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GHB, or gamma-hydroxybutyrate is a naturally occurring metabolite and precursor to GABA(gamma-aminobutyrate).GHB was a widely available over-the-counter supplement until it was banned by the FDA in 1990. The substance has many beneficial effects, but it is typically used by bodybuilders and athletes because it can significantly raise growth hormone levels.GHB has been shown to cause as much as a sixteen-fold increase in growth hormone levels. Unfortunately, the increase in GH levels is also accompanied by an increase in levels of prolactin. The increase in prolactin counteracts many of the positive effects of an elevated GH level. This probably explains why many athletes experience very little as far as muscle growth with the use of GHB. On the contrary, many bodybuilders do feel there are some definite performance-enhancing effects to the use of GHB. Several athletes using GHB report an increase in lean body mass and strength.  Many users don't experience any muscle or strength increase, but do feel GHB helps to accelerate fat loss. Besides the increase in growth hormone, there are many other positive effects of GHB that may prove beneficial to athletes. First, GHB is an excellent sleep aid. 

A small dosage will induce a state of relaxation, euphoria, and drowsiness. An even higher dosage will intensify the effect and help the user fall asleep quickly. GHB aids in REM and slow-wave sleep, and unlike other popular sleep aids, GHB will not interrupt any stages of the natural sleep pattern. This is crucial in achieving a complete session of sleep necessary for recuperation and muscle recovery. One problem with GHB-induced sleep is that some people tend to wake up 3-4 hours later when the GHB has worn off. This effect is probably due to the fact that GHB will temporarily inhibit the release of dopamine in the brain, and at the same time increase dopamine storage. When the GHB wears off, there will be a sudden increase in dopamine release and this is what may cause some people to wake up in the middle of the night. This is more likely to happen when a high dosage of GHB is used. Therefore, the dosage of GHB used to induce sleep should be lowered. Another way to combat this effect is simply by taking a second dosage upon wakening to allow for another 3-4 hours of sleep. It is interesting to note that this increase in dopamine release is also the reason why so many people report feelings of improved well-being and alertness the next day after a night of GHB-induced sleep.

GHB induces a state of euphoria, relaxation, and sensuality along with a lowering of anxiety and inhibition. It also exhibits prosexual effects by improving tactility(sense of touch), enhancing erectile capacity in men, and increasing the intensity of orgasm. For these reasons, GHB has become a very popular recreational drug. It has become even more popular among athletes because unlike other recreational drugs, GHB will not hinder athletic performance. GHB is used by many athletes as a substitute for alcohol because it does not cause a hangover the following day. GHB is also very effective in treating the withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism.

Now that GHB has been banned by the FDA, an athlete only has a few options if he wants to obtain GHB. First, he can buy it on the black market. This has several disadvantages. To begin with, much of the stuff on the black market is made by underground chemists using cheap materials that may contain harmful impurities. Also, it is difficult to determine the concentration since most GHB sold on the black market is dissolved in water. The concentration will often vary and this will make it hard to accurately determine a dosage. A second option would be to mail-order the GHB from a foreign pharmacy. This is risky because US/Australian Customs may seize the order. There may also be legal consequences to buying GHB. GHB is a controlled substance and many states are trying to make it a scheduled drug. Some states are even trying to make it a schedule I drug. The last option left to the athlete is to make the GHB himself. The manufacture of GHB is illegal in the United States, but many people choose to do it anyway. There are several different procedures for synthesizing GHB available over the internet. Some are good and some are bad. The synthesis of GHB is certainly not difficult, but it is definitely not as easy as mixing some NaOH with gamma butyrolactone in a pot and allowing it to cook in the oven for a couple of hours. That type of procedure will produce some GHB, but the yield will be very poor. Chances are there will also be a lot of unreacted chemicals. Also, depending on the pH, it could be dangerous to ingest. Many of the GHB procedures with good yields may be difficult to perform by the average person that has very little knowledge of chemistry. One of the best and GHB pages can also be viewed on this website at:

http://members.tripod.com/~ghb_info/index.html

Here is the procedure:

Safety: Wear gloves and safety glasses at all times.

If any of the reagents or intermediates contacts the skin, wash well with cold water.

Reagents:

1. 60 grams of NaOH

2. 120 ml of gamma butyrolactone

3. 1000ml of pure ethanol

These quantities are not fixed - use more or less as needed, but keep the proportions the same. The NaOH can be dissolved in less ethanol, but these proportions make the process easier and faster. The ethanol must be pure (no water in it) - don't use vodka. GHB will not crystallize if there is water in the solution. Denatured ethanol can also be used, but be sure to let it completely evaporate before ingesting it. Methanol can also be used, but this is toxic, and excess must be removed before ingestion. If methanol is used, only 500ml is required, but be sure all of the methanol is evaporated before ingesting it. Obtaining the reagents: NaOH, denatured ethanol and methanol are very easy to find. Just look up chemical products in the yellow pages. Those chemicals are so common that you won't be asked what you are going to do with it. Gamma-butyrolactone is difficult to find. Several companies sell it on the net - make a search using Dejanews. Other companies sell complete kits for preparing GHB.

Equipment needed:

1. Screw cap bottle larger than 1000ml; if you choose plastic use HDPE, (it will be clearly marked on the bottom)

2. Glass container at least 1200ml in volume.

3. Coffee filter papers (2)

Method:

1. Dissolve the NaOH in the ethanol - place the ethanol in the screw cap bottle and add the NaOH. Shake and allow to stand until cool. Continue until all the NaOH has dissolved. Be sure to release the cap frequently to release pressure.

2. When all the NaOH has dissolved (this can take an hour of shaking and waiting) pour it into the glass pot and add the gamma-butyrolactone. A precipitate (this is the GHB) will form. Allow to stand for an hour.

3. After allowing it to stand, filter the product through the 2 coffee filters (placed inside each other), collecting the precipitate. Dry the precipitate by placing it in an oven on the lowest setting for several hours.

4. You can keep it in the powdered form (keep in an airtight bag since it is hygroscopic and will absorb water from the atmosphere. Alternatively dissolve it in 750 ml of water; this will give a solution containing about 1g of GHB per teaspoon. Don't ingest the neat solution in case there is unreacted NaOH which can burn the skin - mix it in 1/2 cup of water or fruit juice.

Every individual must determine his correct dosage of GHB. The best way to do this is by taking a gram or two on an empty stomach. With an empty stomach, the GHB should take effect within twenty minutes. If no effect is felt in twenty minutes, the athlete should ingest another gram. Continue in this process until a desirable dosage is reached. Some people will notice effects after 1 gram while others can go up to 10. There really is no danger of overdosing in this way, assuming the GHB is not taken with other drugs such as alcohol or other CNS depressants. A slight overdose of GHB will cause a person to fall asleep, but if a person takes a lot more than the desirable dosage, he may get dizzy and then vomit. Athletes should be aware that a full stomach can delay the onset of GHB. This can lead to an overdose because the individual may not feel any effects after a half an hour, and incorrectly assume he needs to take more. Finally, an athlete does not need to worry about getting hooked on GHB since there is no physical addiction associated with the compound.