GHB is strongly addictive, and dependence can develop within a few weeks of daily use (Nationale Drug Monitor). The serious part comes when someone stops: after heavy daily use, stopping all at once can bring on withdrawal that is life-threatening. This page describes the risk so that people know when to get help. It gives no plan for cutting down; that belongs with a doctor or an addiction service.
If someone is withdrawing now and is confused, shaking hard, seeing or hearing things, very agitated or has a seizure: call 112 (999 in the UK, 911 in the US) and say they are withdrawing from GHB.
How dependence builds
Trimbos describes how it goes: someone gradually needs more for the same effect, which is called tolerance, and becoming addicted often happens faster than people expect (DRUGSinfo, addiction).
FRANK notes that withdrawal symptoms are especially likely when someone runs out of the drug and has to stop suddenly (FRANK, GHB). Someone whose supply runs out unexpectedly can therefore end up in withdrawal without having planned to stop. In that situation, getting medical help is urgent.
What withdrawal looks like
Trimbos lists a dangerously high heart rate and blood pressure, overheating, hallucinations, and severe confusion with aggression (delirium), and warns of epileptic seizures and psychosis (DRUGSinfo). A toxicology review adds tremors, sweating, anxiety, agitation, paranoia, insomnia and disorientation, and says withdrawal can last up to 21 days and can be life-threatening (Schep et al. 2012).
The Nationale Drug Monitor names one of the less visible dangers: stopping cold turkey after a high daily intake can cause kidney failure through rapid muscle breakdown. Its advice is to always come off GHB under medical supervision.
| Sign | What to do |
|---|---|
| restless, sweating, shaky, cannot sleep | contact a doctor or addiction service today |
| confused, seeing or hearing things, very agitated | call 112 |
| seizure, very high heart rate, overheating | call 112 and stay with them |
Why nobody should stop alone
Trimbos is direct about it: stopping or cutting down on your own is very unwise, because the withdrawal can be life-threatening. The best and safest way is in a clinic with an addiction doctor (DRUGSinfo). A neurobiology review from the Netherlands describes GHB withdrawal as potentially life-threatening and notes that the number of people seeking help for GHB dependence there rose sharply (Kamal et al. 2016).
The numbers in the Netherlands
In 2024, 831 people received care from Dutch addiction services for GHB problems, 2% of everyone in addiction care for drugs. Five out of six had been in addiction care before. The number has gone down slightly since 2015 (Nationale Drug Monitor).
Where to find help
- Netherlands. Make an appointment with your GP (huisarts), who can refer you to addiction care, as Trimbos advises. For anonymous questions, the Drugs Infolijn of the Trimbos Institute answers by phone, chat and email (DRUGSinfo).
- United Kingdom. The NHS says a GP may be a good place to start, and FRANK's helpline is 0300 123 6600, 24 hours a day (NHS, getting help).
- United States. The SAMHSA National Helpline is 1-800-662-4357 (USA.gov).
- Emergency anywhere. 112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US.
For friends and family
You cannot detox someone at home. What you can do: help them make the first call, go along to the GP, and know the danger signs in the table above. If they run out and start to withdraw, that is an emergency, even if they ask you not to call.
Looking after someone who has gone out on GHB is a different situation, covered on someone is out. How the drug works and why it is so easy to take too much: what GHB is.