If GHB or GBL has become something you rely on, or you are worried about it, therapy can help you work out what comes next, alongside medical care where you need it.
What this covers
GHB and GBL are closely related sedative drugs. GBL turns into GHB in the body. Both are colourless liquids, usually swallowed in a soft drink. People take them to feel relaxed, euphoric or less inhibited, and some take them for sex. FRANK says regular users can become dependent. Both are Class B drugs in the UK.
Signs use may be becoming a problem
- Taking it more often, or at times you had not planned
- Feeling shaky, confused or anxious as the effects wear off
- Having passed out or "gone under" after using, more than once
- Not being able to remember what you took, or when
- Feeling you need it to relax, sleep, socialise or enjoy sex
- Worrying about what would happen if you ran out
Stopping safely and overdose: read this
FRANK says it is very easy to overdose on GHB and GBL, and that overdose can lead to unconsciousness, coma and death. The amount that gives the effect people want is close to the amount that can make someone lose consciousness.
Withdrawal can be dangerous. FRANK lists confusion, shaking, epileptic seizure and coma, especially if someone runs out and has to stop suddenly. An NHS sexual health service advises that anyone who has taken it for more than 7 days in a row should not stop alone.
- If you use regularly, speak to your GP or a local drug service about medical support first, or contact FRANK on 0300 123 6600. I cannot prescribe or manage withdrawal.
- Mixing with alcohol, benzodiazepines or ketamine raises the risk of passing out and of breathing stopping, according to an NHS sexual health service.
- FRANK links these drugs to rape and sexual assault, because people pass out easily. It matters who you are with.
- Call 999 if someone has gone unconscious, has a seizure or is seriously unwell, and tell the crew everything you know.
Support you can get alongside therapy
Therapy sits alongside medical care, not instead of it. How to get treatment without going through your GP, and where to find helplines. For GHB or GBL, medical support for withdrawal comes first if you use regularly; a GP, a local drug service or an NHS sexual health service can help, and FRANK can point you to one.
What therapy can offer
- Looking at what GHB or GBL does for you, whether that is confidence, sex, sleep or switching off, and what else could do some of that work
- Support with the anxiety, low mood or memory worries that can follow use
- Thinking through safety in the settings where you use, including chemsex, without being lectured
- Planning for the days around a medically supported withdrawal, and for after it
Confidentiality
Worried about your job or your driving licence? What I report, and what stays between us.
If it is someone you love
It can be frightening to watch someone you love use a drug where the gap between a good night and an emergency is so small, and you can have support of your own. Support for families and loved ones.
Short answers to common questions
What is the difference between GHB and GBL?
They are closely related drugs with similar sedative effects. FRANK says GBL is converted into GHB in the body. GHB is used medically for narcolepsy; GBL is an industrial product used in stain, rust and paint removers. GBL has a very strong chemical smell and taste, while GHB has almost none. Both are colourless liquids and look the same.
Is GHB or GBL addictive?
Yes, regular use can lead to dependence. FRANK says people who take GHB or GBL regularly can develop a dependence on it. If you think you have become reliant on it, speak to a GP or drug service before you stop; therapy can then help with the reasons you use.
What are GHB withdrawal symptoms, and how long do they last?
FRANK lists confusion, shaking, epileptic seizure and coma. An NHS sexual health service says symptoms can start one to two hours after the last dose and last up to 12 days, and that withdrawal should be tapered with medical supervision, through a drug service or A&E. Please do not go through it alone.
Is GBL illegal in the UK?
Yes, to swallow or supply. GHB, GBL and 1,4-butanediol have been Class B since 13 April 2022. FRANK says possession can bring up to 5 years in prison and supply up to 14 years. GBL has industrial uses, but supplying it for people to swallow is still an offence.
Can I drive after taking GHB or GBL?
No. FRANK says that, like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal, with possible heavy fines, driving bans or prison. These drugs are sedatives and can cause drowsiness and confusion. If you are worried about how your use might affect your licence, we can talk through what to do next.