GHB & GBL harm reduction guide

What is it?
How do you take it?
How does it feel?
Side effects and long-term impact
Overdose
Drug combinations
Addiction potential and withdrawal
Safer Use
Safer Sex
Interactions with HIV treatment
Counseling

Typical pipette bottle for storing and dosing G

What is G?

GHB and GBL are substances that act similarly in the body. They are also simply called “G” or gina, liquid ecstasy, and knockout drops. They are usually colorless, odorless liquids.

GHB is an endogenous messenger substance that is also used in medicine, among other things. GHB has a salty-bitter taste. (Don’t try it neat, it is caustic.)

GBL is a corrosive liquid used as a solvent and cleaning agent. GBL is rapidly converted to GHB in the body. GBL has a chemical taste. It acts faster, more intensively and for a shorter time than GHB. In the Berlin scene, this form is most common.

A third, less common form is the industrial chemical BDO (or “1,4-BD”), which is also converted to GHB in the body and has a longer time effect than GHB.

Caution: Compared to other substances, the controlled use of G requires special care and discipline. There is little room for error as a few drops is the difference between the desired amount and an overdose that may cause coma. Some choose not to consume G because adherence to strict discipline, even in the course of partying, is contrary to their sense of celebration.

G is viewed controversially in the scene and the use of it is stigmatized. When paramedics have to be called in clubs or at chemsex parties, a G overdose and/or mixed consumption is often involved. In addition, G has already been abused as a rape drug (knockout drops). Most clubs will ban you if they find G on you.

How do you take G?

G is corrosive and must be taken in a highly diluted form. The substance is usually kept in a small bottle and dosed to the milliliter using a pipette or syringe (without a needle).

The dose is diluted with a non-alcoholic liquid in a container at a ratio of approximately 1:100 and the mixture is then swallowed in one go. Alternatively, the dose can be added to a whole non-alcoholic drink, which is then drunk normally over a short period of time (resulting in a more gradual onset of effect).

Risk:In clubs, G is also dosed directly from the pipette or syringe (without a needle) into the mouth, after first taking a large mouthful of a liquid (without swallowing it yet). However, in this way the substance is only slightly diluted and there may be a risk of burns to lips, tooth enamel, throat, etc.

A typical initial dose is around 0.8–1.2 ml of GBL or 1–2 ml of GHB.
Lower doses are used e.g. by people who weigh less than average, on an empty stomach, or in case of physical exhaustion. Higher doses are used by people who have already developed a tolerance to G. Higher doses are used by people who have already developed a tolerance to G.

Reliable dosing is often not possible with illegally produced G, since the concentration of the substance can be unknown. Some users therefore initially test a maximum of half a dose with each new batch and then wait for 2 hours to assess the effects.

If G is taken several times in a row, the time of each dose is documented, because a minimum interval must be strictly observed. If the interval is shorter than the total duration of action of the substance (2-3 hours), less than the initial dose must be added to prevent overdose. (Attention: Very high doses have a longer duration of action).

Never slam/intravenously consume GHB/GBL! Risk of overdose/poisoning and cauterization of veins.

How does G feel?

Generally, the effect of a substance can vary greatly from person to person, depending on external circumstances, route of administration, exact composition of the drug, dose and other factors.

The effect of a typical dose of GBL is noticeable after about 3-10 minutes, peaks about 20-30 minutes after ingestion, and then decreases over another 1.5-3 hours.

The effect of a typical dose of GHB is noticeable after about 10-20 minutes, peaks about 30-60 minutes after intake, and then declines for another 2-4 hours.

G has a mood-lifting, anxiety-relieving effect, makes users sociable and talkative, and intensifies sensory perceptions. Initially it has a stimulating effect, but as use progresses and the dose increases, it has a sedative effect.

G has a sexually arousing and disinhibiting effect. Other people are perceived as more attractive. For these reasons, G is one of the most common drugs used for chemsex.

Some users compare the high of G to that of alcohol, but with a shorter duration, mentally clearer somewhat, as well as more sexually stimulating. Contrary to the nickname “liquid ecstasy,” the high is not as propelling and euphoric as ecstasy/MDMA.

Some users report feeling little to no hangover after the high.

Side effects and long-term impact

Use of G can cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness and can trigger seizures. . A high dose may cause headaches, impaired balance, hallucinations, confusion, fatigue, or sudden falling asleep and inability to move.
G consumption may cause electrolyte, blood sugar, and acid-base imbalances and may lower and increase blood pressure.
G can paralyze the central nervous system, including the part responsible for our breathing. Too high a dose can cause life-threatening respiratory paralysis!
Higher doses of G can also impair our ability to remember what happened during use, leading to complete blackouts.
Frequent high-dose use can contribute to the development of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.
G (especially GBL) is corrosive and can damage the eye and stomach lining.
Sustained use over several days or weeks leads to physical dependence.
Consumed over a long time, G can leave damage to the liver and kidneys and cause memory impairment.

Overdose

Unintentional overdoses can easily happen with G because the difference between a desired dose and an overdose is so small. Overdoses can occur from 1.5 ml of GBL or 2 ml of GHB. Amounts greater than 2 ml of GBL or 3 ml of GHB may be lethal.

Beware: Dosing often can’t be precisely determined with illegally produced G, since its purity and any possible adulteration may not be known (e.g. GHB produced from GBL may sometimes still contain an certain amount of unconverted GBL, and conversely, GBL may contain traces of GHB).

A G overdose can induce sleep up to and including a comatose state from which a person cannot be woken for approximately 1-4 hours. There is no antidote. Vomiting while unconscious can cause asphyxiation.

A G overdose can further cause seizures, muscle twitching, and loss of control over bowel movements and urine. A high overdose can cause life-threatening respiratory failure.

Initial signs of overdose may include nausea, retching, lightheadedness, gasping, difficulty articulating, involuntary movements or utterances, and sudden falling asleep or startling. However, consumers may be fine until just before the onset of sleep or coma.

Typical mistakes that can lead to overdose are:

Choosing a dose intuitively, without measuring accurately.
Re-dosing intuitively, instead of strictly adhering to a minimum time interval.
Consuming G at the same time as alcohol, both substances amplify each other in unpredictable ways.
Confusing GBL and GHB.
Wanting more effect even though the substance does not offer more.
Re-dosing the same amount while the previous dose is still having an effect (e.g., after only one hour).
doppeltes Dosieren in dasselbe Getränk (etwa wenn man abgelenkt wird oder die Gefäße verwechselt)Dosing twice in the same drink (such as when distracted or mixing up the glasses or bottles).
(Additional) drinking of a beverage that unknowingly contains G.
Forgetting that you have just, or recently dosed already.
Re-dosing the same amount for hours while becoming more exhausted over time and the sleep-inducing effects of G increases.
A person with no G experience taking on similar dosing levels from someone who has already developed a tolerance.
Mixed use and its timing, e.g., when the waking effect of a stimulant substance (e.g. speed) decreases and the sleep-inducing effect of G suddenly comes through unimpeded.

If a person becomes sleepy on G, it may be difficult to keep them awake. Exercise, talking with them, fresh air, a cool shower, or mild pain stimuli can help. It is not advisable to try to keep someone awake with additional substances, as this will only make the exceptional situation in the body worse. Under no circumstances should a drug be administered to an unresponsive person.

It is impossible to tell with the naked eye whether someone is merely asleep, temporarily unconscious, or it is a life-threatening emergency.

If a person cannot be woken up, do not be afraid to call the emergency services (112). This is how you can save someone’s life! You don’t have to talk about drugs on the phone, mention that a person is unconscious, and then inform the emergency services about the use of GHB/GBL when they arrive.

In clubs, the door staff is generally responsible for emergencies. Since this is also the controlling authority that enforces G bans, among other things, people are sometimes reluctant to approach them in a G emergency. However, emergencies must not be concealed, or any response delayed!

Always turn unconscious persons into a recovery position on their side to prevent them from choking on vomit. Stay with the person and watch for breathing. A rattle, which may sound like snoring, can be an indication of breathing difficulties.

A person who stops breathing must be kept alive with CPR until emergency services arrive!

People who fall asleep on G are often unaware of this fact, or afterwards often have no sense of the duration and intensity of their sleep. When they wake up again, they are still high and may not show any awareness of the problem.

Recommendation: In such cases, if you help people understand and acknowledge that it was an overdose, they are more likely to learn from it.

Recommendation: If someone was already nodding off on G, i.e., overdosed on the substance, then the party should be over for this person – or at the very least, their use of G.

First aid guide for drug-related emergencies

First aid guide for chemsex-related emergencies

Drug combinations

In general, the following applies: When using several substances at the same time, the body and the mind are subjected to greater stress. Certain effects may be intensified, weakened or delayed by the interactions. The probability of an overdose or side effects is not calculable.
Mixed use can make you suddenly fall asleep and increase side effects such as drowsiness, nausea, retching, and unconsciousness or even respiratory failure.
Mixing with alcohol, poppers, ketamine, opiates, or benzos increases the paralytic effects of G. Life-threatening respiratory paralysis may result! Avoid mixed use with G!
G + Viagra may cause a drop in blood pressure. Life-threatening cardiovascular failure may occur.
In combination with speed, ecstasy, mephedrone, crystal meth or cocaine, the effect of G can be masked by the stimulant. This increases the likelihood of an overdose by taking too much or redosing too soon. Timing is highly complex: for example, when the awakening effect of an upper wears off, the sedative effect of G can kick in full force and a dose that was previously OK can suddenly become problematic.
Concurrent use of allergy medications may cause circulatory problems and induce a coma.
Drugs used to treat epilepsy such as valproate, phenytoin, topiramate plus GHB/GBL can cause life-threatening interactions, in part because they inhibit GHB breakdown.
Do not consume GBL with dairy products; this causes nausea and vomiting.

Addiction potential and withdrawal

Regular consumption leads to a rapid tolerance development (i.e., you need more of the substance to have the same effect).
There is a possibility of psychological dependence.
Sustained use over several days or weeks leads to physical dependence People then need to consume G consistently every few hours to stave off withdrawal symptoms. These can include sweating, insomnia, muscle cramps, tremors, and nausea and can last for several weeks.
Self-organized “cold turkey” withdrawal without medical consultation and supervision can be life-threatening. Find out which hospitals in your area offer in-patient withdrawal treatment.

Safer Use

Before Use

Make sure you know if it is GBL or GHB. Adjust your dosage and minimum distance accordingly.
Pure G may only be put into containers from which no one would drink by mistake, e.g., a pipette bottle or an obviously pharmaceutical or chemical container. Never leave pure G around in a bottle, cup or drinking glass, especially at a party. A mix-up could cost lives!
Do not store GBL in normal plastic bottles, as it will corrode them over time. Use glass, metal, or HDPE plastic containers (e.g., chemical bottles, identified by the ♴ symbol and the HDPE or PE-HD designation).
People with asthma, epilepsy, diabetes, and stressed cardiovascular and psychological conditions should avoid consuming G.

During Use

Never take G undiluted because of its corrosive effects. Dilute at least 1:100 with a non-alcoholic liquid.
Always dose G to the nearest milliliter using a scaled pipette or syringe without a needle. Glass pipette bottles with scales can be found at online retailers. Syringes without needles are available at any pharmacy. The syringe should have a volume of max. 3ml, so that you can measure precisely. G can detach the markings of syringes over time, therefore replace them in time.
If you make a mistake when dosing G, e.g., you do not remember whether or how much you have already poured into a drink, do not take any risks. Pour it away and start again.
Do not dose G directly into your mouth (even with liquid held there) to avoid burns. At the club, for example, you can use an empty glass or bottle as a mixing vessel.
Never slam/intravenously consume GHB/GBL! Risk of poisoning and cauterization of veins.
You can protect yourself from overdose by taking only small amounts.
If you take a subsequent dose, it must be much smaller than the initial dose, unless there are several hours between doses. Even after the high has worn off, G is still active in your system.
Example: Half a dose of G can feel very subtle. That means on the other hand that even if you only notice it a little, you can still have half a dose in your system. To take another half dose would bring you back to the effect of the initial dose. Taking a full dose would significantly exceed the effect of the initial dose.
Note the time of your last dose. On your cell phone, this can be done in one go by taking a screenshot of your display including the clock. You can also start a stopwatch or post your dose in a group chat with your friends. For each subsequent dose, check the time of your last dose and adjust the amount accordingly.
Refrain from re-dosing if unpleasant effects occur.
Never combine G with alcohol, as these substances potentiate in unpredictable ways, making overdose much more likely.
Do not combine G with substances that have a sedative or anesthetic effect (ketamine, benzos, opiates, sleeping pills). This is dangerous because it can cause respiratory paralysis.
Do not consume G alone. Unexpected side effects can always occur. Inform your friends that you have consumed G.
Always measure out your dose yourself. Do not delegate your responsibility to others. That way, you’re guaranteed to stay on top of things.
It is never okay to administer substances to other people without their knowledge and consent! You endanger the life of a person and are liable to prosecution. Wenn du so eine Situation beobachtest, hole dir Hilfe und schütze die betroffene Person.
Watch out for each other, be alert, and get help if necessary if a person is not doing well.
Do not leave a drink mixed with G unattended. Others may drink from it and unknowingly and unintentionally expose themselves to the effects.
Never leave drinks unattended; do not drink anything that has been out of your sight for a long time. G has been abused as a “date rape” drug. G is not very noticeable taste-wise in a drink and can lead to defenselessness and missing memories. G is detectable in urine for a maximum of 12 hours. In suspected cases, police should be contacted as soon as possible.
Avoid performing responsible tasks while under the influence of substances.. Don’t use your car and determine for yourself which areas of life should remain free from consumption.

Safer Sex

If necessary, clarify what kind of sex you and your sex partners want before you start using. G has a sexually disinhibiting effect and can cause you to do different things and choose different partners than you would if you were sober. Your risk-taking during sex may increase and you may forget about your condom or PrEP.
G and poppers: Both lower blood pressure and have a respiratory depressant effect. Risk of unconsciousness and shortness of breath or even respiratory failure.
G and Viagra: Causes a sharp drop in blood pressure, risk of circulatory collapse.
G can make coming more difficult. Prolonged fucking puts strain on the condom. Change the condom after half an hour or choose another protection strategy. Have enough safe sex material on hand.
Only consume enough so that you can still clearly express your consent (or non-consent), your desires and your limits, and that you can still correctly perceive those of your partners.
Only have sex with people who can clearly express their will! If a person is so high that they are no longer capable of conversation, they are also incapable of giving consent. Under no circumstances may sexual acts be (further) performed on them. This is true even if mutual intentions were previously discussed while conscious. It is a criminal offense.
G has a relaxing effect. Caution with sex practices with risk of injury (fucking, fisting, dildos, plugs). Here, in addition to HIV, there is also a likelihood of infection with hepatitis C.
Pay attention to your body! If you notice any abnormalities on your dick, front hole or ass, you should see a doctor.
Get tested for sexually transmitted infections at least once a year and check your hepatitis A/B vaccination status.

If you suspect that sexual acts have been performed on you against your will or on you while you are unconscious, you should have blood and/or urine drawn and tested as soon as possible. The outpatient Clinic for the Protection against Violence of Berlin’s Charité Hospital offers a court-proof assessment and documentation without the pressure to immediately file a police report. . The documentation is kept for 4 weeks, and you can decide in time whether you want to file a complaint.

In case of injuries in intimate areas, you should visit a hospital or a doctor to have the injuries documented and treated.

In addition, you can get support at the counseling center of your choice:

Interactions with HIV treatment

Take substances and HIV medications at different times. This might decrease the chance of side-effects. Always take low doses of substances when taking medications at the same time.
Since it may be a long night, bring enough medication with you and stick to your medication schedule.
Talk to your doctor about the interaction of your HIV medications with intoxicants.
Protease inhibitors can cause fatal GHB/GBL concentrations in the body even at low GHB/GBL doses. Caution: There is a major risk of respiratory depression, coma, and epileptic seizures!
Find here advice on substance and HIV drug interactions.

Counseling

Would you like to talk to somebody about your substance use? Do you have questions or are you looking for support? Do you want to share or reflect on any experiences? Do you feel that you might be using too much? Are you worried about friends or acquaintances and would like advice or tips on how to handle the situation? Counseling centers in Berlin are there for you!

24/7 counseling hotline by Drogennotdienst Berlin: 030 19237

GHB / GBL