posted February 09, 2000 01:41 PM            

Most users find that GHB induces a pleasant state of relaxation and tranquility. Frequent effects are placidity, sensuality, mild euphoria, and a tendency to verbalize. Anxieties and inhibitions tend to dissolve into a feeling of emotional warmth, wellbeing, and pleasant drowsiness. One of the best things about GHB is the fact that you won't suffer any "hang-over" effects that you typically would if you had consumed an abundance of alcohol the night before.

GHB has no toxic effects on the liver, kidney or other organs. Reports that doses as high as twenty to thirty grams per twenty-four hour period have been used for several days without negative consequences. The main side effects that are most commonly experienced are drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. More unusual and extreme reactions have included diarrhea, lack of bladder control, temporary amnesia, and sleep-walking. Whatever side effects may be noted, they are often much more severe when GHB is combined with other central nervous system depressants such as alcohol or other downers.

GHB is a very interesting compound and has several effects that would be desireable for bodybuilders and athletes in general. The following is a list of the desired effects:

1) Increasing natural growth hormone secretion-experts observed increases in plasma GH over a period of 90 minutes after GHB took effect. These plasma GH levels reached a peak of nearly 40 ng/ml. This lead researchers to conclude that GHB supplementation stimulates the secretion of GH by the pituitary gland in human subjects. It may cause a release of GH by modifying the amount of serotonin available to the nerve terminals. One Japanese study reported nine-fold and sixteen-fold increases in growth hormone 30 and 60 minutes respectively after intravenous administration of 2.5 grams of GHB in six healthy men between the ages of twenty-five and forty. GH levels were still seven-fold higher at 120 minutes. At the same time GH is being released, prolactin levels also rise. Serum prolactin levels increase in a similar time-dependent manner as GH, peaking at five-fold above baseline at 60 minutes. This effect, unlike the release of GH, is entirely consistent with GHB's inhibition of dopamine. Other compounds which lessen dopamine activity in the brain (such as the neuroleptic Thorazine) have been shown to result in prolactin release. Although prolactin tends to counteract many of the beneficial effects of GH, the sixteen-fold increases in GH probably overwhelm the five-fold increases in prolactin.

2) Contributing to anabolism and lypolysis-GHB activates a metabolic process known as the "pentose pathway" which plays an important role in the synthesis of protein within the body. It also causes a "protein sparing" effect which reduces the rate at which the body breaks down its own proteins. These properties, along with GHB's effect on growth hormone, underlie its common use as an aid to muscle-building and fat loss.

3) Inducing and improving sleep quality-The most remarkable facet of GHB-induced sleep is its physiological resemblance to normal sleep. For instance, GHB sleep is characterized by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the arteries, as in normal sleep. During normal and GHB sleep, the CNS continues to be responsive to "noxious stimuli" (pain and other irritations), a factor which sets limits on GHB's uses in anesthesia. GHB facilitates both REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, and "slow-wave" (non-REM) sleep, the stage of sleep featuring increased release of growth hormone. And unlike the unconsciousness induced by other anesthetics, that triggered by GHB does not feature a systemic decrease in oxygen consumption. GHB temporarily inhibits the release of dopamine in the brain. This may cause increased dopamine storage, and later increased dopamine release when the GHB influence wears off. This effect could account for the middle-of-the-night wakings common with use of higher GHB doses, and the general feelings of increased well-being, alertness and arousal the next day.

4) Helping to reduce body cortisol levels-this would make this drug or supplement or whatever classification you want to call it anti-catabolic.

5) Improving Sex-scientists have identified four main prosexual properties of GHB:

1) Loss of sexual inhibition-markedly among most women
2) heightening of the sense of touch (tactility)
3) enhancement of male erectile capacity
4) increased intensity of orgasm.

Women often report that GHB makes their orgasms longer and more intense, as well as more difficult or time-consuming to achieve, especially at higher doses. As with its other effects, GHB's impact on female orgasm seems highly sensitive to small adjustments in dosage.