Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid Efficacy, potential abuse, and dependence in the treatment of alcohol addiction

The main objective in alcoholism therapy is to achieve and maintain abstinence and to prevent relapse. Pharmacotherapy may be necessary in treating persons who are not helped by group or psychosocial support alone. Among the substances experimented with in the past few years, gamma-hydroxybutyric acid has been effective in preventing alcohol withdrawal syndrome and in inducing a reduction in craving and an increase in the abstinence rate in treated alcoholics, in view of the alcohol-mimicking effects of the drug on the central nervous system. However, a possible development of craving for the drug and the risk of abuse and physical dependence have been reported in subjects who used gamma-hydroxybutyric acid for different reasons, including alcoholism therapy. The present review updates the existing differences in drug abuse behavior, side effects, and poisoning in the use of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in a treatment alcoholism program and in self nonclinical illicit use. © 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.