Misc Is GHB damaging my liver?

[Lorienator]

So, I haven't been too well recently, and tottled along to the doctor. He performed a series of tests and it came back there were deranged liver function results.

Specifically (for those medical folks)

Serum ALT Level: 118 iu/L (normal: 0.00 - 40.00)
Serum Globulin: 37 g/L (normal: 19.00 - 35.00 g/L)
Serum gamma GT level: 76 iu/L (normal: <55.00)

Now, I know enough about bloods to see that this is what you normally see with chronic alcohol use, but I don't drink! I had 2 glasses of wine last week, but before that it was a long time since I had anything more than a single pint of ale per week.

I did spend about 3 weeks (ending 7 days ago) taking GHB every day. Not 24/7; I usually waited until about 3 in the afternoon, dosed until about 8/9pm, then stopped. But that did mean I was taking about 8 grams per day.

Makes sense that this would be the cause, though I was under the impression (which could be wrong, though I am still researching) that sodium oxybate lowers ALT?

Any input would be great, as I don't wanna continue it if it's causing a lot of damage.

Lorienator

 

[angeleyes]

Hi Lorienator, unfortunately I don't have any GHB experience so I can't help you identify the medical side, but a three week everyday usage of anything has side effects, too many doughnuts you put on weight, I'd take a break get the tolerance back down low and you get to feel a bit more fresh.

I've noticed whenever someone questions their usage with health concerns, there is never any harm in cutting down just to be safe. From what I've read GHB doesn't have a very high addictive potential but each to their own and we all have our vice, my point being this will be easier to take a break from say cocaine for example.

Good luck in your travels and stay safe.

 

[babylonboy]

Well, sodium GHB is 18.1% sodium by weight, so you were getting nearly a gram and a half of sodium a day from it, which isn't a huge amount, so I wouldn't worry too much about that. Did you ask your doctor if GHB might be causing the impaired function?

 

[sekio]

GHB isn't known to be a liver toxin, it's likely it's some other cause.

For the thirty years prior to 1990, the scientific papers on GHB were unanimous in reporting numerous beneficial physiological effects and the absence of long-term negative effects. In 1964, Laborit listed "very low toxicity" as one of the "principle elements" of the compound's pharmacology. In a 1969 report on GHB's anesthetic uses, Vickers referred to GHB as "a truly nontoxic hypnotic" and repeatedly emphasized its "lack of toxicity." Vickers cited evidence that GHB demonstrates "no toxic effects on the liver and kidney." In 1972, Laborit described the body's metabolism of GHB and stressed "the absence of any need of detoxification by the organism." As recently as 1989, this scientific consensus on GHB's benign nature remained unchanged. Gallimberti's study from that year on its uses in treating alcohol withdrawal in humans notes that "GHB's action ...seems to be without serious side effects." His almost off-hand reference to the "safety of GHB" shows how well-established this property of the nutrient had become. Then, on November 8th, 1990, the FDA banned the over-the-counter sale of GHB in the United States. In 1991, two scientists from the California Department of Health Services wrote a report on ten "poisonings" associated with GHB. The authors, Chin and Kreutzer, warned of GHB's "tremendous potential for abuse." They observed that "all interviewed patients reported a pleasurable sensation or a `high.' Several of them...continued taking [GHB] because it made them `feel good'." Apparently, the authors construed feeling good in and of itself as a potential threat to public health. Despite such dire language, the report acknowledged that "there are no documented reports of long-term [detrimental] effects. Nor is there any evidence for physiologic addiction."

Remember, it's used as a med for narcoleptics in multigram doses.

The large amount of sodium intake probably doesn't help.

 

[angeleyes]

Sekio there was a massive anti-GHB campaign in my state, there's a big 'social war' with GHB vs MDMA at so many nightclubs, the arguments against GHB were that "it's made with drain cleaner" "you don't know what's in it" "3ml and you can die it could be not the real thing" (all the GHB here is in liquid form) Etc etc

Not that all the pro-MDMA kids know exactly how their recipe went..... naht, my point being, is this urban legend propaganda or just as likely as a shake n bake operation, as in too many idiots trying to make it?

This is an incredibly fucked question but I do want to know haha, if this hijacks the thread too much ill make my own but yeah, save trees n shit.

 

[black53]

Are you sure your GHB was GHB? Like others have said, GHB isn't known to be liver toxic. But if your GHB was actually 1,4-Butanediol that could be liver toxic.

Also are you taking any other medications/herbs?

Any chance that you have hep a/b/c? Some other infection?

All other tests were normal?

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