirate in the treament of schizophrenia. Psychiatr Res. 1983;9:1–8
  29. Luby S, Jones J, Zalewski A. GHB use in South Carolina. Am J Publ Health. 1992;82:128
  30. Mamelak M. Neurodegeneration, sleep, and cerebral energy metabolism (a testable hypothesis). J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 1977;10:29–32
  31. Moncini M, Masini E, Gambassi F, Mannaioni PF. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate and alcohol-related syndromes. Alcohol. 2000;20:285–291
  32. Palatini P, Tedeschi L, Frison G, Padini R, Zordan R, Orlando R, et al. Dose dependent absorption and elimination of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in health volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1993;45:353–356
  33. Rinaldi F, Puca FM, Mastrosimone F, Memoli G. Sull'impiego del gamma-idrossibutirrato di sodio in terapia psichiatrica. Acta Neurol. 1967;22:21–41
  34. Rosen MI, Pearsall HR, Woods SW, Kosten TR. The effect of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid on naloxone-precipitated opiate withdrawal. Neuropsychopharmacology. 1996;14:187–193
  35. Rosenthal NR, Perkel C, Singh P, Anand O, Miner CR. A pilot open randomized trial of valproate and phenobarbital in the treatment of acute alcohol withdrawal. Am J Addict. 1998;7:189–197
  36. Ross TM. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate overdose (two cases illustrate the unique aspects of this dangerous recreational drug). J Emerg Nurs. 1995;21:374–376
  37. Sanguineti V, Angelo A, Frank M. Ghb (a home brew). Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1997;23:637–642
  38. Schuls SC, Von Kommen DP, Buchsbaum MS, Roth RH, Alexander P, Bumrey WE. Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid treatment of schizophrenia (a pilot study). Pharmacopsychiatria. 1981;14:129–134
  39. Snead OC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Life Sci. 1977;20:1935–1944
  40. Snead OC. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate in the monkey (iii) (effect of intravenous anticonvulsant drugs). Neurology. 1978;28:1173–1178
  41. Snead OC. The ontogeny of GABAergic enhancement of gamma-hydroxybutyrate model of generalized absence seizures. Epilepsia. 1990;31:363–368
  42. Snead OC. Pharmacological models of generalized absence seizure in rodents. J Neural Transm. 1992;35(suppl.):7–19
  43. Snead OC, Bearden LJ. Naloxone overcomes the dopaminergic, EEG, and behavioral effects of gamma-hydroxybutyrate. Neurology. 1980;30:832–838
  44. Snead OC, Liu CC. GABA receptor function in the gamma-hydroxybutyrate model of generalized absence seizures. Neuropharmacology. 1993;32:401–409
  45. Snead OC, Bearden LJ, Pegram P. Effect of acute and chronic anticonvulsant administration on endogenous gamma-hydroxybutyrate in rat brain. Neuropharmacology. 1980;19:47–52
  46. Stunkard AJ, Messick S. The three factor eating questionnaire to measure dietary restrain, dishinibition and hunger. J Psychosom Res. 1983;28:71–83
  47. Tanaka Z, Mukai A, Takayanagi Y, Muto A, Mikami Y, Miyakoshi T, et al. Clinical application of 4-hydroxybutyrate sodium and 4-butyrolactone in neuropsychiatric patients. Folia Psychiatr Neurol Jpn. 1966;20:9–17

PII: S0741-8329(99)00089-0

Alcohol
Volume 20, Issue 3 , Pages 257-262 , April 2000