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<br /> Feuat&o-Ayiculturel 5srwceo lnc. 4BOB-32B-9i60 ~$1131l97 G2:22 PM ~il14 <br /> intravenously, a dosage which rendered the rest of the participants <br /> unconscious. <br /> GHB, Alcohol and Alcoholism <br /> GHB shows great promise in the treatment of alcoholism. In Europe, one of <br /> its primary uses is to relieve withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and anxiety <br /> among alcoholics. <br /> UL <br /> In laboratory rats addicted to alcohol, withdrawal symptoms closely <br /> resemble <br /> those exhibited by humans, including tremors, convulsions, and <br /> hypersensitivity to sound. All of these symptoms were blocked by <br /> sufficiently high doses of GHB [Fadda, 1989]. Administration of GHB has <br /> also <br /> been found to prevent alcohol consumption among rats that voluntarily <br /> ingest <br /> alcohol [Fadda, 1989; Gallimberti, 1989]. <br /> In a rigorous, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted of human <br /> alcoholics, "nearly all withdrawal symptoms disappeared within two to <br /> seven <br /> hours" after administration of GHB. On asevere-moderate-mild-or-none <br /> scale, <br /> withdrawal symptoms remained below moderate during the entire period. <br /> The <br /> only side effect observed was slight, occasional, and transient dizziness. <br /> The researchers concluded, "the results clearly indicated that GHB is <br /> effective for the suppression of withdrawal symptoms in alcoholics" <br /> [Gallimberti, 1989]. <br /> Other Uses of GHB <br /> GHB has a decades long track record of use as a general anesthetic. <br /> Administered intravenously, an anesthetic dose of GHB is in the range of <br /> 4-5 <br /> grams fora 1 50-pound person [Vickers, 1969]. Its advantages as an <br /> anesthetic include low toxicity, relatively few contraindications, slowing <br /> of the heart rate without loss of blood pressure, the absence of irritation <br /> to the veins with intravenous administration, muscle relaxation, absence <br /> <br />