Posted by jeffrey d roth, md on April 17, 2005, at 9:22:20
In reply to Roth: Simple Question, posted by man_oh_man1977 on April 16, 2005, at 1:12:51
> Dr Roth,
>
> Thank you for spending time on this board; I've read the majority of the messages and you seem very insightful and kind. I recently tried GHB for the first time. What is the effect on bipolar patients, if you can perhaps generalize?
>
> Thank you very much,
> Man-oh-manDear Man-oh-man,
While psychopharmacology is not my area of strength, I will share what I believe about GHB, which I understand to have a very simple molecular structure. GHB is closest to alcohol in its mechanism of action, and therefore it is classified as a sedative/hypnotic. Many people with bipolar disorder use alcohol and other sedative/hypnotics to come down from a high. Bill Wilson, co-founder of AA, was thought to have had bipolar disorder, and we know of his alcohol use and experimentation with other mood-altering drugs to take the edge off of his manic and depressive episodes. I suspect GHB was before his time, but if he were around today, he would also be trying GHB. The major problem with GHB is like the problem with alcohol; they are both relatively non-specific drugs affecting many areas of the body in addition to the central nervous system, and both may cause damage to different organ systems as well as lead to respiratory failure in high doses.
Hope this is useful.
Jeffrey D. Roth, MD
poster:jeffrey d roth, md
thread:484967
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20050323/msgs/485396.html