Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid in alcohol preference, dependence and withdrawal

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is an endogenous constituent of the mammali an brain, where it likely functions as a neurotransmitter or a neuromodulat or. Its exogenous administration exerts a number of pharmacological effects , including reduction of intensity of alcohol withdrawal syndrome and alcoh ol consumption in both laboratory animals and human alcoholics. The clinica l studies conduct ed to date, although often testing samples of limited siz e, feature GHB as an effective, well-tolerated and safe drug for the treatm ent of alcohol dependence. Behavioural data in rats suggest that GHB may pr oduce alcohol-like effects. This similarity may explain why GHB produces po sitively reinforcing proper ties, being subsequently self-administered by r odents and sometimes abused by humans (although episodes of self-directed i ntake of GHB appear to be a limited phenomenon in alcoholics); in addition it provides support to the hypothesis that GHB constitutes for alcoholism a replacement therapy similar to methadone in heroin addiction.