Erowid GHB Vault : Chemistry

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NAME :	Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate
CHEMICAL NAME :	4-Hydroxybutanoic acid
ALTERNATE CHEMICAL NAMES :	Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; 4-hydroxybutyrate; GHB
CHEMICAL FORMULA	C4H8O3
MOLECULAR WEIGHT	104.11
LD50 (of sodium-GHB)	2,000 mg/kg (male rats), 1,650 mg/kg (female rats) i.p.
From the Merck Index 12th Edition

GHB Chemistry
by Erowid

NAME : Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate

CHEMICAL NAME : 4-Hydroxybutanoic acid

ALTERNATE CHEMICAL NAMES : Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; 4-hydroxybutyrate; GHB

CHEMICAL FORMULA C4H8O3

MOLECULAR WEIGHT 104.11

LD50 (of sodium-GHB) 2,000 mg/kg (male rats), 1,650 mg/kg (female rats) i.p.

From the Merck Index 12th Edition

GHB Material Safety Data Sheet
gamma-Butyrlactone Material Safety Data Sheet

MERCK INDEX ENTRY
4860. Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate. 4-Hydroxybutanoic acid; Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; 4-hydroxybutyrate; GHB. C4H8O3, mol wt 104.11. C 46.15%, H 7.75%, O 46.11%. HOCH2CH2CH2COOH. Naturally occurring metabolite of GABA thought to function as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator. The hightest conc in humans is found in fetal cerebellum and adult hypothalamus. Prepn of salts: A. Saytzeff, Ann. 171, 258 (1874); C.S. Marvel, E.R. Birkhimer, J. Am Chem Soc. 51, 260 (1929). Clinical pharmacokinetics: S. D. Ferrara et al., Brit. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 34, 231 (1992). GC/MS determn in biological fluids: K.M. Gribson et al., Biomed. Environ Mass Spectrom. 19, 89 (1990). Acute toxicity: B. Bruguerolle et al., Therapie 32, 375 (1977). Clinical studies: L Scima et al., Sleep 13, 479 (1990); L. Gallimberti et al., Neuropsychopharmacology 9, 77 (1993). Review of biochemistry and pharmacology: G. Tunnicliff, Gen. Pharmacol. 23, 1027-1034 (1992). Review in treatment of alcoholism: G. Biggio et al., in Adv. Biochem. Psychpharmacol. vol. 47 (Raven Press, New York, 1992) pp 281-288. Review: M. Mamelak, Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev. 13, 187-198 (1989). Brief overview of public health issues: J. Am. Med. Assoc. 265, 447-448 (1991).

Sodium salt, C4H8NaO3, gamma-OH, sodium oxybate, sodium gamma-oxybutyrate, Somatomax PM, Wy-3478, NSC-84223, Somsanit, Gamma-OH. Crystals from alcohol. LD50 in male, female rats (mg/kg): 2,000, 1,650 i.p. (Bruguerolle).

THERAP CAT: Anesthetic (intravenous). In treatment of narcolepsy; in treatment of alcoholism.

Last Modified - Tue, Apr 24, 2007

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